A SORRY EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 9775, 3 August 1895, Page 1

A SORRY EXHIBITION.

It was a foregone conclusion that the Defamation Bill would be thrown out in the House of Representatives. Individual Ministers notoriously wince under honest criticism, and there aro other "galled jades" on both sides who would like, if they could, to muzzle newspapers which fail to bo duly appreciative of their disinterested conduct and elevated patriotism. Any proposal to define or further extend the freedom uf the Press acts upon Mr SistfnoN and Mr Joittt M'KEMi; like a red rag to a bull, and we are not therefore surprised that they should have —to speak figuratively—stamped, snorted, bellowed, and made wild charges when the Bill was under consideration in committee. We did, however, expect better things from the Treasurer than that he should have taken so intemperate an attitude as he did. No doubt he spoke under great provocation, having recently been subjected to gross personal attacks, but he should not have allowed his personal feelings to have overcome his judgment. The honorable gentleman has been very much in evidence during the past twelve months, and has apparently been carried oft' his logs by the successes he has achieved and the importance with which his position has clothed him. Having tasted the sweets of adulation, he is unduly sensitive to detraction. If his star rehiain in the ascendant, he must make up his mind to bear a good deal in the Wiiy of calumny and abuse, and must not be too thin-skinned. It is not in his power to avoid being thus treated, but he may console himself with the reflection that all efforts to malign him are certain to be futile if he pursue the straight path and do his duty to the country conscientiously. Ho has not, we are sure, raised himself in the estimation of the people by his unreasoning opposition to a measure which is principally dcclatory of the law as it stands, and, where it amends that law, does so in the direction of restraining the very license of which he so bitterly complains. The Bill was not, it is clear to demonstration, rejected on its merits. The members who spoke against it declined the fair issue, could not even specialise their objections, but went off into generalities about the danger of further extending the liberties of the Press, which was neither designed nor contemplated by the Bill. The honorable gentlemen who supportod Ministers arc evidently at one with them in dreading fair comment on their actions, and we may pi'esumc that they have good reasons for fearing tho light. The Bill declares it to be lawful "to publish a fair " comment respecting the public conduct "of any person who takes part in public "affairs, or respecting tho character of " such person, so far as his character " appears in that conduct." Can any honest politician reasonably object to his conduct being subject to such comment ? The gist, however, of the objections raised is that public men would be liable to be defamed in the newspapers under the provisions of the Bill. The old axiom " The greater the truth the greater the libel" no doubt applies not infrequently to the fair comments of newspapcrs'on certain leading politicians of the day, who must either not oe noticed at all or libelled in this sense. Mr John M'Kkxzu-: naturally enough desires to gag the Press altogether; and he had the assurance to intimate, when speaking on tho Bill in committee, that " further " liberty would not long he denied to the "Press if the newspapers treated public " men fairly," which means, it may fairly be assumed, that so long as his land policy and administration arc unfavorably criticised he will oppose, tjoth and nail, any amendment of the law of libel which would tend to place the Press in a fairer position. The throwing out of this Bill is discreditable to the House, and especially so to tho members who formed the majority in the division, among whom we note Mr Pinkeuton, Mr Mohbi.son, and Mr Millar, who, as usual, followed Ministers into the lobby. Mr Earnshaw, Mr Caunciioss, and Mr W. Hutchison voted with the minority.