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 two years. 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.

very interesting one.

The state campaign of 1874 was a 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

500,000 volunteers in 1861, instead of 75,000. He became a great corporation lawyer, and had charge of many western railroads, thus accumulating a fortune of $7,000,000.

Tilden and Tweed. -Tweed led the worst faction of Democrats in New York, and Tilden the best. Tilden organized his party and began a systematic attack on the infamous Tweed Ring (1869). As an assemblyman he conducted the legislative investigation and exposed the clique (1871). This gave him the people's confidence and made him governor. Tilden's term of office began with a bold attack on the canal ring, which, under a system of repairs by contract, had plundered the state of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The legislature had appointed a committee to investigate the frauds (1867). Popular indignation led to a canal convention which demanded the dismissal of the canal board and the swift punishment of all persons guilty of frauds. The committee reported that the contractors combined to control prices and then divided profits. One canal commissioner was tried, but acquitted. A few inadequate laws had been passed under Governor Dix to protect the state.

Tilden's Reforms.-Governor Tilden demanded a new investigation, and caused the arrest of many officials and of a few private individuals. Although they were not convicted, reformation followed, and no doubt the state was saved millions of dollars. Tilden's reform spirit left its mark on the public conscience. It spread from city to city, then to the state government, and finally to national affairs. As a result the responsibility of public officials was viewed differently, and there was a more rigid accountability of public expenditure to the

people. It was proved that when the people were once aroused to their duties of citizenship they would act decisively and on the right side.

New York's Presidential Aspirants.-Looked upon as the champion of honest government, and trusted as the leader of his party, Tilden was early mentioned as a candidate for President. The Democratic state convention proposed his nomination for "national regeneration and reform." Tammany Hall bitterly opposed him, but he was nominated in the national convention at St. Louis on the first ballot (June 28, 1876). The Republicans of New York also had a candidate for the highest office, Roscoe Conkling, a United States senator and a popular orator and statesman who had supported Grant. Their state convention suggested his candidacy, and promised the state's electoral votes for him. A strong faction in the state opposed him, however. He received only 99 votes in the national convention at Cincinnati, and was beaten by Rutherford B. Hayes (June 14). To appease New York William A. Wheeler was nominated for Vice-President.

Tilden's Defeat. The presidential election was one of the most exciting in our history. New York gave Tilden a majority of 32,700. The general result was in dispute. An electoral commission finally decided that Hayes had received 185 votes and Tilden 184. Tilden's friends insisted that he was elected, and he did receive a majority of the popular vote, but he made no open protest and retired from active politics. In 1880 and again in 1884 his admirers would have made him a candidate for President, but he declined to accept the nomination. Two years later he died. He deserves to