"Boss" Tweed : the story of a grim generation / by Denis Tilden Lynch.

372

"Boss" Tweed

Vigilance Committee late in August. Instantly The World
protested against the public suggestion of the lynching.
"Lynching," answered The Nation, on September 2, "is, however, here a question-begging term. What we say is that, in
our opinion, Hall, Connolly, Tweed, Barnard, and all the class
to which they belong, and of which Louis Napoleon was the
most conspicuous member, fear no penalty for their misdeeds
except a violent death. They are indifferent to public opinion
and have matters so arranged that the prison pen has no terror
for them, and a natural death they calculate upon. But the
prospect of a violent death, which would suddenly stop their
champagne, knock the satin sofas from under them, shut out
the velvet carpets from their view, cause their fast horses to
vanish into thin air, and launch them into the cold unknown
would terrify them exceedingly; and such a death, we repeat,
a large and growing body of respectable citizens think they
ought to die —first and foremost, in order to stop their thieving
and rid the community of them, and secondly, to prevent an
unwholesome influence on public and private morals of the
spectacle of the peaceful close of their career in the enjoyment
of their stealings."
The night following the Cooper Union meeting nine leading
citizens met and considered the formation of a Vigilance Committee. These men included John Cobert, one of the largest
real estate owners in the city; R. A. Hunter, a banker; James
Whitten, a life insurance company president; George W.
Benster, former Judge, and Joseph Hazlen, a noted lawyer and
a man of wealth. Speaking to the suggestion that hanging
to lamp-posts be resorted to, Hazlen said:
"Where else can you turn for a remedy? They hold everything within their grasp. Every head of Department in our
City is their creature. Every employe of our government is
their slave. Fifteen thousand hirelings, who never perform
work, and indeed who have no work to perform, are on the City
pay-roll, as a praetorian guard around the Chief Boss, to do
any act or deed he may command. Can you stop this waste of
your money? Can you draw back the hands that are now
plunged up to the armpits in the Treasury? Can you stop