of honest local government. Laws were passed to that end, but only served to aid dishonest politicians. The terms "ring," "machine," and "boss" became significant in politics at this time. To take the government of the metropolis out of the hands of a party, a bipartisan board was appointed to rule for six years. The board soon became a "ring" under a "boss." While the people were bent on making money just after the war, they forgot their civic duties. This was the era of gigantic swindling. Men of both parties were bought and used as tools. Infamous deals were made for railroad and corporation monopolies. Courts and legislatures were bought up. The climax was reached in the notorious "Tweed Ring."

"Boss" Tweed.-By 1868 the "boss" in New York City and in the state was William M. Tweed, a chairmaker, able and jovial, but with little education, coarse, and without conscience. He was the master spirit of the worst part of the Democrats, and controlled enough Republicans to carry out his schemes. He boasted that every man had his price. He had been a congressman (1850), and then was on the bipartisan board of supervisors for the city (1851). Four times he was chosen president of the board. His next office was deputy street commissioner (1863), and a few years later he went to the state senate (1867) to guide his crooked legislative schemes directly.

The Robbery. He now controlled the government of New York City. Tammany Hall made him its Grand Sachem. He held in his hand the nominations of the city and state. Greedy officials carried out his will. He organized his friends into a "ring" to plunder the city.

His servants were in the courts. From the unsuspecting people he drew taxes enough to run a nation. He professed to use the money on streets, parks, armories, public buildings, and improvements of various kinds, but most of it went to himself and his fellow conspirators. A new court-house, to cost $250,000 (1868), was used to cover thefts of over $10,000,000. Contractors received this sum and then repaid Tweed and his allies from 15 to 85 per cent.

New Charter of 1870.-Pretending that the people demanded more concentrated responsibility, Tweed secured a new charter for the city (1870). All power was put into the hands of a mayor, comptroller, commissioner of parks, and commissioner of public works. This "big four," led by Tweed, was absolute. It controlled all moneys and offices. It met but once, allowed $6,000,000 of fraudulent bills, and then gave all power to the chief. He helped elect Hoffman governor (1870). He taxed everything possible, and gave out money with a royal hand. A record of the robberies and division of the spoils was kept accurately in the auditor's office.

Discovery of the Fraud.-Few crimes on so great a scale are known to history. Tweed's princely airs, the gaudy show of his colleagues, the pretensions of Tammany Hall in politics-city, state, and national,— and the burdens of the expensive frauds led to exposure after millions upon millions had been stolen from the people. Crime will out. The New York Times and Harper's Weekly exposed the steal. Indignation meetings were held. A Committee of Seventy was appointed to act (Sept. 4, 1871). Tweed only answered, "What are you going to do about it?"

two years.

Overthrow of the Ring.-Retribution came speedily. Connolly, the comptroller, was arrested, bailed out on $500,000, and escaped to Europe. Tweed gave $1,000,000 bail, but was at last sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment (1873). His friends secured his release in He was rearrested on a new charge, but escaped to Europe. He was recaptured in Spain (1876) and returned to prison, where he soon died, at the age of fifty-five (1878). Mayor Hall was also tried, but escaped punishment. The legislature secured the removal or resignation of three judges who had co-operated with the "ring."

Changes in Government.-The Committee of Seventy failed to secure a new charter, but had the old one so modified as to place the legislative power in the hands of a board of twenty-two aldermen. The mayor still named the heads of departments. Subsequent years have not been wholly free from charges of fraud and corruption in city politics. Many investigations have been made since and some wholesome laws have been passed, so that cities are governed better to-day than ever before. Still the problem of city government is not yet wholly solved. The "Tweed Ring" called out heroic action and civic devotion as nothing else could have done.

Horace Greeley.-In the coming contest for President (1872) another New York son was a candidate. The "Liberal Republicans," who opposed what they considered Grant's usurpation of power, held a national convention at Cincinnati and nominated the venerable Horace Greeley (May 1), and the Democrats seconded the nomination at Baltimore (June 9). The Republi

cans meanwhile renominated Grant (June 5). The people still trusted Grant. Even New York gave Grant 53,500 more votes than Greeley. Before the electoral college met, Greeley, disappointed, broken in health, and grieved over the loss of his wife, died. Greeley should be classed among New York's greatest men. Born in Vermont (1811), he went to New York at the age of twenty. He helped to establish modern journalism. Through the New York Tribune he became a leading politician in the state and nation. He stood for a protective tariff; he fought the extension of slavery; he labored for the preservation of the Union. He served a term in Congress and was ambitious to be govHe was odd in dress and eccentric in manners, but honest, brave, independent, and charitable. His refusal to submit to leadership, his defiance, his scathing criticism of men and parties, his undoubted genius and ability made him feared and hated by many politicians but loved by others. He opposed war at first, then stood for the Union, and was the first to offer bail for Jefferson Davis.

ernor.

State Politics.-The state election of 1872 was interesting. The colored voters held their first convention at Troy, and pledged their support to Grant and demanded a recognition of their rights (May 3, 1872). The next year a law opened all places of amusement to them. John A. Dix defeated Francis Kernan for governor by 53,500 votes. Dix was a lawyer and had held various state and national offices. While Secretary of the Treasury (1861) he wrote that famous order to the lieutenant of a revenue cutter at New Orleans, "If any man attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him

on the spot." That order electrified the north and fired every patriotic heart. He was a scholar, business man, soldier, statesman, and one of New York's best governors. He helped to improve the state's financial condition; he ended much local special legislation; he checked many corporate privileges; he reformed the canal management and the prison system; and he improved city government. He was renominated for the office (1874) but was defeated, and died five years later.

CHAPTER L.-TILDEN'S REFORMS

Governor Tilden. The state campaign of 1874 was a very interesting one. The Prohibitionists met at Auburn and nominated ex-Governor Clark for the highest office (June). At the same time and place fifty Republicans condemned Governor Dix for vetoing a temperance bill. The Liberal Republicans convened at Albany, but made no nominations (Sept.). The Democrats named Samuel J. Tilden, and the Republicans the same month renominated Governor Dix by acclamation at Syracuse. The Democrats were victorious. Tilden defeated Dix by over 50,000 and became governor. Tilden was a native of the state (b. 1814) and the son of a rich merchant who was a close friend of Van Buren and the " Albany Regency." Educated at Yale and the University of the City of New York, young Tilden studied law with Benjamin F. Butler. He first took up newspaper work (1844), and then entered politics (1846). He censured Lincoln for not calling out

1