The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-01
The Tribune Rum Shop.

1t would be manifcStly improper Tor us at
this stage Of the proceedings to express an
opinion regarding the merits Of the suit
brought against the Excise Commissioners
TO test the Validity OF the license granted TO
JAY GoULD's Tribune rum shop. Able coun-
sci have presented the arguments Of the OPP
posing sides, and Mr.. Police Justice SMITH
has taken the papers, duly TO consider them
before rendering judgment in the ease. We
would not utter any word which could posi-
bly, color that judicial decision, especially as
we doubt not Judge SMITH is accustomed to
feed his mind and luxuriate his fancy with
the varied and appctizing contents Of the
Sunday edition of THE SCN, always de-
lightful and satisfying rcpast for an en-
lightencd mind Yct perhaps. scrupulously
avoiding anything which might bias the
judicial Judgment, we may bc permitted to
look at this interesting case simply in its
moral aspects
1t is now well known to everybody that
hfter the death of HORACE GREELEY hi.
newspaper was in desperate strai =. The
young editor he had employed regarded
himself a. the superior of his master. whom
he had, in truth, successfully ilattcrcd and
cajoled; for even the hair of strong men
may be cut by DELILAH who plays ON
their vanity. Mr.. WILLIAM ORroN, gen
tleman of remarkable executive capacity,
and not lacking in honorable ambition, con-
ceived the idea of getting and controlling
the journal so hopelcssy bcrcit. He bought
the controlling interest in the Tribune, and
his idea was to make SCHUYLER CoLFAx its
editor. Mr. ORrON is Il man of astutcness,
md in his own sphere he is a wise judge Of
character; but, like many another able man
agcr in different direction, he found jour
nalism too much for him. especially as at
that very moment The Sun was exposing
the rottenness of the man he had chosen for
his editor Sound or rotten, SCHUYLER
CoLFAX would have made poor cdi
tor for metropolitan journal. He
IL q man Of the most mediocre tai
ents, a cheap political fraud, a mushroom
who won his way to political fame by the
meancst arts of the trickster He lacks ideas
has singuarly commonplace mind. i
devoid Of sincerity and his knowledge 81
politics is that of Il demagogue only. Mr..
URroN, however trusted him, and if his
hollOwncss had not been demonstrated, We
Should probably have had to castigate him
Rs the editor of the Tribune. Fortunately
Tor the purse and fame of Mr.. ORToS he was
Baved from that cgregious disaster.
Tired of the whole business, as well he
might have been, Mr. ORION gladly ac-
cepted the opportunity of selling out the
majority of the Tribune stock TO JAY GOULD,
who thought to use the paper as a stock
Iobbing organ. He has also found out that
1t is silly to buy n white elephant, especially
II you don't know how to manage it; and If
he could unload his purchase on some other
foolish person he would readily do 1t, Though
The disburdenng involved him in considera-
Bile pecuniary loss. He Is sick of the sight
Of the Tribune and of his young editor.
But this seems far remote from the tenn
perance question, and yet the IriJ,n. rum
shop is a legitimate result of these bargain
lngs When JAY GOULD succeeded HORACE
GREELEY his fantastic young editor con-
reivcd the idea that 1t would be grand adj
vertiscment for the paper to put up
unique and snowy building, taller than any
body clse's, in which 1t should be manufac-
turcd. The idea was of course preposterous
and juvenile, for II newspaper needs
pompous pile to make 1t conspicuous, 1t Is
already on its last legs, What difference
does II make, so long rs what they produce
Is worth reading, whether Journals con
tributors write on the ground floor or at an
Altitude OF two or tire" hundred feet
Sun, JAY GOULD young itormuSt have
mr. tail tower ana ne induced ms master 10
bulld H. ana 10 'Ap'hd III Tine process not
only ms own money hu' "lso To exhaust al
tha' ms i''D"t' h"" 7"N'' "uIlhs l"he anu
prosperous years. S"rr"" "lill'td Inc PM
hf"pn'r9' mol" 'lH"'"l7' ana l'"'S Oh inc
h''nli7ilih'''i nn' what ulu 'Af "o' I'D