The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-13
Tn. late wlliam M. Tweed.


The Late William M. Tweed.
Tears will be shed over the sudden death
of this noted individual, but they will be
merely that tribute which nature prompts
and requires from those who were bound to
him by ties of blood or other relationship.
Even his wife, to whom he was an indulgent
though not faithful husband even his
children, to whom he was kind and even
fond father. will, in spite Of the promptings
Of natural affection, Justify the ways OF
God to man" in his removal from this life
and accept it as merciful dispensation.
Even his nearest friends should not wish
to recall him If they could
vex not his ghost: Oi let him pass; he hates him,
That would upon the rack OF this tough world
Stretch him out longer
This will be the sentiment. or at least
ought to be the sentiment, Of those who
were bound to him by filial or other domes-
tic ties and the community at large whose
sense of justice he affronted in life will be
satisfied and appeased by his tragic end.
Tweed has really suffered imprisonment for
life as the penalty of his crimes, and life
itself has been shortened by his confne-
ment. Better SO than that he should have
been let out to die and infinitely better,
even for him, than that he should have
been let out to live. What could life have
been worth to man with such past be-
hind him, and with no career and no hope
TOR the future? It is q mercy to him that
he has been taken away, and the place and
the manner of his death convey an impress
sive lesson. when Thy judgments are
abroad in the earth the people will learn
righteousness.
The sudden death Of Tweed relieves the
public authorities from On embarrassing
question which would have been again and
again pressed upon them, and which could
out causing dissatisfaction. The release
of Tweed would have offended the
sense of justice Of one part Of
the community, and his perpetual
retention in prison would have excited an
amount of sympathy which, when bestowed
ON such character, would have perverted
the moral standard Of the sympathizers.
1t is we'll that this question has been taken
ont of the hands Of the civil authorities by
an act Of Providence before the feeling that
Tweed was q sort Of martyr or victim had
gained strength enough to obliterate the
sense Of his crimes. It is important that
the moral Judgment Of the people should
be kept sound and steady, and not be dis
solved by mawkish and sentimental pity.
1t was beginning to be said that Tweed
was hardly treated when he was no more
guilty than numerous associates who es-
capped. But it should be remembered that
the chief object Of punishment is the
prevention of crime, and that in pursuance
Of this principle the common practice is to
treat only the ringleaders with extreme Sc
verify in q confederacy of guilt There
are some crimes. like riot like rebellion,
like a mutiny on board ship. which can
be perpetrated only by concerted action;
and as such crimes are impossible without
directing minds to plan them and superin-
tend their execution, 1t is the practice of all
governments to single out the ringleaders
as the objects Of avenging justice. All the
abettors and participants are equally guilty;
but inasmuch as crimes requiring extensive
combinations depend on skilful leaders for
their success the making of such leadership
dangerous is thought to be the best means
OF prevention. Tweed has indeed suffered
moro than his equally guilty associates
but without his boldness and skill tho
gigantic Ring robberies would not have
been committed. The heaviest punishment
fell on the criminal who most richly de-
served it, and his death in o prison will
operate as an impressive warning