The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-02


Under the weight Of stock operations. the lot
terry business. and faro hanks. Morrlssey 9p-
Peared ON the tnrI re i, disSei9pe1 n s%sie Iog
frequently seen coursing along the old BLOOM
ingdnle rond. He accompanied Flora Tenn
pie in trotting tour through the. south
and Wcst. After his return from England
he bought Jerome Edgar. bred byJohn NJ. Clay;
Tho horse attained 4 great reputation. and
made the best iour-mile racc ever run in this
country weights up. After presenting Rock
ingham to Vanderbilt. Morrissey went to Sara
@ with h nSennS yenrS R4d noW spSG
with such men as William H. Travcrs and John
Hunter. Associated with these gentl,men. le
mer Of 1863. The course was on the present
training grounds. The meeting proved such
success that Morrlssey organized n jockey club
aud bought the ground for mile track. Hunter
and Travers were his principal partners; but
Erastus Corning. James NJ. Marvin. Commo-
took small amounts of stock. and gave tone md
solidity to the club. The greatest races in tho
summer nectnis attracted the wealthiest and
most famous families in the nntion. His
fine club house was opened IN 1869, and Tor
the last three ycnrs was the only gaming house
in which he was known to have held an interest
Morrssey's arrangements for the preservation
of order. pool selling. stabling. &c, were simple
and complete MIR Buck editor OF the Spirit OF
The Times says that he Is familiar with the Eng
hsh. French, and other continental race courses.
and he has seen none that can equal that OF
Saratoga in the perfection Of detail and accom-
modatlon. In the height of the racing excite;
pools aggregatng millions were sold; A law
pissed by the Legislature broke up the business
IN this city. but II was continued at saratoga
In violation Of the law creating much comment.
FIRsT APPEARANCE IN POLITICS.
John Morrisscy's first appearance In politics
WINS ms n bruiser in primary elections. With
his rise to wealth and influence he aided in the
management OF the Democratic party in his
own wnrd but went no further. In 1863 NJ be-.
gan To long for political preferment. A'kind
husband and atender father, Tor the sake OF his
record OF his early days. Gully. British prize
fighter, bad taken a seat in Parliament. and the
knowledge OF this fact may have induced Nor
rissey to turn his eyes toward the halls OF Con-
gress. His friends endeavored to dissuade him
from the idea. but without effect. There
was bitter canvass. The oppos tion over
hauled Morrlssey record and the Republican
newspapers thumped him unmercliully. He
gained sympathy by admitting that his life had
ing reform. asked the voters to sustain him in
his effort. The crafty Sweeny used all his
slanderous placards were thrown into every
house and plastercd on each fence. From his
headquarters in the Anson House Morrissey
issued his appeals and laid his hands upon
important political wires. He won by large
TAKING OUT HIS PAPERS.
Before the election he heard that the Repub-
Leans would oppose his admission to the House.
on the ground that he had never been natural
lied. II was "a mOoted question whether the
sons Of foreigners. though, brought 70 this eoun-
rissey ran across Edwin NJ. Haseeriy, then
Clerk of the Board of Counclmcn. and asked
whore he could get naturalzed;, Haggerty con,
Quoted him to Judge Brady. The law required
the witness to swear tnat he had known the
applicant eighteen years. Hag8erty hesiated
Wne9 did you first know meF' Morrssey
asked. -. ...,.,., 49,, . ,o,.,o.,
Troy % rSnIied HaescrtS. % you w1fe set pair OF
dirty, overalls with one suspender, and ! re-
member you al hulking big Mick with a
curly head
:" That was over eighteen years ago." said
Morrssey. He took the oath. Haggerty signed
the record. and MOrrlssey received his papers.
ON THE FLOOR or CONGRESS.
On the floor OF the House Morrissey was q
great curiosity. He was pointed out 10 all visit
ors. His courteous demcanor ana unAssumlnR
ways won him many friends from both parties.
Honest and straightforward in his intentions.
was never absent when his vote was wanted.
