Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-11
THE LONDON ssTINIEs,n
1t Has HOpelessly Weakened its Own
Authority.

1t Has Hopelessly Weakened its Own
Authority.
From Harpers Weekly.
The publication by the London Times of the
alleged letters of Mr.. Parnen showing his
completely with crime in Ireland promises to
prove the most important event in the history
OF that great journal, and to have a profound
influence upon the political situation in Great
Britain. The Times has long occupied a posi-
ton OF supremacy in England unlike that of
any newspaper in any other country. 1t has
been national institution, like Parliament
or the church. Its power has been enormous
and prolonged. Professedly of no party, it
has been accepted AS the voice of British
common sense upon every question and
in every emergency. This character has
been obtained by consumate skill
n estimating the actual drift
opinion and what may be called the
instructive average British view, and in Sc
lecting the writer who would give the most
forclble and characteristic expression. In this
way it has held the mirror up to British nature,
without regard to consistency or principle 1t
has reflected England, and the average English
man unconsciousy recognized himself upon its
pages. This peculiar ability, which was in
stinctive rather than intentional. has created
the primacy which it long enjoyed, and enabled
1t to accumulate great riches. The zenith of
its power was touched probably under the edi-
III.
some years ago, and amid the increasing
enterprise and resources of other papers. the
prestige and authority of the Times have
declined
But it has still maintained q great and
representative influence, and during the
absorbing Irish controversy of the last few
years, in its bitter and unsparing hostility to
Mr.. Gladstone and his policy it has been
the organ of British conservatism, and the
dependence Of the John Bull spirit and
conviction. Its great blow in the contest was
the publication of the Parnell letters on the eve
OF an important vote in parliament. The let
tiers, II genuine, utterly discredited Mr. Parnell
as political leader, and stigmatized the Irish
movement as criminal conspiracy. If they
were really his letters, his cause could not
readily survive opprobrium of such leadership,
and the English feeling which the Times repre-
sented would seem to be justified. The investi-
CATION before the commission, therefore, has
been an event of the utmost interest, which
eliminated as the inquiry was directed to the
authenticity of the letters. The result is as
founding: cross-examination of the chief
witness, Plgott, mastery in acuteness and ex-
posture, had reached point where it was OBJ
vious that its issue would be prosecution for
perjury. At this point Pigott ran away; having
first made before Mr.. Henry Labouchere con-
fession that the letters on which the Times
%ord the letters we're ersef pescbt In
the Times of a ''dead-beat," of a
notorious swindler, without verifcation, almost
without inquiry, and the confession of the
swlndler shows that they were not genuine,
The catastrophe of the Times and of its cause
is complete. The sagacity, the Judgment, the
common-sense, the ordinary business shrewd-
ness Of the great journal are hopelessly COM
promised by the disclosure. The revelation of
the foolish weakness Of the support upon which
British conservative prejudice has leaned will
necessarily destroy the unquestioning conf
a xxhr ah fh< Tlsa..o h,aa IA
The appearance of Mr.. Parnell as the I'M
touched victim Of the basest conspiracy of
defamation will produce a reaction of opinion
which will extend to the whole cause which
he represents. The Times energies ridiculous
from the ordeal which it eagerly challenged,
and Mr.. Parnen with dignity and prestige
from persecution which is seen to be both
reckless and dastardly. English love of fair
play will ask, if this chief and most damaging
charge is a contemplate forgery, what is the
truth about the other Irish stories? The Times
Is shown to stop at nothing in its desire to
blacken the character of its opponents: is the
Times wise guide in SO vital controversy?
May there not be some reason, after all, in the
Irish agitation? Ii it impossible that Parnell
may be patriot instead of mere demagogue?
No great journal can ever fully recover from
self-inhicted blows Of this kind. Now that it is
known to have brought the most deadly charge
without the commonest precautions of verifica-
ton, it can never again expect its own word to
be accepted without confirmation. This is the
home-returning curse of the whole proceed
ing. The Times has hopelessly weakened its
own authority.