Thrity years of New York politics up-to-date ...

Preface

This work, although of a political character, is in no sense partisan in its scope, spirit or intention. It is written without fear or favor and without conscious prejudice or passion.

Founded upon the author's personal experience and observation, while officially connected with the Municipal and State Governments and while participating in political movements relating to them, as well as upon public records and other sources of information, it aims at being more than mere annals of the period with which it deals, and, while giving the facts with all possible accuracy, seeks to look beneath the surface of events and discover the motives and designs underlying political actions and conduct. Although not coming under the category of light reading, many humorous episodes are recorded in its pages, all of which have been introduced only with the view of correctly representing New York political life. The letters make a coherent narrative, yet every chapter is complete in itself and may be read with interest, irrespective of what precedes or follows it.

While freely criticising the many abuses of our Municipal Government, I have undertaken in the opening chapters to correct the impression which prevails in some quarters, that they have had their origin in our system of government, and to show that, however great these abuses, our institutions contain within themselves an inherent remedy by which they can be corrected and cured, and that, like the Angels of Milton's Epic, for every wound inflicted they possess a self-healing virtue.

Many foreigners are prone to assume that corruption in the government of New York City, the Metropolis of the Western Hemisphere, necessarily implies kindred corruption throughout the Avhole fabric. State and Federal.

The assumption, however erroneous, is perhaps natural. There is no room for doubt that the scandals arising out iv

of the misrule of New York City, during the last three dec ades, have brouglit discredit and obloquy on American institutions. It is illogical and unfair, however, to draw sweeping conclusions from narrow and restricted premises.

Ill my endeavor to demonstrate that the blame must rest with ourselves until we remove the conditions whicli we know to be so hurtful, I have aimed at taking the dial, so to speak, from off the political clock and exhibiting the mechanism and its movements within.

Vital facts and conditions, nowhere else collected and classified, are disclosed ; and some thoughtful, perhaps partial, readers of portions of the original manuscript, believe that exhibiting these conditions in a collective form ought to arouse a somewhat slumbrous public conscience, by showing how and why the people are themselves to blame for tolerating the insolent rule of Kings and Bosses.

When the attention of the stockholders of any large mercantile or manufacturing enterprise is drawn to positive proof of wrongdoing on the part of their selected manager or agents, they usually are prompt to protect their money, credit and lienor, by changing the management and improving the system. Every citizen of G-reater New York is a shareholder in this mighty municipal corporation. All of them are taxpayers, directly or indirectly. If their local government is corrupt, inefficient, wasteful or scandalous, the blame is their own.

Towards the cure of any serious ailment in the body politic, as in the human body, a correct diagnosis is an essential step. This book, in striving to point out the nature and location of the disease in our Municipal Grovernment, shows how political "Machines" acquire, solidify and maintain their power and control. Deep, strong and tortuous are the roots of longestablished Bossism ; but the remedy is always at hand — one too which the people can readily enforce, whenever a righteous anger shall have aroused them from their lethargy and impelled them to act resolutely and steadily, not spasmodically,

M, P. B.

LIST OF PORTRAITS.

WILLIAM M. TWEED.

A. OAKEYHALL.

JAMES T. BRADY.

GEORGE G. BARNARD.

CHARLES O'CONOR.

PETER B. SWEENY.

NO All DAVIS.

RICHARD B. CONNOLLY.

DAVID DUDLEY FIELD.

JOHN KELLY.

ROSCOE CONKLING.

JOHN GRAHAM.

JAY GOULD.

SAMUEL J. TILDEN.

JOSEPH H. CHOATE.

JAMES FISK, Jr.

WILLIAM M. EVARTS.

THOMAS C. PL ATT.

WHEELER H. PECKHAM.

DAVID B. HILL.

W. BOURKE COCKRAN.

RICHARD CROKER.

CHARACTER ILLUSTRATIONS :

JUDGE "DAN" BREEZY.

JUDGE "GUS." HEBERMANN.

