The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-05-24
Tweed and NIorrIssev.

Within the last two weeks two very
remarkable citizens of New York have |
gone to their last account. OF the
death of Tweed, the thief, it is not ne
cessary now to speak. He died as he
lived, hypocrite and liar.
A more remarkable man, however, |
in every sense OF the word, was John
Morrisey, who died last Wednesday at
Saratoga. His history was as varie-
gated rs his nature was complex. A
ruffian in his youth, hero of bullies
in his prime, an honest man and
useful citizen in the last years of his
life. When Morrissey was a street
fighter in Troy, gambler In San Fran
cisco, an antagonist of Yankee Sulli-
van in the prize ring, he never dream
ed that he would one day have the
right to prefix Honorable to his
name, and tail it off with the initials
Nj. G. 1t has been said that his cleo
ton to high and responsible offices
was u melancholy exhibit of the posi-
bilities of unlimited suffrage in free
country. 1t, however, can not be for
gotten that he was CHOSEN to the seat
row vacant by his death, in the New
York senate, by the votes of such men
as William Cullen Bryant and many
others of known honor and integrity.
He made the race against Augustus
Schell, q man VIII ose social Status was
unsurpassed, who had never been In
the prize ring, who was rich, who was
not a gambler, but who was creature
or Tammany II candidate of that
thievlng organization OF which Tweed
was the head in his palmy days of ras-
cality and seeming success. Morrissey
was sent to the senate by the SURFACES
of the best men in wealthy and re-
spectacle district of the metropolis.
He commanded the respect of honest
men because he was himself an ohnest
man. A gambler all his life, he was
never accused of an attempt to play
anything but a square game. It was
his quiet boast, the truth of which has
never been disproved, that though he
was active for many years in the poll
tics of New York city, helping to seat
and unseat its officers, and having at
one time potent voice In the counsels
of Tammany, not one dollar of its
money could be traced to his pocket.
He never had contract, never held
an office, enjoyed no privileges or i'm
munities, and was absolutely without
pecnniary reward for the work he had
done. In the senate of New York be
was the active foe to the municipal
villany is the metropolis, and was ap-
plauded by the Republican press of the
east as the only intelligent and per-
sistent champion of Municipal reform
in a senate pledged thereto.
Morrissey was all his life a gambler
and yet he died the representative Of
some of the best men in New York
city. This may be considered remark.
able. But 1t Is not remarkable in any
sense of the word when properly con.
sldered. The known and proved In.
Legrity Of the man, the logged deter
minatlon and his bitter opposition Il
the rule of the thieves party known a
Tammany, made him of necessity the
candidate who could draw to his sup
port all opposition to that corrupt or
ganization. Gambling is a vice which
society has at times tolerated aRd a
times condemned. Dishonesty and
rascality have always been condemn
ed, and will always be fought with al
weapons by society and by all homes
people. Morrissey could not see, ant
may perhaps be pardoned for not see
Ing any substantial difference between
the principle In q deal In wheat, o
stock or gold, and the deal of cards II
game OF faro. The man on chang
bets on the rise or fall of wheat, pay
his margin If he loses, and receive
some other mans If he wins. Tn
gambler at the faro exchange NAV be
TO suit himself, and when Morrlsey 10
sured that chance and nothing els
should govern the game, he felt this
he was playing fair by every man
doing unto others as he would the
should do to him. His gambling house
induced young men to spend none
foolishly, and doubtless many me
were ruined through habits contracte
there. But Wall street-highly re
spectacle as 1t is-ruins Its thousand
and Is fast sending the country {
bankruptcy. In view of all thes
facts, and taking into accoant h
sterling integrity, his unchangin
love for his friends, and his bitter OF
position to the ring that had so Ion
robbed New York, It Is not at a
strange IL the lifelong gambler shoul
die the trusted friend and represents
tive Of some Of the best people of Ne
York, socially, politically, and flnaE
clally considered. Nor Is It stranl
that the criminal Tweed died like
dog In his kennel without the respe
or love of any human being not boun
70 aim by ties OF blood.-St. L. Jour /.