The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-08-17
TAM MANY

Tammany now stands for munich
pal ownership. So do we, in a degree,
but not under Tammany-like rule
Tampa Times.
Ever and anon we run across "digs"
at Tammany something like the
above. even from many southern
newspapers.
These digs" occur to US to be most
cruel and ungrateful
All through the stress and storm OF
malignity and hate the south was
compelled to face, she found in Tam
many a true and staadfast friend, and
being a friend to the south she was
no less a friend to the nation.
Had other organizations in the
north been as tolerant and patriotic
/ as Tammany, the reconstruction
measures, with their long train of
evils, would have been avoided and
the cenAnting of the sections along
fraternal lines would have quickly
LOiAOhSu upOH the uSOIS " AppOAi"I-
tax and the nation would have been
saved a world Of rancor and bitter
ness.
Had it not been for the determin-
ton of Tammany, the force bill and
still harsher measures would have
! been adopted and the south would
have been pinned on to the union with
bayonets as a subjugated province.
and the flag would not have the
meaning that it now possesses nor
would it stir the rich, red blood in
/ southern veins as it now does. as is
witnessed in every southern cOmmu-
unity and in every Confederate camp.
Poor old Tammany has been abus-
ed to cover a multitude of sins, and
used the same as the cry. stop,
thief" to hide the main culprit and
sidetrack the main issues.
In rummaging among some old pa
pers we ran across the following ed
itorial that appeared in the Banner
forty years ago:
Tweed and the Republicans
Mr. William NJ Tweed. for the past
ten years. has served a mighty pur-
pose to the republican party He has
been a great and the almost only
prop to that rotten concern. He has
been its helmet and shield--its great
buttress of defense and safety. When
ever the democrats got on track of
republican frauds, the familiar figure
of Boss Tweed" with his stolen bags
! of gold, was sure to be lifted up by
republican organs to divert public at
tention from the thieves in their own
party. When the custom house
frauds and the whiskey ring frauds
were found out by Bristow and a Wig
orous prosecution promised. then it
was that Tweed figured most conspic-
uOusly in Harpers Journal of Civili-
zation. and his stolen treasure fur
nished food for all the republican
newspapers of the country. When
ever a stencil of some credit mobilier
or Emma mine transaction rose in
the republican household poor Tweed
was sure to be used as gong for re-
publican organs. however strong or
| feeble, to beat upon to detract atten-
ton therefrom and drown the stencil
thereof We repeat that for the last
decade VIM NJ. Tweed has been to
the republicans a rock of Gibraltar,
behind which they have sheltered
their enormous crimes They owe
much to Tweed and they know it.
| But, after all, Tweed's crimes do not
show as much of democratic deprav-
ity as the republicans would have the
nation believe.
When a public officer steals, and
is tried and convicted before the
courts, Notwithstanding his immense
wealth and political and social influ-
|
the public morals and reflects honor
upon the courts. 1t shows anything
else but the pollution of political
party These facts the republicans
entirely ignore Had Tweed been in
| the south. he would have acted, no
doubt with the republican party,
along with the balance of the thieves,
and would have plundered the south
as much if not more than he plumber
ed the city of New York, but where
is the man that would dare say he
would have been convicted Dy any
court in the south as then constitute
ed?
1t is impossible to prevent persons
/ from committing crimes. and al
/ though they steal and murder and are