The weakest part of the position of Messrs. Cadbury was
their refusal to restrain the Daily News from fulminating against Chinese labour at a time when their own attitude was so vulnerable. The fact that their own sincerity was compatible with a continuance of imperfect and disputable methods should have taught them to make allowances for others possibly in the same mental boat. But this, as the Judge expressly pointed out, was not the issue before the jury. In these circumstances we cannot regard the verdict as either conclusive or satisfactory. Either the Standard was render- ing a great public service, or the plaintiffs were entitled to heavy damages. A farthing damages satisfied neither of these alternatives. It should be mentioned that the Judge refused to use his discretion in the matter of costs, but left them where they are by law.
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