New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-28
Nv INTERESTING STRUGGLE.

In recent issue The Ncc- York Times
dubbed over with philosophy on the power OF
public opinion. 1t is certainly great agency
in the accomplishment of human and other
dcstines, ana frequently when it manifests it.
self in the steady depletion of newspapers
subscription list, a marked influence Is cXcrted
on its views of men and things. In this relation
il is curious to observe the struggle between
public opinion and capitalists checks, drawn to
the order of cash. for the control of editorial
influence No phase of life affords such excellent
opportunities for calm and instructive re-
ncctipn. Take, for instance, the case OF me
Tines 1t is journal which has urgent need to
rush in frantic haste whittier the strong arm OF
public opinion bcckons. Public opinion, in
deed. has used it i'll. Its shrunken and wasted
circulation bears dolcful witness to the hard
usage 1t has received from public opinion, and
its usual fcverish anxiety TO offer up pro-
initiating sacrifices tells a sorry tale of the need
il has to lose no chance of being around when
Dnblic opinion is i'm an inAulScnt mood.
For over two years public opinion has been
trihc excited whenever Jake" Sharp and his
Broadway grab have been called to its atten-
ton. Ibc Tin,s at first was ardcntly on public
opinions side. 1t said melancholy things OF
Sharp. But one fine Morning IN leSI Mr..
Sharp and Mr.. Abraham Dsbeckcr went to
Albany together, and Mr.. Sharp (shrewd man
that he isl committed to Mr. Disbeclcr's GUS
todv the sum of $1,000. Mr.. Sharp, for he is
uncommonIy candid, Sharp is, told about it in
his testimony before the Senate Committee.
He didn't give MI. Disbeckcr a chccll-no, no,
fo1 cunning man is Sharp-but he got the
Il, nd I)lShpCkpT
the money, ST., 900 in nice clean bills. Sharp
tells all this in his evidence and there are those
who say that If he hadn't been stopped right
there he would nave told still more.
Well, now, it is very odd, but just about that
time public opinion seemed to lose all control
of The Times. 1t could not manage to get Its
side of the case presented at all Sharp ap-
peared to have the most complete advantage OF
public opinion. and articles like the following
appeared every now and then in The Times, to
public opinions vcxatOn and shame:
II the privilege OF constructing and operating rail-
road on that thoroughfao broadway is to be granted
at all it is difficult conceive OF more favorable ar
rangement for the city than that provided for by the
terms OF this consent of the Common Council.
The question Of compensation to the city dealt th in
way that appears to be quite as advantageous az cou
be asked expected. This IS to be preferred 10
q
and is better than the sale OF The franchise al
auction. The conditions which this company
Jake sharp is ready to accept and the terms on which
tho consent OF Board OF Aldermen has been given
seem 10 assure ALL the benefits 10 The cy and 10 the pco-
pie mat eotdd be reosoaabiy demanded, and GREATER
BENEFITS han are offered by any other plan for u
Br0d1tcdy rdiroah
Time went by and still Sharp kept public
opinion on the hip. SO recently as last May
The Times thought that all reasonable re-
"duirements in the interest of the public have
been put upon the company which has OBJ
tanned this valuable franchise" month
later it was still OF the same mind, and actually
Knocked public opinion, saying III derlslve ac-
cents that its interests had been " in every way
duly provided for But, within the space OF a
few fleet weeks, The Times has cOldly shaken
Door Sharp and has rushed away III search Of
public opinion again. 1t made noannounce-
ment of its intention to flop. Whether Mr.
Sharp made his trips to Albany without Mr.
Disbecker's costly company, or whether The
Iimes's circulation had wasted beneath the
scornfu and rcpudatng glances OF public
opinion to such an alarming extent rs to make
another flop Imperative, was not revealed. But
all at once those faithful, honest Aldermen en-
gagged in watching - the public interest" be-
came thieves" and -swndlers" and "bribe
takers Sharps company, once so careful to
concede the people "al reasonable require
ments," became "gang" of "adventurers.'
the worst enemies of society," and moro
dangerous" than acknowledged criminals"
We cannot undertake to surmiSe how this in
tcrcsting struggle between Sharp and public
opinion is likely to end. Perhaps the Broad
way fnancer has wisely concluded that there is
no use in paying the price of diamond for
bit of charcoal But if he is anxious to get the
better of public opinion once more, perhaps We
shall soon see him of upon another trip to
Albany with Mr.. Disbccker.