The trial of Herr Most, editor of the Freiheit, for
publishing
" scandalous libel," inciting to murder foreign Sovereigns, and other counts, ended on Wednesday in a verdict of guilty. The jury, however, added a recommendation to mercy, on the ground that Moist was a foreigner who might be suffering violent wrong ; and the Judge postponed judgment, until a legal argu- ment as to the precise meaning of Act 24 and 25 Victoria has been separately hoard before all the Judges. The Lord Chief Justice in his charge drew a strong distinction between historic criticism, which lie held it inexpedient to repress, even when it was violent and coarse, find incitement to murder, which it was essential to put down. The latter, of course, and not abuse, is, in English eyes, the essence of the crime, and that which alone justifies a Government in prosecuting. Such incitement, how- ever, does justify prosecution in any country, and we do not quite understand the Pall Mail Gazette's assertion that Herr Most would not have been prosecuted in America. The state- ment may be wrong, but certainly it was stated that the Irish- man who threatened Sir W. Harcourt by telegram was prose- cuted for his message, and fined ton dollars. We cannot see what moral difference the rank of the threatened person makes. No doubt, a king's liability for a threat is not reciprocal, but
the foundation of justice is not equality. If it wore, a king could never summon a witness into court.
Previous page
