New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-14
THE PERNICIOUS MONEY POWER.

II is in times like these-when, in addition
10 the responsibilities Of government the entire
conduct Of the war rests upon the shoulders
Of two or three newspapers-th the pernicious
influence OF the money power is most conspc-
uous and most sorely felt Were il NOT for the
selfshness and cowardce of the money power
the noble and self-sacrlicing efforts Of these
newspapers to diffuse the blessings Of war; now
confined TO Printing House Square, over the
entire country. might be crowned with success
and the tong masses, whose patriotic emo,
tons have been stirred 10 the boiling point. be
at this very moment in the enjoyment of real
horrors and actual bloodshed at the unprece-
dentedly low price Of twenty pages Of horrors
for cent What is II: is the question in the
mind of every patriot who is sincerely DESTROYS
that his neighbor may have the opportunity of
going to war and furnishing interesting and
exciting reading matter for the families of
those who remain al home--what is il that is
constantly holding back our heroes from the
fray and placing Instructions in the way that
all are sceking-the path that leads TO glory
and the grave: III is a most mOmentOus ques-
ton. But Notwithstanding its gravity the
newspapers engaged in prosecuting the war are
ready with the answer. and willing and anxious
ing poor al the low price of one cent
In fact. they have answered ii and have been
answering ii for the last three weeks in large
type and some of the most picturesque Ian
Cuage at the command of the costliest space
writer's. 1t is the money power Is there any
doubt that the toiling masses and the deserving
poor all over the country are grating their teeth
and clinching their fists and fairly foamng at
the mouth with an intense and unsatisfed
yearnng for war: Let whoever doubts turn
his eyes for a moment at the billboards all
over town which declare with mathematical ac-
curacy reduced to units. and the proverblal
veraclty of the kcyhOle reporter the enormous
circulation Of the newspapers conducting The
war With blood-red extras pouring from the
presses at the rate Of Il million a minute de.
clarng war and describing Its progress il can.
not be otherwise than that the whole people
are eager for the conflict. What holds them
back: The money power.
This cannot las, always. The newspapers
conducting the war will not much longer be
content TO furnish blood-red information con-
corning what is going 10 happen as the war
goes Oh al cent copy and have the money
power put itself in the way Of It's happening
The obstructive spirit of the money power born
of rank cowardicc and nurtured In gross self.
lshness. has already prevented many things
from taking place which these newspapers with
Unprecedented enterprise had announced in
large type described in thrilling language and
transferred 10 the domain of history. They
viii not stand much more Of such Interference
Precisely what they will DO about IL we have
no means Of knowing. That is only omen 10
conjecture. II may be that when their pa
iicncc Is exhausted they Will open fire on Spain
with shot and shell without waiting for the
money power. Then II Spain should retaats