Year: 1871




so suddenly and under such extraordinary
circumstances, has changed the political
| current and must lead to new combinations
and fresh start. This Ring, which grew out
Of Tammany and rested upon that old organ
ization, not only controlled the city govern
ment but in great measure the State as well,
and aspired with some reason to great future
| influence in national affairs. But in day the
mighty power vanished, and 'like the base
less fabric of vision" will leave not a wreck
behind. Nothing, we believe, can save 1t,
unless it be the venomous attacks of party
papers. All the injunction afidavits
and explanations, with Court proceed
ings and investigations of commit
tees, however they may terminate,
can neither arrest its downfall nor restore its
prestige and power. Even if there should be
failure to show by legal evidence that
| any of the leaders of the Ring
have directly stolen the city money,
people will believe they have. At least all
are convinced that there have been unparal-
leled extravaganza and participation in the
proceeds by some of these leaders. People

nollys and Tweeds have amassed in an incredi-
bly, short time, and cannot be persuaded that
such men got their vast wealth honestly.
Whether the city treasury has been plundered
directly or indirectly, the crime is the same,
| and the people hold those in power responsible.
| Then, to cap the climax of official delinquency
and of public indignation, comes the alleged
l 80 I, 10 <bo
custody. 1t is impossible that any men,
ring or party could stand under
such state of things. The corruption
growing ont of the war appears to
have eliminated just now in this city and
with the Tammany Ring. Not that this is the
most prominent case of corruption, or that the
amount stolen is as great as in some other
instances, or that the democrats are more cor
rupt than the republicans but it has made
more noise and will arouse public attention to
the magnitude of the evil from which the
country has been suffering for the last ten or
eleven years.


The moral atmosphere has been charged
with the destructive element of corruption ever
since the war commenced and occasionally
|
Ring corruption burst upon us with an un-
usual shock. Who does not remember the
stupendous whiskey frauds, chiefly perpetrated
by and under republican office-holders The
federal Treasury was robbed by these despera-
does of hundred millions of dollars or up
wards. Then look at the corruption and
extravaganza, with nothing to show for it, that
| al {bo in
this city before the present Charter went into
operation Look at the Treasury rings at
Washington, which have made colossal fortunes
within few years; at the national bank
ring, which has taken twenty millions or more
a year from the public that ought to have
gone into the national Treasury; at the rail-
road rings, that have swallowed up a large
portion of the public lands besides vast
amount of public money; at this new Syndi-
| cate job to enrich a ring of bankers and
spectators, and at all the other rings and
jobs too numerous to be mentioned under
both the republicans and democrats. Both
parties are alike. We question if there was
ever before in the history of modern times such
general and fragrant corruption as has existed
in this country since 1861. But the party
press sees only one side of the picture. While
it bitterly attacks its opponents it is blind to
the crimes of its friends. We belong TO no
party and condemn the wrong doing of all. In
this very matter Of the city frauds the HERALD
has been unsparing all along in exposing and
condemning them. The papers that have made
so much noise about these frauds for party
effect or from personal motives, have followed
in this instance the course we have invariably
pursued with regard to corrupt practices of all
parties. One of these papers, a blanket sheet,
feeling the necessity Of making desperate
effort to save itself from sinking, has thought
proper to assail u.s. The motive is apparent
through the gross indecency of its assaults.
In its rapidly declining condition it felt the
need of doing something to give it notoriety.
We have eschewed personalities toward our
contemporaries, and have treated the Times
with journalistic courtesy but that paper
seems incapable Of like conduct. In truth,
the Times has been carried away beyond the
bounds Of propriety by ambition to rival the
Tribune and to become tie organ of the
republican party, in the ranks of which it has
always borne the stamp Of the guerilla. 1t is
this inflated and ridiculous vanity to rival or
eclipse really able party journal that has led
it into such indiscreet conduct. Whatever
may be said of the partisan character or cries
OF the Tribune, it has rendered valuable SER
vice to the country and to IFS party, especially
during the war. 1t has an able corps of
journalists in Mr.. Greeley Mr.. Hay, Mr..
Ried and others, and is not in fear
or danger of being supplanted by
any Bohemian rival in its own ranks
1t is power in the land, and will continue to
be eulogized and acknowledged as such by the
republican party. The spasmodic efforts of
the Times will not answer in place Of genius