Letter I

Object and Scope of These Letters— Making Clear the Mystery of American Politics — •Pen Pictures of Peculiar and Prominent Characters — Secrets of the Inner Circle — Remarkable Change in Foreign Sentiment Concerning the United States — Now Regarded as Something More than an Heiress-Hothouse for Bankrupt European Nobility 1

LETTER IL

How English Prestige in Europe Was Affected by American Independence — The Boasted British Constitution — Fundamental Difference Between It and the Constitution of the United States — How the Latter is Venerated by American Citizens — Unrestrained Authority of the British Parliament— The Blessings and Dangers of Liberty 10

LETTER IIL Mysteries of Municipal Affairs — Far Reaching ''Pulls" of a Hidden Power — A Subservient and Corrupt Judiciary — How Judges were Seduced from the Paths of Rectitude — Apparent Invincibility of the Boss and his Adherents — His Grasping Propensities — New Phase of an Old Evil— The Peril Which Confronts Our Citizens To-day 20

LETTER IV.

How Absolute Power of the Ring Was Acquired — Origin of the Tammany Society — Its Importance in the

Early Days of the Republic — Its Seizure by Tweed and His Associates to Promote Their Supremacy — The Source and Explanation of Oue-Man Power in the Democratic Organization — The Primary Election Farce — Wheels Within Wheels — Political Patronage and the Uses Made of It 30

LETTER V.

How a Boss Was Built Up — The Time and '' Sacrifices^' Required — Tweed's Early Youth and Pig-Tail Experiences — Stepping-Stone to His Twenty Years of Official Life — An Instance of His Kindness of Heart and Great Generosity — His Tact as a Politician — Shrewdness Displayed by Him in Selecting and Placing His Adjutants — Why He Desired to Secure Control of the Governorship — His Efforts to Rout Albany Marauders — Ambitious Plans He Had Mapped Out 45

LETTER VL Extending Kew York Tactics to the Suburbs — How Greek Met Greek at Highbridgeville — Proposed Attempt of Ruffians to Raid a Primary Meeting Checked by a Loaded Cannon — Colonel Mooney's Victory and How He Became Master of the Situation — A Square Deal That Was Not Intended — How the Colonel Beat the '' Machine" at Its Own Game. 59

LETTER Vn.

The Old Volunteer Fire Department and Its Fascination — How it Differed from the Present Fire System — Good Conduct of the "Old Boys" when Disbanded — How They Used to " Amuse" Themselves After a Fire — A Melee in Which Senator "Dave " Broderick Lost His Fire Cap — Harry Howard's Love Romance, and How He Made Mayor Fernando Wood Act '' Square " For Once— The Relic of the Volunteer Department in Mount Morris Park QS

K

LETTER VIII.

L.stinguished Lobbyists at Albany— Originator in this State of tlie Third House— Skilled Diplomats and their Successful Manoeuvres— A Coup d'Etat in the State Senate— Adroitness of a Member in Turning a Sharp Corner— Important Bridge Contest Between Albany and Troy— How a Cute Lobbyist on a Losing Side Turned Up a Winner— Apparently Trivial Incident that Changed the Course of an Important Measure

LETTER IX.

Pluck Displayed By Tweed in His Early Political Career —How He Combated the Omnibus Monopoly— What it Cost Thirteen Aldermen to Disregard an Injunction—Thirty Years of Incessant Struggle for a Broadway Railroad— Sad Fate of the Original Projector- Public Clamor and Its Victims— How a Washington Boss Was Hounded Almost to Death; Then Applauded as a Hero and an Ovation Extended to Him. 95

LETTER X.

