The Tammany Ring.

Manawatu Herald, 20 November 1894, Page 3

The Tammany Ring.

( As the Americans have at last risen against the above powerful clique the following will throw much light on the reason why. In the the ftmu des deux Morales M. C. de Vari&njr presents us with a careful study, made upon the spot, of the most i infamous and degrading form & despotism which modern ingenuity has succeeded in devising — that of Tammany-hall, in New York. The despot is Richard Crocker, who is absolute master of the city. He is a native of Ireland, who landed in that city forty years ago ; was a street arab and leader of a gang of youthful oqtlawsf: grew up to be a formidable pugilist ;• was stoker to a

steam fire engine ; landlord of a low drinking saloon, then alderman of the city and coroner for the county, and ultimately— .replaced Tweed as " Bosffg^Tluiniany-hall. He now »i|jijsnlaqe .at Heidelberg, a sumptupus lesidftnce in New York, and a' valuable stud of racehorses. The whole of his princely income is derive^ from blackmail, which is oollected by a skilfully-organised system of district committees, who also control the political and municipal elections. Tammany is master at once of the State Legislature at Albany and of the police of New York. By means of the first, it can introduce measures which, if carried, would ruin companies and private capitalists; and these pay a large annual subscription in order to be permitted to pursue their business In peace. By means of the second, no fewer than 8,000 gambling houses, brottielf, thieves' dens, and other disreputable shops and houses, furnishing employment to 80,000 persons, exist unmolested from year's end to year's end, in consideration of a tax upon their profits levied by Crocker and his " black horse cavalry." If a chartered company or bank seeks to obtain an amendment of the law under which it is constituted, it can only be done through Tammany, and the price demanded ranges from £500 to £10,000, according to the value of the concessions or privileges sought for. Any resistance to its demands is promptly crushed, for its power is enormous and irresistible, and if it is found necessary to chastise the person of a recalcitrant citizen it has in its pay a little regiment of toughs," who are as brutal in their strength as they are unscrupulous and reckless in their methods of employing it.