I do not assert that all of its members were cognizantof the crimes committed by it against good government. but it is indisputable that it was the "fostering mother" of that peculiar and skilled talent which found its opportunity on election day and arouid the ballotbox. It was well described by an emioent writer when lie said. in 1872. that "its theory of political action for the last twenty years has been that New York was to lie governed from below. a.nd not not from above. by the weight of ignorance and the strength of corruption. and not by the force of intelligence and virtue." So true was this that elections in the city became a were farce. and honest men of all parties stood helpless and appalled in the presance of disreputable political intrigues and gigantic political fraitls. Malde bold by immunity front punishment. its satellites plundered the city openly and shamelessly . it placed its creatures on the bench and in other places of profit and trust. and in 1868 cheapened it Amcricai citizenship and outraged decency and justice by ordering some of its judges to issue thousands of fraudulent naturalization papers. It was by these notorious means that the city of Now York was carried by 60.578 majority and the State by 10.000 for the democratic candidate for President in 186S. It was the knowledge of thesefants that led to a union of anspectablo men of all parties which swept Tweed and his gang from power and place. and it was with the hope and in the belief that the repetition of these crimes could be made impossible thtt the very law was passed which we are now called upon to strike from the statutebook.
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naturalization