Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-14
SournaI ano Gonrisr.
SINGLE COPIES THREE CENTS.
Monday, May IA, 1883.
THE WORLD.


 The sale of the New York World to MT. Pulitzer and the change in it's principles and management naturally give rise to thoughts concerning the history of that journal, which l history contains some important lessons for 1 journalists and others
 1 The World has passed through many vi- cissitudes since it's advent twenty three years ago. When it started in 1860 with J. R. l Spalding as it's chief editor, Manton Marble as it's managing editor, Ivory Chamberlain as it's leader writer, and Richard Grant White and s. s. Conant in the department of literature and criticism, it was generally con- ceded that there was ability enough in the World office to make good newspaper. D. G. Croly WAS the city editor and had under him corps Of excellent reporters. The pa- per 'ttook right hold' and soon became power. It was noted in it's early days for it's brightness and independence. Later it be- came narrow and partisan, bat continued to rank high for ability. Its editorial page has always been able and effective, and when MT. Hurlbert was doing active work on 1t there was real pleasure in reading it.
 But though the World has had many good
 
 cial success, and has been used by several per- sons who could afford the luxury of great daily newspaper in pushing private enter prises. The latest of these was Jay Gould under whose management the paper was brought to such a condition that the best thing he could do with it was to sell 1t. As soon as MT. Gould got control of the World it became chiefly an aid to his stock jobbing schemes. In it's ''Wall street gossip" ''prom- inent brokers, "capitalists" and other myste- rious individuals voiced what Gould wanted the people to believe. This became known, of course, very soon, but it cannot be denied that tae "Wall street gossip" of the World had considerable effect upon ''the public, , which philanthropists like Gould are always seeking to benefit. A striking instance of Gould's manipulation of the World is fur nished by it's course during his raid on the Manhattan Elevated railroad stock. Day after day the stock was hammered down" and the columns of the World teened with opinions as to the worthlessness of the stock of the "hopelessly insolvent'' corporation Of course it was known that these opinions were in. IoAOoO 1o uelp 1ou4o cdEIy out ms pla4, ana they did. Those who held the stock got l scared, sold out, and Gould and his co-work- 1 CTS ran the stock down from 594 to 154, making enough in the operation to buy ssver- al Worlds.
 Tho World undoubtedly helped Gould, l but he completed its ruin. It had not ] the best reputation before he took hold l of it and he left it with none to speak of. It | was inevitable thaa this skeald be so 4 news- paper that is used solely to further the finan. cial or political fortunes of man or set of | men cannot keep the confidence of the pub lie, however great the ability 1t displays. The | best foundation for newspaper prosperity is and good faith with the public l Many newspapers have been ruined because those who controlled them lost sight of this fact, or deliberately ignored 1t, and many more will be.
 The new World has started of well, and there does not seem to be any good reason why it caunot be prosperous. It has a good field, and MT. Pulitzer knows his business. If it keeps independent and honest, and lvoids the traps which the old World con- inually fell into it will probably succeed.