Year: 1877

1t is impossible Tor the taxpayers 10 observe
the set of the current in municipal affairs with
out uneasiness. Just when the Democracy is
pulling itself together for a fresh campaign
there is a sudden homcward flight of all the
old Tammany exiles; fugitives come gayly
speeding over the Summer sea, escaped con-
vcts emerge from their hiding places, every
one clamoring for compromise involving no
reflection, and higgling with the officers OF
Justice over the price to be paid the treasury
and the lawyers for the sake of appearances
The air is full of rumOrs OF reconciliation.
There is activity in the law Offices, where
clerks are supposed to be gathering up the
old indictments and slowing them away in the
top row ofS pigeon holes. Faces long absent
reappear briefly in tie lobbies of the City
Hall. Names half forgotten are getting 70 be
common again in the newspapers. The public
is amused by calculations of how much, or how
little, the city could probably make by prose-
cutting the principal thieves, and speculations
as to the economy or convenience OF COM
pounding with them for a return of part OF
the plumber and passing an act Of oblivion for
the past. There is a general impression In
deed that the Ring suits are practically ut IN
end, and that all the defendants will shortly
be able to resume their places in society.


All except one. Mr.. William NJ Tweed, in
the iIksome retirement of Ludlow street, con-
templates these transactions with profound
disgust. He is the only one of the cOnspira-
tors who has suffered any punishment and the
only one excluded from the reconciliation. At
the same time he is the only one who has
proposed to surrender all his property ard to
e L. r.l,lan


Naturally he thinks it very hard. He has
submitted TO the prosecution list OF his con-
federates and huge bundle of checks which
impicate a great number of persons, some OF
whom, we are told, have not yet been suspected.
The list has been handed about, and studied,
and annotated. If it has been exhibited to the
persons whose names figure upon IL, the able
politicians who have meanwhile kept it in their
possession during the past three months have
thereby acquired a peculiarly strong claim to
the assistance and friendship of those unfOr-
tunate ndividuals-a claim which will be
good lust so long as the list remains secret.
Thus there is an important object to be gained
by not allowing Tweed to testify. 1t is true
that bls evidence might enable the city to
prosecute or defend several important suits
but what is the use of that if all the suits are
to be compromised Evidently under the
policy which now seems to prevail additional
evidence is precisely what the prosecution
ought not to want. Ii might embarrass the
settlements.


We do not intend to PREJUDICE the action of
the prosecuting officers, who will doubtless
explain themselves in proper time and in the
proper way; but we must tell them that un-
pleasant remarks are very freely made, and
that there is a suspicion that these conlDro-
misses mean nothing but a reconciliation OF
Democratic factions. Tweed no longer has
any followers. He is entirely broken DOWN,
and by means of his confession he has given
up the last of his friends. 1t is essential
therefore TO the success of any proposed ALI
ance with the old Tammany cOteries that the
old leader of Tammany should be kept in jail.
But Sweeny still has friends, Genet no doubt
has some, even Connolly perhaps might be
made Of use. Armed with Tweed's secrets,
and aided by Tweeds old allies, somebody
ought to have great opportunity Who isit 7