His personal magnetism was so great that he
is credited with having had more influence with
Johnson's Administration than many out-and-
out johnson men. The following despatch
dated two days before the meeting of the Dem;
ocratic National Convention of 1865. was found
among President Johnsons papers after his
death:
ptsinESr JoHSsoSi Make no exception on saturday
Everything hnuss upon IT, Re- deaf 10 iaiso couns,s aud
when have done your duty the civilization OF the age
Will solve the balance OF the problem joins MoERssEr.
In 1868 Mr. Morrissey was again Tammany
candidate. Sweeny said no. He laid the defeat
OF Hoffman two years before to Morrisseys =
nomination by Tammany Hall and rs the HOn-
man mag was 10 be thrown TO the breeze anew,
he did not propose To weight the Democratic
party a second time with Old smokes rec
ord. Morrissey countered with n shrewd politi-
cal blow He effected "A connection with the
Brooklyn Ring. who We're anxious 10 make
Henry &. Murphy tho candidate for Governor.
and succeeded so we'll that Tweed and Sweeny
became frightened, and withdrew their opposi-
sltion. Morrssey then became the Tammany
candid ate. and was almost unanimously re-
elected
THE FIGHT OF THE YOUNG DEMOCRACY.
Tweed and Sweeny had settled their disputes
two years before, and were now all powerful.
They held the Tnmmnny orgun ization firmly
and dictated candidates and measures with klt
little regard 10 the wishes OF the ward Leaders.
The springs Of the Young Democracy fight be-
gan 10 gush from the ground. The causes were
various; John Fox accused the leaders Of de-
featlng his aspirations ior Sheriff, and Norris
sey, lntlEnant AZ lhelr a,ti9n IN ms own cnse.
u set Of thieves. He accused them OF using the
courts TO further their schemes of plunder and
to put their enemies out Of the way. This was in
1869. Ii is said that the leaders were so angered
that the notorious Cooley KEYS and like spirits
were hired To get INTO dispute with Morrissey
and, meeting the bravo. told him his purpose
WAS known. The publicity OF the project prob
ably prevented It's execution.
while FoN's cnmity To Tweed and Sweony
was smouidcring and Morrssey was on the ram
page, John Real was convicted Of murder. He
WAS sentenced 10y Tammnny Judge at mid
night in court room packed with rufiluns
ready TO tear him from the clutches Of the law
There We're eXtenunting circumstances. but
public feeling was So strong that the Tammauy
leaders gave him NO aid. Rnal had been sheriff
OBriens schoomae and WIS his friend
There WIS n suspicious lull in politics. A mu-
tinoIs spirit was spreading through the organ
ization, and Tweed aud Sweeny seem to have
held Reals fate oyer O 'Brien's headto keep him
straight in the traces. They questioned some
OF the Sherin's bills. and his alienation was
complete,
Genet had first been elected to the state
Senate through the eXertions OF Ed Jones
who had stationery bills against the city
amounting to 100000. Prince Harry wanted
them nut into the tax levy, and Sweeny refused
to..allow II. Then Genet wandered from the
nld, swearing vengeance HAYES and Judge
VI Quudr also had their private grievances
Hnd the disnnrction spread rapidly. But each
rebel struck ont Tor himself. regardless OF the
general welfare.
Morrissry has the credit ~ comprehend
ing the situation and consolidating the disaf-
frcted elements. The initial step was taken
in his house in Tw"ny-iourth street. SEN
ators Genet and Norton. Sheriff O'Bren
Judges VI Quade and Cox. and Morrsspy him
self were present. Their avowed object was 10
captdre the Tammany organ iZat on and divide
the plundrr The combination WIS enlarged
until il took IN senator Crcumcrnnd a majority
of the Police Justices. The Board of Aldermen
and the most of the city members Of the Assem-
bly, We're captured. The cOnspirutOrs were
sworn to Secrecy. An outside auxiliary organ
izaion was formed, and the outer works OF
Iummany carried without a struggle