New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-04
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
MORE SCENES IN THE LIBEL SUIT.


TON WITH CoMICAL REsULfs-THE ATTACKS
on Mr.. GLADSTONE AND MR. BRIGHT.
lFRoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT o. rHE TEInUNh
LONDON, March 24.-It is part of Mr.. Labonchere's
case that Mr. Edward Lawson, who is prosecuting
him for libel, is a disgrace TO journalism" This
phrase like too many of Mr.. Labouchere's phrases.
is strong one, but it has served his purpose. II
mas raised the question he wanted 10 raise. II has
given him the legal right 10 bring out a court of
law such facts respecting The Daily telegraph as
tend 10 the truth OF this phrase great part
of Mondays sitting was devoted TO this inquiry. IL
is impossible not to regret that such an inquiry
should be necessary. AS journalist | should
rejoice IL il had INDICATED, If it had been
possible TO yindicate. the character of journal
which. however one may differ from IL, one must
admit occupies considerable position; which has a
very large circulation. though by no means the
largest in the world its propretors are perpetu-
ally and most untruly affirming. To prove that
! such paper, largely read in an enlightened com
munity, is conducted in a discreditable wayis TO
reflect harshly both on the community and on the
paper. And yet, the whole, in the interests both
of the community and Of journalism 1t IL better that
the fact If II DO fact, should come out Nothing
IS gained by covering up fostering sore. Mr.
} LabOuchere Is a surgeon whose treatment ~ OF
what physicians call the heroic kind. He cuts
ing sympathy for the patient on whom he
operates--uo doubt of that Perhaps he takes. as
other surgeons of eminence have been known 10
, take, scientific pleasure in using the knife Per
haps he IS not careful to avoid giving pain. But on
the whole. he does service, and service 30 I'M
portant that his want of tenderness In the opera
ton must be ooudoned. The men who stand highest
among writers who have made war on the vices and
fOllies OF their age have SAID many "strong
things. There is great deal in Aristophanes, IN
Juvenal. in Swift, which Ia abusive We must take
men find them. II aatirists and consors had
nothing out the milk of human kindness in their
veins they would DOT be satirlss and censors.
Most of US who read Mr. Labouchcres "libels"
probably think he could have reached his end Just
Is surely II he had been less bitter. lie says many
things which IT impossible TO approve ; some
which one dIsaDDrovos very much indeed. lie NAV
be night ~ thinking he should be less read # he
were less SINGING. He is an Engshmau and ought
t. know his own public. Put | see no reason 10
doubt that his account Of his general object u
true account. e. admit" ho says to the jury. o
distinct purpose on my part to lower or 10 do some
thing 10 DESTROY the iutuence Of The Ddy 1cle
graph. because that influence WAS injurious To the
pubIc welfare" 1t may be aid confidently that
since MI Labuuchcre entered upon THIS work the
Influence Of Ihe Dd,y telegraph much less than 1t
WAS Other causes nave contributed 10 this de-
caceuce-a continuous peru,al OF the paper itself
being Que cause. md the increasing intel
h4ence of the pHpic another. But Mr. Labon-
cbere may fairly clllu share m the result. In no
former time. bow ever. nor by all his previous e.
forts together. has he dore ~ mucn 10 dscred Inc
LAZY telegraph as by The facts lac has brought out
TINS trldL
THE FORTUNES or THg TELEGRAPH
The Lev, FANNY &c aue owners of The Daily Tele-
.l..- 81
aud luc,r OF the pres..nt MI Levy-Lswson buying
out zoe former owner Colonel Sleigh. The pa
per was not then prosnerous. The Levys were the
printers OF IT, aud appear tn have got possession of
The concern by fOrecl0sIng mortgage The sum
they paid for the Oropery directly ~ INDIRECTLY Is
not ascerianed. Mr Labouchere puts 1t at $500
Mr. Lawson says he cannot recOllect, but admits II
wac very small. The present prosecutor con
uectcd with IT from the beginning IN way OF
another first IN the machine room; then $50 he
-wears ~ the literary department; became by-and-
by part owner aud ben assistant 10 his father ed
itOr, ana finally editor; or nOmIuaY editor. IL Mr..
Edwin Arnod's testimony Il correct the Levy edit
ing was never of very complete practical kind.
They were slirewd men OF ousoess. understood the
value of news perhaps. bus both father and son
wer-. aud arr, extremely ignorant. aud apparently
quite incapable If dong none than supcuutcud III a
general way the direction of theu Journal
tor SONS time they made No. money. Mr. Lawson
sp~aks OF lo,,cs. AMI can hardly explain where the
money came from 10 Keep the paper gong. BIT
business after swhi,e came 10 a.; and some OF the
business was of a very pecu.ilr KIND. Anout 1860.
wuIle the paper sui struggling. It became. ln
Nr. LihOucheTcs phrase, KIND ui official gazette
Tor quark H. and haby-tarmrrs. IL Is not disputed
that The Ddiiy Telegraph from $50 10 1870 or II
published large nnmnrr, Of ousc ne advertisements
4 huf
conchrd ~ words that were not less INTEL gbe for
being decent. and which gave publicity to shame
IN .rade. these ,ustO'ners were regular. The same
advertisement som, nmes appeared often as 257
and $50 times IN QUE year. part II the paper WAS
devoted them. fifteen or twenty daily grouped to-
gether aud special pr'ce was charged Tor them Ihe
charge for ord nary adyeI 'isements was about Is
cents a line. The charge for Obscene or baby
farming advertiser was 81 % a line The
pohfs of the paper from this unciean source dining
ten years amounted 10 G34.317-in round numbers
$4,000 II seem. hkel, that at one period tue
revenue thus derived was Of Importance TO the
psper The sums received. large as they
were. were not large enough them
selves to bring prosperity. But II is question
whether they did not lay tUe foundation of snbs,-
onrnt PROSPERITY; whether the fortunes OF The Lady
Jeleoroph al a critical moment OF It's existence. were
NOT materially hcDed by its traffic IN tins dirty bns
ness MI Lawson admitted HAT the business was
diriy He made come attempt 10 p8illaic ITS nast-
ness by hintIng the caTelessness Of clerks. But
can l~rdly have been ihe carelessness Of clerk
winch established a department OF nastiueSs IN The
DaIv 7eI,gr0yh OF a clerk who was responsible for
the poIlc, uuder which obscene advertisements
welded dui1ng pcnod of ten or twelve years. six
t,p,es a. much profit AS decent advertisements. At
Times The telegraph used 10 publish gross advertise
meuts M one coiumn and deDounce the thOrs Of
,hem mn another; ; publishing a report of a trial OF