Attempt to Enforce Obsolete Blue Laws in the Metropolis—The Boomerang Effects of an Arbitrary Excise Enactment— Indignant Response of the Metropolis to Sectional Legislation— Partisan Method of Interpreting a Sumptuary Law— Why Liquor Saloons Became Political Centres— When a Presidential Election Was Lost Through the Sabbatarian Efforts of a New Jersey Parson, Who Was Henry Clay's " Burchard "— How a Sunday "Blue Law" Saved the Staten Island Ferry Company from Consequential

Damages

LETTER XL Boss Tweed's Appearance as Senabpr at the State Capital —His Ambition aoes MarcUiug on— Feeble Attempt

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to Check His Progress — He Elects the Speaker, "Fixes" the Committees, and Settles Down to Business — An Unexpected '•' Fire in the Rear" — Mayor Hoffman Confronted with a Realizing Sense of His Position — The Old Tax Levies and the Art and Science of Legislative Legerdemain — Horace Greeley's Scathing Denunciation of Tweed and the Tammany Leeches 119

LETTER XIL Memorable Erie Railroad Contest — Judiciary of the Metropolis Used as Bulls and Bears — Action of an Erie Stock-Holder Against Judge Barnard and Commodore Vanderbilt for Joint Conspiracy — Millions Expended in Litigation and Legislative Lubrication to Save Millions Filched from the People — The '' Black Horse Cavalry " on the Rampage — Eagerness of an Unsophisticated Legislator to be Corrupted — Sudden Collapse of High Expectations — How Tweed Managed to be on Both Sides in Two Big Fights — Litigation Which Ended in Murder — The Body Found Floating in the North River 133

LETTER XIIL Surroundings of a Local Political Boss — Keen Business Shrewdness of a New York Alderman — -His Onerous Unofficial Duties — Daily Attendance at Police Courts, Wakes and Funerals — How He Managed to *'Run " an Undertaker, and Fixed Obsequies to Suit His Personal Convenience — A Bar-room Bouncer and the Peculiarities of His Occupation 147

LETTER XIV.

Diamond Days of tlie Ring — When the Professional Politician Was in His Glory — A Perpetual Smile and a Prodigious G^m His Stock in Trade — How Favorites of the Ring Who Had Never Read a Law

Book Became Lawyers— When Judge Barnard Had ^'Some Fun With the B.)ys "-Preliminaries to a Local Convention— Preposterous Attempt of an Unslated Nominee to Question a Local Boss about a

Primary '■'

LETTER XV.

Reconstruction, Liipeachment and Amnesty-Desperate Attempt of Ambitious Political Leaders to Unseat a President— Their Defeat after a Long and Persistent Struggle— Proclamation Which ilade Fourth of July a Reunion Jubilee— Democratic National Convention at Tammany Hall-How Horatio Seymour Was Nominated for the Presidency— Why We Vote for Electors Instead of Voting Direct for President and Vice-President-Advantages of the Electoral

System

LETTER XVI.

Bribery AYhich Was Not Bribery-Investigating Committees Hard to Convince-Two Peculiar Cases- Rumpus Over the Interpretation of a Simple Word— More Secrets of Legislation— Practical Illustrations of the Use of the Lobby-The - Contingent Method of Passing a Blll-An Instance m Which Aldermen Were not " Treated Right." ^'^

LETTER XVII.

Shaping a State Convention for Popular Success-Political Sagacity Outgenerals. Vengeful Jealousy- Democracy's Great Triumph in the Empire State- Plotters for Dissension Sowing Seeds of Discord m the Metropolis-Wire Pullers of the Young Democracy Revolt-E^^traordinary Charter Contest m the Legislature-Combination Against and Attempted Deposition of Tweed-Complete Rout of his Adversaries-Philanthropist and Gambler Bargain Over ^^^ Devilled Crabs

LETTER XVIII.

Make-Up of a Judicial Convention — Its Subservient and Crawling Creatures — The Shabby-Genteel ''Bum" — Vain Efforts at Recognition by a "Had-Been" — Delay Which Aroused Apprehension of a Hitch — Preliminary Speech by an Embryo Citizen — Entrance of the ''Honored Leader" of the District — The Machine Set in Motion — How a Judge was Nominated — Acclaim with Which " the People's Choice " was Received — Fervid Enthusiasm and a Grand Rush to the Bar 205

LETTER XIX.

