Year: 1877

We have not heretofore given the Democratic
party credit for giving wise heed to the lessons
of eXpcriencc We think we see a change IN
that regard Had that leading Democratic
statesman, the Hon. William NJ. Tweed, known
rs much a dozen years ago as he does to-day
he would not now be reviewing his career III
the seclIsion of Ludlow-st., and applying his
mind to the invention of some sort OF COM
promise with the city which he governed not
wisely but too well Had he taken the same
legal counsel as to the several steps in the
processes of his craftsmanship which he subse-
ouently avaiIed himself OF to defend them, he
might have continued as Boss" of a great
party and a city. He retained Mr.. David Dud-
ley Field too late. That eminent member OF
the bar did what he could for him after the
fact and though it is said that he is no longer
acting in the capacity of Tweed's attorney, 1t will
not be denied that he showed the greatest de-
yotiOn TO his clients interests while he dld
represent him, and clung to him much longer
than Mr. Tweed, in view Of the great shrink
age in real estate ald fall in stocks, had any
right to expect The late Boss" would have
been wiser had he taken legal advice aS to how
he should acquire instead of how he should be
able to defend and retain his wealth. 1t would
have been money in his pocket had he retained
Nlr. Field at an earlier period in his career.


The Democratic party profits by the expert
ence of It's dcthroned and incarcerated leader
1t has expectations of great opportunities 1t
homes to have the same chance at the national
which Tweed had at the municipal treasury
Ii retains Mr.. David Dudley Field accordingly
as the very first step. Whatever it does in the
way of making itself first in the possession
and then safe in the absorption of the ma
tiOnal treasury, Will he done under legal ad-
vice and with every step carefully guarded.
The nomination of Mr.. Tweed's lawyer to sue
cced the Hon. Smith Ely, jr., is evidence that
the party has learned something. Whether a
committee called on Mr.. Tweed in Ludlow-st.
and civilly inquired if that statesman was
through with him. or whether they retained
him without consulting Tweed at all, we do
not know The occasion seemed urgent. and
possibly the party thought Twced's resources
were so nearly exhausted it was hardly worth
while to get his consent. We take leave to
say, however, that the managers have acted
wisely in retaining Mr.. Field. They have a
tirst-class case in hand fOr him in the attempt
to secure the Presidency for Mr.. Tilden, and
in the event Of their coming into power in
the country they can give him business enough
to occupy all his time, and just such business
as his experience with Tweed has educated
him for TO most remarkable degree. There
was a rlmOr some time ago that the DemOc-
racy had retained Gen. Butler. We do not
learn whether Mr.. Field supersedcS Butler. or
is to he associated with him. The party will
undoubtedly need them both.


Meantime it is cheering to know that the
distinguished counsel thoroughly .apprehendS
the situation and takes in the whole case at
glance In his speech of acceptance he said
sit would be mere afiectatiOn on his part 20
"say that he was unmindful of the fact chat
" the reason why he was nominated was that
che might aid in cfccting rightful solution
"0f the existing political complications into
(which the nation was plunged" We do not
now recall the precise language in which he
accepted his first retainer from Tweed. Pos
sibly there was no public ceremony on that
occasion. But if he had responded we may be
sure it would havo been in precisely similar
terms, for we are confident his sentiments con-
ccrning "a rightful solution of not only this
Int all "pOltical complications" remain un-
changed. Let the case go on. Enter Mr..
David Dudley Field for the defense.