The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-05-16
TWEED AND MORRISSEY.
Two New York Democratic Leaders Deat
GFrom the Chicago Tribune.]

I
The Democratic party of the Empire
State is the most extraordinary political
organization known to history. It's
! vitality is marvellous. It has as many
lives as a cat, and is capable of descend
ing to lower depths of meanness and of
rising to greater heights of audacity
than any other association of human be-
ings. AS some beasts of prey grow fat
on diet of the poisonous offal, SO the
Democratic party of New York thrives
in spite of the fact that it exists in the
stencil of an atmosphere of moral putrid-
ity. The secret of this wonderful vital
ity is found in the fact that the Dem
ocracy of New York has always held,
and still holds, in its close embrace the
bulk of all the hopelessly- bad elements
in the community. Ascertain the an
tecedents of inmates of all the State
penitentiaries in that State, and it will
be found, in vast majority of cases,
that they were Democratic. Thieves,
pickpockets, burglars, robbers, gam
blers, and common assassins will tell
you, if inquired of, that they belong to
the Democratic party. And they are
not merely Democrats of the rank and
/ file: they are leaders in all the New
York primary Misunderstanding move
ments.
Two of the high chiefs OF the New
York Democracy have lately passed
away. Both were prominent in the
State councils, and both exercised a
powerful influence upon its actions
Tweed, who died few weeks ago in
prison, absolutely controlled the Gov
ernment of New York city for many
years, and, through such local suprema-
cy, practically dictated the policy of the
State Government when it was in the
hands of the Democracy. Tweed's in
fuence in the party councils grew out
of his popularity with the bad classes
composing the lower strata of the Dem
ocratic organization. Through that as
ISOLATION and popularity he was able to
assume a position in the front rank of
Democratic leaders in fact, to become
a leader of leaders. And through this
power of dictation, derived from the
roughs and thugs of the metropolis, he
was able to commit the Democratic par
ty of the State to system of admins
tration so corrupt that, through it's or
ganization, he and his confederates stole
taOenty ,1ive million dollars from the pub
lie treasury!
The case of the pugilistic gambler,
John Morrissey, is more striking Illus
tration of the possible outgrowths of
the New York Democratic organization
and political ethics than that of Tweed.
Tt is worth while to trace briefly the
career of the late John MorrisseY, from
the date of his leadership of gang of
blacklegs and rowdies in Troy, to the
time when, equally with Tweed, he rose
to the front rank of Democratic leader
ship of the Empire State. Morrissey's
career is instructive as showing how the
vicious elements in that party sometimes
force one of their representative roughs
clear through the veneerng of respecta
bility which hides them from view, in
order that the public may know exactly
where Democratic power resides. 1t
should be said, in justice to the memory
of Morrissey dead, that in the highest
political station to which he attained
that of Congressman he conducted
himself with fair degree of decorun.
But this does not alter the fact that, as
a citizen, he commenced his career as a
bully and prize-fghter, and never rose
above the station of gambler. Now
let us group few incidents of his life to
show how easy it is for man with the
instincts and passions of q brute to be-
come an acceptable partisan leader.
We reproduce the substance of Morris
sey's biography as it lately appeared in
the newspapers:
By this time Morrissey who was even in
those days built like young bull, began to
take an active part in the local faction disputes
Of Troy, and in 1848 Cat II years of age) he
was already one of the most prominent ''round-
ers" Of the city. There were at that time two
parties among the young roughs and r9wdies
town." Morrissey was the leader or " chief
devil" of the "Down-town" gang. Upon the
first occasion that offered, Morrissey pounded
O'Rourke, the leader of the "Up-toWn gang,
into jelly. The quarrels and fights between
these two gangs were incessant, and very an
noying to the respectable citizens of Troy.
Morrissey, having whipped O'Rourke, was
obliged to fight all the chief DULLES in his train.
AA4CSS
all fought during the ensuing year. Morrissey
was a triumphant victor in all, and, though
only IS years of age, his name and achieve
ments were the subject of discussion and noto-
riety in sporting circles in every State in the
Union. In 1850 Morrissey resolved
to go to California. He selected as companion
one Daniel Cunningham, an assassin. Together
obey made up a purse of $13. The first step
was to steal ride to New York city on freight
train the second, to stow themselves away on
board the Pacific Mail steamer, then on thepoint
of leaving port When called upon for tick
cts (some days out), they coolly. informed the
Captain that they had deliberately left home
with the intention of stealing their way to
California Before the steamer reached
Chagres river Morrissey had challenged an
other rough to fight duel with pistols. AS
soon as the steamer cast anchor, and was sur
rounded by small boats, Morrissey and his
friend the assassin seized one Of the boats,
threatened to shoot the owners if they should
object, and rowed ashore to keep their dueling
appointment; but the other rough did not APP
pear. They . footed it" to Panama, and there
began to play Spanish monte and faro, starting
with capital of S. They did not, however,