d one thousand dollars to each
alderman to buy coal and food for the needy. His own ward received
fifty thousand. Finally, in return for his gifts scattered broadcast
to the press and to an army of proteges, it was proposed to erect a
statue "in commemoration of his services to the Commonwealth of New
York." His followers thought him invulnerable, and those who despised
him feared his power. In New York he had come to occupy something of
the position formerly accorded to Napoleon III by the public opinion
of Europe.

[Footnote 1275: Hoffman over Woodford, 33,096. James S. Graham, Labor
Reform candidate, received 1,907 votes, and Myron H. Clark, Temperance
candidate, 1,459 votes. Assembly, 65 Democrats to 63 Republicans;
Senate, 17 Democrats to 14 Republicans. Hall's majority, 23,811.
Hoffman's majority in New York City, 52,037, being 16,000 less than in
1868. Appleton's _Cyclopaedia_, 1870, p. 547.]

Tweed's legislative achievements, increasing in boldness, climaxed in
the session of 1871 by the passage of the Acts to widen Broadway and
construct the Viaduct Railroad. The latter company had power to grade
streets, to sell five millions of its stock to the municipality, and
to have its property exempted from taxation,[1276] while the Broadway
swindle, estimated to cost the city between fifty and sixty
millions,[1277] enabled members of the Ring to enrich themselves in the
purchase of real estate. To pass these measures Tweed required the
entire Democratic vote, so that when one member resigned to avoid
expulsion for having assaulted a colleague,[1278] he found it necessary
to purchase a Republican to break the deadlock. The character of
Republican assemblymen had materially changed for the better, and the
belief obtained that "none would be brazen enough to take the risk of
selling out;"[1279] but an offer of seventy-five thousand dollars
secured the needed vote.[1280] Thus did the power of evil seem more
strongly intrenched than ever.

[Footnote 1276: Myers, _History of Tammany_, p. 276.]

[Footnote 1277: Myers, _History of Tammany_, p. 276.]

[Footnote 1278: Without provocation James Irving of New York assaulted
Smith M. Weed of Clinton.]

[Footnote 1279: New York _Tribune_, April 14, 1871.]

[Footnote 1280: "Winans was unfortunate in his bargain, for after
rendering the service agreed upon Tweed gave him only one-tenth of the
sum promised." Myers' _History of Tammany Hall_, p. 277. It might be
added that Wina