The New York City "Ring:" Its Origin, Maturity and Fall, Discussed in a Reply to the New York Times

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers. 5 3/4" x 9." Eighty-three pages (fifty-two pages of main text plus thirty-one-page Appendix), complete. Pages are very clean and intact except for small dark spots (likely scorch marks) limited to bottom edge, a shallow crease at center throughout, and light age toning. Covers are clean and intact overall but have small dark spots (likely scorch marks) limited to bottom edge, a tipped-in piece of paper on front with a name ("Robert Payne"; perhaps a former owner) printed on it, a shallow vertical crease at center on front and back, and slight darkening. A Very Good copy. This is an account by Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886), an American politician who served as the Democratic nominee in the 1876 presidential election and the 25th Governor of New York, in which he defends himself against accusations charging that he had conspired with the infamous political machine, Tammany Hall (also referred to as the eponymous "Ring" in this pamphlet). In his account, Tilden also states his ardent opposition to Tammany and summarizes its origins, rise to power, and ultimate defeat from 1857-1873 (while Tammany was officially founded in 1786, Tilden highlights the years of Tammany under William "Boss" Tweed). Tilden begins his account by rebuking the criticisms made against him. The general claim of these critiques, including a series of charges made by the New York Times, is that Tilden did not do enough to denounce Tammany until it was already defeated and that he was at least complicit with the political machine. Throughout his account, Tilden claims he was never a part of Tammany Hall and details the actions he had taken as the corruption of Tammany progressed. He argues, in turn, that the New York Times was too silent on the matter of Tammany's corruption until it was too late (the New York Times would later became a staunch opponent of Tweed and Tammany with its articles that exposed millions of dollars of fraud committed by Tammany against New York taxpayers and its inclusion of Thomas Nast's cartoons that lampooned Tweed). Tilden then describes the Tammany Ring's origins which he says began in 1857 with the formation of the New York County Board of Supervisors composed of six Democrats and six Republicans. Tilden says that the Board's makeup allowed for political corruption because its members could not be easily removed and that it was summarily a "Ring" because it encircled and was deeply ingrained in both political parties. Tweed became a Board member in 1858 (and later a United States Representative and New York Senator). Tilden then explains how Tammany eventually had a stranglehold on New York politics and infiltrated both the Democratic Party and Republican Party. TIlden also names other Tammany conspirators such as A. Oakey Hall, Richard "Dick" Connolly, Peter B. Sweeny, and George G. Barnard. Tilden's account has extracts of his own speeches in which he openly criticized Tweed and Tammany and expressed his concerns over their corruption (one extract is from a speech Tilden made before Tweed in which he exposes the ploy of Tammany of having government offices filled without the consent of the people). He elaborates upon the fraudulent "Tweed Charter" which made it difficult to remove Tweed and other Tammany members from office. However, he says that the Union League Club and New York newspapers such as the World, Evening Post, Sun, and Tribune were swift in exposing and denouncing Tweed's corrupt politics. Tilden then describes the measures he took to combat Tweed and Tammany. For example, he collaborated with Messrs. Francis Kernan, Oswald Ottendorfer, and O'Conor, among many others, to oust Tammany from New York City's politics. Tilden was an instrumental figure in bringing Tweed and other Tammany members to justice and prevented Tweed from being released from prison after his arrest. Appendix contains newspaper extracts and other notes about the Tammany Ring.…