The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-18
Black.Mall.

We are at length favored with specific &C.
cufation of levying black-mail. Yesterdays
Tribune condescends to relieve the monotony of
vague generaities by direct charge, to the eft
feet that we compel frightened resident mana
gers and peripatetic artists to have the printing
OF their bills done at our job-printing office, IN
der penalty of savage attacks in our columns.
This is the first occasion on which the calumny
has been brought forward in such a shape as to
be met; and we at once hasten to reply.
Eighteen years ago we established tnis paper,
sold it at two cents, and charged fifty for a
certain number of lines in our advertising col
umns. These two sources have been the only
ones, in connection with the HERALD, from
which we have derived any profit or emolument
Ten years ago managers and proprietors of pub
lie amusements who were in the habit of adver-
Using in our columns expressed wish that we
should likewise print their bills. We accord
ingly established jobprinting Office, and
charged the usual rates for work done there.
Similar Offices were established at different
periods by the Tribune and the Courier and
Enquirer, but not being conducted economi-
cally or on business principles, they failed.
and the bulk of the business fell into
our hands. In one word, we beat them at
job-printing just as we beat them at
newspaper making. We have printed for
some time, and still continue to print, most
of the playbills used in New York. This
branch of our business has always been and
is still entirely separate from and Independent
of the HERALD. If as the Tribune asserts, we
secure the custom of managers for our job office
by threats of persecution and severity in the
newspaper, in case they have their printing
done elsewhere, how does it happen that man.
ayers who do give us their custom do not
rebel when we criticise their performances?
Take the Broadway, for instance: out of ten
criticisms which have appeared in our columns
on the late performances at that house at least
six OF eight have been unfavorable. Yetwe
hear nothing Of the manager withdrawing his
bills. Let any one ask Mr.. Wallack or Mr..
Burton whether they have been pulled of late
in the HERALD. Why, within the last few weeks
we have had whole host Of indignant actors
and managers about cur ears for our unfair
ness" and severity" If the artists word is to
be taken our critics have done nothing but
abuse them. If we treat those who do patronise
us in this way, how, in the name of common
sense could we deal with those who don't SO
as to testify our displeasure at their conduct !?
How could we, who, according to greenroom
report, scold necessarily at every one, compel
managers and artists" to give us their printing
by threats Of severity The merest tyro
would laugh at such menace.
Having we trust, disposed Of this the first
specific charge of black-mail, we hopo.that the
topic will not be abandoned without thorough
inquiry into its history, and Conscientious
research after black. mailers." Honesty in
the public press is worth securing at any cost:
| tue public may be assured that we shall not
rest unit! the brand is imprinted on the shoul
| der of the ieon. We shall endeavor TO avoid
the coarse language into which inirmities Of
temper ard deficiency Of breeding are con-
stantly huyryng the writers for the Tribune,
lut we shall state facts plainly.
We say, for instance, that IL has been proved