" Tweed and His Generals " — Last Effort of a Persistent Place Hunter to " Taffy " the Boss— Scheme to Enable Political Aspirants to Get Near the Head Centre — Proposed Statue to Tweed — Why It was not Erected — When Peter B. Sweeny Thought His Friend Tweed had Gone Crazy — Lark of Oriental Club Men — Boss's " Private Business" Door at the Delavan House — 219

LETTER XX.

Characteristics of a Successful Politician — Generosity Indispensable to Popularity — Fate of a Mean Man Who Sought Public Office— "Business End" of a Nominating Convention — " Dan " Breezy in a Nest of "Strikers"-The "Bleeding" Process Practically Illustrated — How Campaign Clubs Were Startt'd — The Big Show Five Men Made — Audacious Cheek of a Target-Sliooting Striker — An Impecunious Candidate of Military Fame in a Tight Place — Trouble He Had to Save a Table T 229

LETTEK XXI.

"Dan" Breezy's Skilful Management of His Whirlwind Canvass — An Acknowledged "Corker " as a Caiididate — Vindicating His Judicial Dignity to a Torch-

±iii

Light Procession — Overpowering Applause Rattles His Prepared Speech — Mike Hickey gives the Cue to the Judge- Elect — But even Ten-Cent Whiskey Fails to Mitigate His Dismal Oratorical Failure ..- 242

LETTER XXIL How the Joke of a Wag Adjourned a Session of the Board of Aldermen — Description of an East Side Saloon — Its Equipment for Rapid Drinking— How it Differed from a Lager Boer Place of Refreshment — Noticeable Indifference of Germans to Local Politics — The Shiny Hat Brigade and the Duties it had to Perform 249

LETTER XXIIL Awakening of the G-erman Element to Its Power and Importance — Its Political Activity Excites Alarm in the Irish Element — Concessions Made in the Shape of Nominations — First Teuton Officeholders not a Success— What Brought Down a Pompous Oratorical Alderman — An Appointee Who Thought He had to do Some Work — His Persistency Ended by "Cutting His Wind." ...- 258

LETTER XXIV.

"Irrepressible Conflict '' Between Two Races — Too Much Official Recognition of St. Patrick's Day Breeds Trouble — Mayor Hall Reviews a Parade in the Regalia of an Irish Prince — Anger of the German Press and Indignation of German Clubs — Political Avalanche Which Made a Baker State Senator in Spite of Himself . . - 267

LETTER XXV.

Exciting Legislative Episode Sliowing the Disadvantage of Too Small a Majority — How an Ill-Tempered Bully Disorganized Legislative Business — A Blow

Which Dissipated Democratic Supremacy and Produced Chaos — Resolve of the Republicans to "Boss the Ranch or Block the Game" — How the Gordian Knot was Out — Ruin Which Followed the Man Who Cut It -- - 278

LETTER XXVI.

A Civil Justice in the Halcyon Days of the Ring — The Give-and-Take System of Political Advancement — Success of Cheek and Log-Rolling — How a Sample Civil Justice Opened His Court — Enthusiastic Admirers Profoundly Affected by His Inaugural Speech — Cunning Attempts to Make Political Capital — Deciding a Question of Law by Knock-Down Argument — Futile Effort to Crush a Young Advocate — The Judge on the Bench Offers to Bet on a Sure Thing 293

LETTER XXVII.

Three Very Remarkable Men — Mike Walsh, Capt. Isaiah Rynders and Count Joannes — The Spartan Band and The Empire Club — Mike's Election Squabble with John Kelly — His Arrest for Criminal Libel — How He Offended His Friend Broderick by Not Committing Suicide — Capt. Rynders' Democratic Speech on Horseback to a Defeated Whig Nominee — His Goodness of Heart and Kindly Act to Isaac V. Fowler, New York's Democratic Postmaster, When in Trouble — Count Joannes, a Man of Trials — Always in Hot Water 302

LETTER XXVIIL Rumblings Preceding the Storm — Beginning of Popular Distrust — Concealment of Financial Conditions — Hidden Provision of the Tax Levy which Gave New Life to the Ring — Corrupt Practices of the Judiciary Denounced by a Fearless Lawyer — What Led to the

Formation of the Bar Association — How a Willing Governor Pulled Tweed's Chestnuts Out of the Fire — The Ring Bracing Itself Against Adverse Criticisms and Entrenching Itself Behind Atrocious Legislative Enactments 316

LETTER XXIX.

