Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-16

BRAINS AND MUSCLE DID II.
From the Philad alphia Times.

lesson Of the impotence Of money in utilizing
Journalism for its own aims and purposes. When
Jay Gould found himself the possessor OF few
millions dozen years ago, with all the shrewd-
ness that he has exhibited in his gigantic specu-
lat1ons, which have multiplied his gains to an
hundred millions, he committed the common
error OF less shrewd men Of riches, in assuming
that he could command politics, trade and
speculation by buying newspapers. He saw
how great newspapers controlled public affairs;
how their honest and intelligent admonitions
conserved legitimate business; how gambling
spectators were awed by the wholesome criti-
cisms of fearless editors. and he was weak
enough to believe that If he could control few
Leading newspapers, he could control both poll
tics and business
His first venture was IN the purchase Of the
new new 1ork Tribune. He paid $4,000 for .
bare majority Of the stock, and imagined that
the influence of his New York journal would be
potent under his control as It had been under
Greeley's fearless, rugged integrity. The result
was just the reverse OF Mr. Goulds expecta-
lions. The paper ceased to pay dividends when
ne became its owner, and continued unpro1ta-
Ole TOT full decade, when it was restored to
popular respect and prosperity by Mr.. Gould's
retirement. Mr.. Whitelaw Reid, with all his
eminent capabilities as journalist, and with all
the prestige Of the great journal founded by the
greatest OF American journalists, could not make
the If'ao,ine prosper while speculative million
aire was Its reputed owner. Nor WAS Mr.. Gould
content with owning the Tribune. He evidently
planned the control Of the politics Of both par
ties and the business Of a continent. He next
| bought the New York World, then bought the
Denver Neaos then made big but unsuccessful
bid for the Chicago Tribune; but the more he
multiplied his newspapers. the more he was
criticised and the less people read or respected
his Journals. He has finally learned the lesson
tnat money cannot make successful or influen-
tial newspapers, and he has wisely closed out
his newspapers with other bad speculations
There has been quite million wasted by men
possessing more money than wisdom to build
up rival to the Public Ledger in this city It
has generally been the vain attempt of money to
command the power of Journalism and The
result has been uniform failure. Journal after
journal has risen aud fallen, and the Lelqer is
more prosperous and influential to-day than ever
before In its long history, and the efforts Of money
to supplant it have persisted like tracks in the
sand. In like manner. millions have been wasted
by men OF money to supplant the New York
Herald Offended wealth has time and again
resolved to have it's own organ, its own news
paper. Its own social articles to advance the
bear stocks as the interests of the gambler de-
manded; but the money of the man of money
vanished. and in che fullness Of time his news
paper vanished Also And what is true of the
New York Herald and the Philadelphia Ledger.
is equally true in nearly every city OF the Union.
that 1t can Control public opinion and the cfan-
neis OF trade BY the prostitution Of pubic
Journals to public deception and it doubtless
will continue to display its singular weakness
by continuing to buy or start newspapers to
langutsh or die unlamented.
The successful public journals of the country
have been started, as rule, without money
The Ledger was founded by three workngmen
whose capital consisted of their intelligence and
industry, and they thus founded, without capt.
q nurc MON 1rk %I~k,x
at three millions. The Press was started by
Colonel Forney when he had no capital. and he
made Its grandest success with little financial
aid. The Times was founded only eight years
ago with nominal capital, and it has long been
paying thrice government interest on million.
Inc New York Herald was started without capt.
tai. MIR. Bennett was its sole editor. reporter
business man and salesman, and now five millions
would not buy it. The Tribune was started
in like manner by Mr.. Greeley, and he died leav-
ing it worth a million. The Sun was founded by
Mr.. Beach without capital, and was made the
most prosperous penny paper in the country, as
IL is now the most prosperous two cent journal
The Baltimore Sun was the creation of the Phil
adelphia Ledger men, and its venerable proprie-
tor, the surviving partner Of the old firm Of
swan, Abel Il Simmons, is a millionaire outside
OF his more than million newspaper property
The only profitable journal that Washington has
known since the war is THE STAR, and it was
the creation of brain and mrscle-not Of money
LILO oplinShefu MaSS.) Efpu6tcdn the model
provincial daily of the country, as well as the
most successful, was built up from an obscure
weekly. solely by the patient industry and mas
terly ability of the late Mr. Bowles.
While 1t Is true that some worthy Journals
nave perished for want Of money, 1t is certainly
true that many more journals of once accredited
influence have persisted by money possessing
and perverting them to the use Of the jobber
and Speculation With universal schools and re-
Quilted industry which makes the newspaper a
welcome visitor IN almost every home and with
Intelligence so widely diffused as to regulate
the power OF newspapers solely by their integ-
rity and enterprise, it is simply impossible for
money to create successful journalism. It
can make speculations successful or dis
astrous; 1t can control the corrupt
political elements OF the country; it can buy the
venal newspaper and thus make readers cease
to buy 1t; but when money attempts to control
politics or trade by controlling public Journals.
however able and successful such journals NAV
be when they become the prey OF the SPECTATOR
the decline and fall Of the money-clOgged news
paper is inevitable. Journalism is now the
great teacher of the people; the office of public
Journalist Is the highest trust in q free govern
ment, and money is as pOWerlesS to create prOs-
porous and potential newspapers as it is to
create vital plety in churches. Money is an i'm
portant servant OF Journalism, but journalism is
the one profession In which money can never be
master.
Can't Get Rid OF 'Em.
From the Detroit Free Press.
A Woodward avenue business man, who had
been greatly annoyed by children calling and
asking for cards, hung up sign in the store
reading: 1--WE have no cards to give away" It
wasn't two hours before little girl came in and