The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-26

most offensive form, namely, the transfer of
negro families from State to State, and every
remove another step beyond civilization. Tire
mission that General Steedman has undertaken
10 ascertain the true state OF things in the
South is one of great Importance, and its results
VIII be looked forward to with great anxiety.
The Bateman-DaIy Case--Hohemian Crit
icism and Machinery.
We give elsewhere the speech Of Mr.. A. Oakley
Hall in the recent Bateman-Daly case. Mr..
Hall touches sharply some points in the case,
especially that OF the poorhouse prices paid by
theatrical people for literary labor; but the
interest that this suit has for the public turns
on points that it was not Mr. Halls cue to
touch at all. The suit is of public interest as
ventilation of the corrupt relations between
the heatre and the press-as an expose of the
olmatter-of-course way in which newspapers
thatpretend to be public censors in the inte-
rest of good morals and good taste degrade
themselves to be the mere buyers and sellers
of ndoriety for those who extend to them the
patty courtesies Of the taproom The public
accepts the press as guide in the matter Of
pubic amusements 10 great extent, going TO
see hat which is praised and staying away
tromthat which is denounced; and the man
ager, trading on the confidence that the public
repces in the newspaper have organized
systm by which they have any amount of
puifry done to order at the shortest notice by
the lOorly paid Bohemians of the minor press
1t isRs an exposure of this shameless system
that tie recent suit against Dir. Bateman is
worry of notice.
d his real issue Of the case there is morally
littl. to choose between the arrogant manager
and he poor scribbler. Manager and scribbler
are qually deep in an arrangement Of which
The lheatre-going public is the real victim,
and the quarrel between them is one of
the kind described in the proverb,
in 1irtuc of which honest men come
by hcir right. Such legal explorations Of
the 'ystem Will enable the public to set
prorr value on the criticisms of the press
gereallyj for this is the machinery by which
theatrical regulations are made. The Bohe-
Milan critics are thirsty race-thirsty as
Cslian and like that monster they bow down
theropinions, kneel and lick the shoes of the
godlkc manager on account Of the celestial
iiquG' that he is ready to pay for. The man
agerpays freely; for what is the outlay and
what the income? Half dozen or dozen
glass of lager beer--a spree of champagne
and ysters now and then. AT this small price
is purchased indiscriminate laudation of every
thins that he Offers to the public. His ranting,
dullTitted actors and actresses are declared
TO b. finer than anything else on The modern
stag his trashy, perhaps indecent plays are
praied 10 the echo and the names Of Malbran
and isia are invoked to make brilliant com
parions for bis obscure third rate singers and
theilworn out voices. Mr.. Days testimony
shoss chat, being in the pay OF Mr.. Bateman,
he vas allowed to write what he pleased in any
of ne Philadelphia papers while Miss Bate
mar played in that city. And the papers
praised the magnificent tragedienne wonder
full, of course. Honest opinions of the Phila-
del,hia press! But these opinions, bought
will the oysters and wine dispensed through
Dali filed the house for the confding public
cane just as if the opinions had not been paid
Tor and Bateman made money. The crcum-
stare that distinguishes him from other man
ages is that he refused to audit the
bills The drinkers had been too exravagant.
He Intended that they should take lager beer,
and The superlative fellows had the impotence
TO call tor champagne, and they must pay for
it. As long as the managers have pursued
this system it Is not on record that any other
one of them has acted thus at the last.
It's the Philadelphia press that is brought
up in his case most prominently; but in this
metropolis the Bobemians cultivate the same
system. The plaintiff in the present case is the
aitache OF city paper, and, as the public has
seen, the names of several city papers were
brought in on the trial. The HERALD is the
only journal whose opinions the manag ers
have failed to secure by this outrage)Js system,
aud that is the reason why "hcse establish
ments do moi advertise in the New YORK Her
AID" II singers have cracked voices, we say
so. II managers parade rrtistcs that can no
longer Get engagements on the other side OF
the Atlantic, we let the public know IT, II
trashy, indecent plays are put forward; fpoor
nonendtios are put up as actresses or actors OF
genius, we expose the one and knock down the
other Hence managers have thought il their
interest to quarrel with US, and, having the
command Of the thirsty Bohemans, they have
been able TO fill the city papers with misrerrc-
sentation, and the country papers too; all pur-
chased with the same lager beer that pays for
a nightly puff. But now and then a manager
will forget the proprieties Of his little game
with the Bohemians and expose these little
secrets in the courts. Then the public comes
by it, rights and Is enabled 10 understand what
paper il can depend upon for unpurcbascd
opinions or all such topics.
Tue RI AsON WHY rHE MANAGER AssouA-
TIoS did moi advertise in the New YORK iIEh-
AIN was because the manager. formed com.