Chiefs of the Tribe of Tammany in Their Glory — Mutual Congratulations on Auspicious Conditions — But a Powerful Newspaper Begins to "Say Things '^^A Presentation of Figures which Startles the Community — Choate's Javelin of Justice — How He Answered Tweed's Inquiry of ''What are You Going to Do About It?" — Resolutions that Meant Business and Worked Wonders 333

LETTER XXX.

Marriage of Tweed's Daughter — A Seven Hundred Thousand Dollar Wedding — James Gordon Bennett's Comment on It — Opening of the New Americus Club Building — Tweed's Gala Day While on the Brink of a Volcano — Magnificence of the Tiger's Lair at Greenwich, Conn. — Practical Jokers of the Club — Rowing Race Between John Fox and " Jake " Somerindyke — Simplicity of John Kelly Contrasted with the Surroundings of His Successor 341

LETTER XXXI.

How the Ring Humbugged the Proud American Citizen — A Great Moral Convulsion in the Air — Serious Talk at a Secret Conclave — Suggestion of a Xew York Vigilance Committee — Experimental Appeal to a Corrupt Judge First to T)e Tried — His Unexpected Granting of a Sweeping Injunction — Unsuccessful Effort to Make a Jonajijof.,l'_Slij)p ery Dick" / -^Zig-Zag Fight and Mayor Hall's Topsy Turviness — Business Men's Rally to Oust the Municipal Thieves^TrTTTITTTTrTriTr^^ ,

LETTER XXXIL Comptroller Connolly's Millionaire Whitewashers — The " Orange Riot," Its Cause and Serious Result — " The Wonderful House that Tweed Built "—When Tammany Hall Was Closed Tight on an Election Night — Fragments of the "Unterrified" Trying to Brace Each Other Up — Dying Throes of a Remnant of the Tweed Regime — Aldermanic Attempt to Impeach the Mayor — How the Would-be ''Hold-Overs" Were Outgeneralled by Judge Abraham R. Lawrence — Evolution of a New Tammany Boss 368

LETTER XXXIIL

When Judge George G. Barnard was Triumphantly " Vindicated," According to Order — His Eccentricity and Reckless Humor on. the Bench — A Picturesque Judicial Brigand — The Bar Association Pnrsues Him — Close Vote of the Assembly Committee on the Charges Presented — Finding of the Court of Impeachment — Stripped of Judicial Honors and Forever Disqualified from Holding Office — Fateful End of Judge John H. McCann — An Unscrupulous Money-Getter Who Fell a Victim to Prosperity 385

t LETTER XXXIV.

Solving a Political Enigma — How and Why Democrats Supported a Republican for President — Popular Disgust at Radical Recklessness and Despotism — Well- Designed but Unsuccessful Coalition for Peace and Prosperity — Attempt to Expel Greeley from the Union League Club — The Chappaqua Philosopher on His Farm — His Goodness of Heart and Rural Simplicity — Interviewed by the Female Suffragists — Characteristic Anecdotes 407

LETTER XXXV.

