§ SIR W. EVANS-GORDON (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that one Johann Most was in June, 1881, sentenced I by the Lord Chief Justice to sixteen months hard labour, for having published a libel against the Emperor Alexander II., for having extolled the assassination of that monarch as a triumph of revolutionary justice, and for having encouraged divers persons to murder other potentates in Europe out of Her Majesty's dominions: and that, in returning a true Bill against Most, the grand jury recorded their; unanimous opinion that the publication in this country of excitements to the assassination of foreign rulers should be vigorously dealt with; and, if so, will he explain why no action has yet been taken 1417 against those persons who expressed regret at the failure of the recent attempt against the life of the King of Spain; and does he contemplate taking any, and, if any, what action.
§ * MR. GLADSTONEI am well aware of the facts of the case of Johann Most. The article which formed the basis of the prosecution in that case referred in terms of exultation to the murder of the Emperor of Russia and contained incitements, in the clearest language, to the murder of other rulers. The articles to which my attention was drawn, though containing most objectionable matter, were so written as not to bring the writers within the law. They do not express regret for the failure of the attempt to murder the King of Spain, nor do they contain definite incitement to further murder. I am advised that any attempt to prosecute would serve no purpose but to advertise the mischievous article. My attention, however, has just been called to a further article in another publication which is under my consideration.