Bristol Mercury - Tuesday, May 7, 1895

THE event of the day is unquestionably that Mr Jabez Spencer Balfour has been restored to his longing country and is now a prisoner in charge of the London police to meet the charges which will in due course be brought against him. There has been a great amount of speculation as to whether he would return, which has been ingeniously fostered by curiously conflicting telegrams, extending over many months, from the town of Salta. In this case as in that of Oscar Wilde there has been a great deal said about trial by newspaper of a charge pending in the law courts. But these reflections on English journalism remind us of the old saying that one man may steal a horse while another may not look over a hedge. In all places where men do congregate an exciting case may be discussed and conclusions drawn without rebuke, until we do not suppose that a jury could be empanelled in London or any assize town which had not some preconceived idea in the matter. But directly the newspapers record any facts relating to the matter which everyone is talking about something dreadful has been done. With few exceptions, however, English newspapers maintain a due and becoming reserve. With regard to Oscar Wilde, the result of the concluded action against the Marquis of Queenbery was justly and lawfully commented upon. Although we may regret that the time spent at the Old Bailey upon a very nauseous subject had an inconclusive result, so that the whole subject must be gone through again, there is no desire on the part of the press to make any comments until the guilt or innocence of the accused has been decided by a jury. In the same way, the facts disclosed by the Liberator disaster indicated a clear case for inquiry, and the public press discharged one of its highest functions in demanding that the directors should have their conduct tested in a court of law. If Mr Balfour had at once faced this ordeal, nothing would have been said to prejudice his endeavour to clear himself. But when he withdrew to a place which was at the time beyond the reach of the extradition treaties, it was natural that the Foreign Office should be pressed to secure his surrender to justice. Through the dilstory game that was played it was right and proper that this demand should be strenuously maintained, but all that was asked was that he should be compelled to face his accusers, Although this at one time seemed unlikely, it has now been accomplished, and therefore the public can and will wait con- tentedly until the jury has rendered its verdict upon the indictment which will be presented against him. If he has been prejudiced in any way, which we venture to question, by anything which has been said in the course of the necessary efforts to secure his arrest, he has no one to blame but himself.