First Trial of Tweed — Notable Bar Engaged in the Case — Wliat Made the Defendant so Confident of Acquittal

— Ordeal Through Which the Jury Had to Pass — T3stiiiicm;5LJi£-^wii-Stiiii_Witnesses — Garvey in Much Plaster and Tilden in a Tangle — How Counsel Gridironed the Statesman — Disappointment of the Judge at the Jury's Disagreement — Tweed's Caustic Comment on the Situation -421

LETTER XXXVL Running the Gauntlet a Second Time Before the Same Judge — Unsuccessfl^l Attempt of Tweed's Counsel to Change the Situation — Extraordinary Legal Document — Unmistakable Annoyance Betrayed by the Judge — Sharp Retorts of Counsel and Court — Tactics of the Prosecution a Surprise — Jury Agree on a Verdict — " Guilty !" said the Foreman 443

LETTER XXXVIL

Three Days of Intense Anxiety — Tweed's Desperate Efforts to Obtain a Stay of Proceedings — Unabated Confidence of His Enthusiastic Friends — A Strikingly Dramatic Scene in Court — An Awful Surprise — Appeal for Mercy to an Implacable Judge — Audience Awe-struck at the Severity of the Sentence — Tweed FineJand Sejit to the Penitentiary for Twelve Years 457

LETTER XXXYIII.

UniqueLegal Proceedings of Surpassing Interest — Tweed's Counsel Summoned to the Bar for Contempt — Their Protest in Behalf of Their Client Sternly Rebuked — Judicial Dignity Vindicated by an Upright Judge — Three Leading Lawyers Fined Two Hundred and ' Fifty Dollars Each — The Real Culprits Exonerated and Complimented 472

LETTER XXXIX.

An Unpleasant Recollection for the Present Boss — Erratic and Reckless Career of James Fisk, Jr. — His Daring

Enterprises — The Gold Conspiracy and Memorable Black Friday — Fisk's Jealousy of and Quarrel with Edward S. Stokes — The Woman in the Case — Fatal Meeting of the Rivals and the Shooting of Fisk — Pathetic Ending of Lawyer Lane, Another Victim of the ''Erie Clique," 488

LETTER XL.

Escape of " Prince Hal " — His Duplicity and Base Ingratitude to a Benefactor — Mysterious Gathering at Genet's House — His Abduction Prearranged, Even if Assassination Were Necessary — Imprisonment of Sheriff Brennan and His Deputy, and Death of the Former — Tweed's Conduct Under Arrest Compared with Genet's — Story of the Man Who Had Charge of Both Prisoners - 503

LETTER XLI.

Exciting Old-Time Primary in the Sixth Ward — Voters in Line Daring an Entire Night and Day — "Big Judge " Michael Connolly and Police Justice " Joe " Dowling Exchange Backhanded Compliments — How a Ward Politician Tested His Inflaence — Getting " Ten Days " for a Presumption of Intimacy with *'Joe" Dowling — Daring Encounters and Hairbreadth Escapes of the Sixth Ward Judge 516

LETTER XLII.

Eventful Career of John Morrissey — Evolution of a Prize Fighter — Family Quarrels Which Ended in the Roped Arena — Morrissey Emerges from His Surroundings, Turns IJp a Congressman and Becomes a Power in New York Politics — Ceremoniously Visits New York's , Mayor in a Swallow-Tail Coat — His Fearlessness and Audacity in a Political Canvass — How His First Speech in the Legislature was Delivered — Defeated the Boss in His Own District — A Triumph Which Soon Ended in His Death — Pathetic and Touching Ceremonies in the State Legislature 525

LETTER XLIII.

Six-Million Civil Suit against Tweed — Critical Condition of the People's Legal Champion — Charles O'Conor's Reported Death Causes Courts to Adjourn — The Civil Suit Progresses and its Satisfactory Condition Elates Both Tweed and His Counsel — But O'Conor's Unexpected Appearance from His Sick Chamber Causes Consternation — His Ghost-Like Aspect in Court — Counsel for the Defence Astounded — Greeted by Peckham and Carter, his Associates — O'Conor's Extraordinary Demand and Success — Tweed Foresees his Doom, and Makes Preparation for Flight — A Suggestion for Members of the New York Bar... 543

LETTER XLIV.

