New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-13
LONDON TIMES" NEVER RErRAcAs.

Some months ago Colonel Morgan director Of
supplies at Woowicn Arsenal, brought a libel suit
against 1.-THE London Times in consequence of
charges made against him in the cable dispatches
from Africa to that paper to the effect that he
had been guilty of gross incompetence and mall
administration resulting IL the loss of millions of
dollars. During the course Of the trial it appeared
| that although Colonel Morgan had been cleared
by a court of inquiry at Pretoria yet THE
Times refused to make any correction and
Moberly Bell, the manager Of THE Times in the
witness box, explained that during the hundred
years of its existence The Times" had
steadfastiy adhered to the policy of never under
any circumstances. making correction or
traction, preferring TO pay whatever damages
might be awarded by the courts in proceedings for
libel brought against it, rather than take back a
single one of its utterances in print. This policy
was condemned from the bench.
But yet THE Times" has now as in MANY other
instances of the nature, been justified by the
course of events. For Colonel Morgan to whom il
refused any reparation, except such as he might
obtain through a court Of law. has been suspended
by the War Department in consequence of the
extraordinary disclosures made concerning his adj
minstraton, first Of all by General Sir William
Buffers committee and now by the Justice Far
well commission. which has not yet completed its
labors. Had 1.-THE Times" made the retraction
demanded of it in the early part of the year it
would in view of subsequent Developments have
found that it had needlessly Inundated itself
OF course, this policy the part of THE London
Times" unique among the newspapers of the world
has this inestimable advantage, that its writer's
knowing that it can and will not retract any,
thing. are exceedingly cautious and conservative In
all their statements, which endows the paper with
a degree of reliability in the eyes of the public not
only at home. but also abroad which probably no
other journai. English foreign enjoys. For this
reason French as we'll German and Russian
statesmen have on several notable occasions made
.The Times the means OF the communication TO
the n,blic of things which they wished to be known
and of opinions which they desired proclaim
rather than through the channels of the newspapers
NJ their own country, the most notable instances
being those of the late Prince Bismarck OF the
puc Decasse when French Minister of Foreign
Affairs. Of Thiers when President OF the French
Renuhic and of the late Prince Lebanon, when
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Car.
Although there is a manifest Injustice the part
of newspaper In declining to repair a wrong
tho course adopted by ''The Times for more than
a century mast has contributed 10 its prestige and
authority takes the ground tnat IL Is up to the
injured party secure redress IN the courts Of law
-, atsaroy,ng IN a libel suit the charges made
against him. II has paid hunoreds OF thousands of
5o,Iars possibIv mions-in damages and legal
s.s r.tter than retract statements made edtort
- - corrasnondents in its columns No one
-, - ,a.ttv know how colossal was tha
60 80 roonev which 1.-THE Times" spent in oon
-, ,th the great libel suit known az tba
yi1 oor,,nission where its principal witness =
- - ,ha name OF Pigott was shown 10 hava
,-.r1t,ad ,erinrv and forged the evidence unon
v,bicb the naper believing 1t TO be authentic had
hased its charges against Charles Stewart ParnelI
SHAH OBJECTS TO BEDS
The shah of Persia. now on his way home after