New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-15
T1pDy COMPROMISES.

T, v,s formally announced in court on Monday
uo. tho su;t involving the title to the Plaza
Hotel and various other issues or contemporaries
ous human interest had been settled. mere
mon the Jury was decorated with compliments
and thanks. and tho legal proceedings were DIS
continued some of those concerned III the re-
sult either personally or professionally or both,
exhibiting meanwhile signs of lively satisfaction
and others. it was thought, the aspect Of reSigna-
tion suffu.ed with melancholy. 1t was subse-
ouently explained to sympathetic representatives.
Of the press that the compromise thus aborlouSy
achieved was highly honorable to all parties but
that delicate considerations Of courtesy and pro-
nricty forbade a disclosure OF the details. Inc
nuhlc is left to infer that each side abated tho
claims of abstract justice in the interest CT peace
that honors are easy and that everything will
bo lovely so soon as an unspecilied sum OF money
has changed hands
All the features of this settlement are familiar,
and once more they remind us how often VIII
contests and other acquisitiyc suits at law are
scttlcChjust too late to prevent unpleasant reveal
tiouS. There is no need to partlcularze. Every
body can recall disclosures Of mcanncSs, wee ana
domestic unhappncss which did nobody any
good. which panied and Inundated many inno-
cent persons, and which offended all except the
base minority that rcyeled in them. 1t Is
strange that the compromises which are 50 cheer
fully accepted. upon which the lawyers 50 com
paccntly congratulate their clients, themselves
and ono another, and which are the signal Tor
sudden and virtuOus reticence toward the pub
lie that has already been admitted behind the
scenes and adurcd to watch and wonder-it Is
strange that they are seldom perfected until the
skeleton has been dragged out Of the closet and
exhibited 10 the world. OF course the hope OF
ono or both parties at the outset is that danger
Gus trails will not he followed up, that shame
full secrets will remain unrcvealcd and that
valuable pCcunaIy result may be obtained with
ont serious annoyance to the living or dlscrcdlt
II the dead. But such expectations are always
falaaoiiS in cases where human fOllicS and frall-
ties are an important element. Sometimes, to
be sure the revelation stops short of complete
ness, enough having been divulged to furnish a
substantial basis for negotiation; but even then
Tho actual salvage is small.
We cay nothing against the spirit which
prompts family or an Individual to make a
vigorous and persistent fight against eXtortion
NJ any sacrifice of tranquility. especially when
the adversary sinks 50 low * 10 employ the vile
weapon Of blackmail. We criiciSc and dcplOrc
only the shortsichtcd and Improbable policy of
entering into hazardous contest from which il
may be necessary 10 retreat in bad Odor if not
in bad order. The time to compromise is be-
fore the c'l>e gets into cour. The general ac-
ccp'ancc Of this suggestion would save a vast
deal of money and misery. and we hasten to add
that it would not necessarily impOyerSh the legal
fraternity. For if the lawyers on both sides
were put in possession Of all the facts. trails
ccwS and >urmiSeS they could devise quite as
equitable a settlement in private As in public.
and without diminishing their own reward 10y
50 much rs dollar conine the other expenses
within extremely modest limits. at the SINE time
promoting public economy by saving the time Of
the courts and public morality by constIaining
scandals