Tweed Faces His Twelve Years^ Sentence in the Penitentiary — His Strange Hold on the Affections of the Masses — The Court of Appeals Conies to his Relief — Release Followed by Re- Arrest — Tweed's Escape While in Charge of Sheriff's Officers — Hides in the Palisades, Disguised as a Woodchopper — His Flight, Capture and Return to Ludlow Street Jail — Pathetic Appeal to his Prosecutors — His Last Desperate Effort i to Secure Freedom — Offers to Surrender and Tell \ Everything — All Hope Gone, he Dies Broken- Hearted, and is Buried in Greenwood Cemetery 55^

LETTER XLV.

How William M. Evarts Kept His Word— A Reminiscence of the Civil War — Graphic Description of the Attack of the Ram Merrimac on the Union Ship Cumberland — Making Good a Promise of Seventeen Years' Standing — A Characteristic Letter to Postmaster James — Favor which the Republican Secretary of State Extended to an Hamble Democrat 571

LETTER XLVI.

Bitter Contest Between Boss Kelly and Boss Tilden — ' Marvellous Success of the Latter as a Political Manipulator—How he Paved his "Way to a Presidential Nomination — Attaining the Pinnacle of a Life's Ambition only to be Cheated at Last — A Vengeful ''War to the Knife" on Governor Lucius Robinson — The Tammany Bolt and Its Disastrous Results — Amusing Incident at a State Convention — How a Gubernatorial Boom was Burst 575

LETTER XLVIL

Sequel to the Tammany Bolt — Kelly Runs a State Convention All His Own — New York Gladiatorial Fight Transferred to a Cincinnati Arena — Tilden's Victory Over Kelly and Kelly's Triumph Over Tilden — Both Disturbers Hors de Combat and Everybody Happy — Republican National Convention and Boss Conkling — Solidity of the Stalwart Forces — Turning Defeat into General Victory — A " Knock Out" Which Brings the Winner (Garfield) to the Feet of Grant's Champion - .... 591

LETTER XLVIII.

Reminiscence of an Important Political Event — Slavery andPolitics in Ante-Bellum Times — Vindictivenessof a Presidential Boss — Plucky Fight for Popular Sovereignty — Fate of Senators Stephen A. Douglas and David C. Broderick — Concentrated Eifort of an Administration to Crush John B. Haskin — Triumph of Free Speech Over Partisanism — The Wrongs of Daniel E. Sickles and How he Avenged Them 608

LETTER XLIX.

Boss Kelly in Troubled Waters — Indignation Local and

General Heaped Upon Him — Sectarian Fight Against

William R. Grace in a Mayoralty Contest — Kelly's

Motives Severely Criticised — How Mayor Cooper Untied an Aldermanic Deadlock — A Beheaded Boss's Vindictive Speech — Threatened Revolt in Tammany Against One-Man Power — How the First Mayor of Greater New York, Robert A. Van Wyck, Almost Huptured Tammany Hall 619

LETTER L.

Intrigue Which Led to the Nomination of a Mayor — (Coalition Between Victorious L'ving Hall and Much- Subdued Tammany — Memorable Deal at Westminster Hotel — A Hat as a Substitute for a Nominating Convention — How the Boss Outflanked the Irving Hall " Statesmen '^ — Popular Disapprobation of Political Huckstering — Narrow Escape from Defeat of United Democracy Nominees — An Indication of What Independent Democrats Can Do in a Municipal Contest 633

LETTER LL

Crisis in the Career of a Republican Boss — Roscoe Conkling's Jealousy of James G. Blaine and His Eight Against President Garfield — Unexampled Quarrel Over Political Patronage — Conkling's Manceuvres to Boss an Administration — The President's Determination to ''Sit Down Upon'' a Would-be Dictator — Conkling's Appeal for Vindication a Dismal Failure — Assassination of President Garfield — Culmination of Violent Political Excitement — Vice-President Arthur Takes the Oath of Office as Garfield's Successor 647

LETTER LII.

