In the early 1870s the Republican- oriented New-York Times exposed the rampant graft and corruption of the New York municipal government under Democratic leader William Marcy "Boss" Tweed. In the 1880s it uncovered abuses in the postal system, got the scoop on financier Jay Gould's corrupt attempts to control the Manhattan Elevated Railway, and published seething editorials against trusts and labor unions alike. The Times finally abandoned its strictly pro-Republican stance during the presidential election of 1884 because the Republican candidate, James G. Blaine, had been associated with various corrupt acts. The paper then began to establish a reputation for political independence.

Outstripped by the World.

In the 1880s the growing popularity of the New York World, particularly its colorful Sunday edition, outpaced the Times in advertising and circulation. The Times temporarily reduced its price from three cents to two cents...