Severe Comment on John Kelly's Early Career — Attempt of Dissatisfied Democrats to Capture the Tamn)any Society — Those Who Figured as '"Malcontents" — The Committee of One-Hundred Movement— Suecessf ul Formation of a New and Vigorous Democratic Organization — Its Debut at a State Convention — Tammany DelegatesAgain Out in the Cold — Triumpli of the New York County Democracy G63

LETTER LIII.

Insecurity of a Sure Thing in Politics — Three Cooks Who Spoiled the Broth — How Grover Cleveland Came to the Eront as a Gubernatorial Candidate — President Arthur and KoscoeConkling Unconsciously Play Into His Hand — Republican Revolt Against Presidential Bossism — Mayor Grace and Some of His Peculiarities — Alleged Misrepresentations to Jay Gould, and What They Cost Him 676

LETTER LIV.

** Tammany Without a Boss " as a Subterfuge for Making a Boss of a Mayor — Cunning Scheme Which Did Not Work — How Arrogance Came Near AYrecking Cleveland's Presidential Aspirations — Exceedingly Close Political Contest of 1884 — Conspiracy to Steal New York's Electoral Vote — Reluctance of Blaine's , Friends to Give Up the Fight — Conkling, Blaine and Beecher — Deaths of Arthur, Kelly and Thompson — All Victims of Grief and Disappointment 687

LETTER LV.

Fickleness of Popular Favor — President Cleveland Applauded and Commended, but Defeated in His Own State — Singular Apathy at the Nominating Convention — Politicians Unwillingly Submit to Uncontrollable Conditions, but Handicap the Nominee with an Unpopular Platform — Strife of Governor Hill's Friends to Make Him a Presidential Nominee in 1892 — How they Marred His Chances by a "Snap" Convention — Cleveland Nominated a Third Time for the Presidency— The National Contest of 1896 ... 708 xxili

LETTER LVI.

Origin of the Borough of The Bronx— A Eegion Always Antagonistic to Boss Rule — Unsuccessful Opposition of Kelly and Arthur to Annexation of the Westchester Towns— Using Gov. John A. Dix as a Catspaw — How the Bosses Avenged Defeat by Holding the Acquired Territory in Subjugation— Neglect in All Things Except Collecting Taxes— Revolt of a Long-Suffering Community — Determined Appeal to the State for Relief— A Legislative Investigation Which Benefited the People— Triumph of the People's Bill — Desperate Effort of the Bosses to Nullify the Action of the Legislature — Governor Hill Approves the Act of Emancipation From Misrule. '^21

LETTER LVII.

The Exciting Contest Following the Passage of the People's Bill — Tammany's Boss Confident of Winning the Prize at the Polls — Organization of the Citizens' Local Improvement Party — Purroy Startled by the Nomination of Louis J. Heintz — A Campaign of Abuse and Vilification — Tammany's Caricature and the People's Lampoon — Champion of Anti- Bossism Triumphantly Elected— Cunning Attempt to Lure Him into the Wigwam— Programme to Legislate Him Out of Office— Boss McLaughlin Foils the Scheme — But the Successful Champion of Popular Rights Does Not Long Survive His Victory 742

LETTER LVIIL

How Richard Croker Became Boss— A Man of Nerve and Cunning — Herculean Efforts of a Few Brainy Men to Upbuild Tammany's Shattered Fortunes

After Kelly's Death — Croker Steals the Credit — Saturnalia of County Democracy Leaders — The Irish Flag Antics of Mayor Hewitt — Tammany's Victory — Croker Controls the New Mayor, Assumes Command and Clips the Wings of Kivals — An Expert Witness Before Investigating Committees — Perhaps the Highest Living Authority as to What is "Private Business'^ — Croker's Surprising Spring from Indigence to Affluence — Now Declares his Intention to Kun Judges as Well as Eace Horses — His *'Grreatest Political Show on Earth " — But he Promotes Only Old "Wheel-Horses", Keeps Out "Eoyal Bengal Tigers," Controls the Box Office, Pockets the Gate Money, and "It's Dead Easy for him to Keep on Top in the Game "—But There's Trouble Ahead 755