A ‘sincere, thorough and hearty Liberal’?

A ‘sincere, thorough and hearty Liberal’, as he liked to describe himself, Jabez Spencer Balfour, MP for Tamworth from 1880 to 1885 and for Burnley from 1889 until 1892, was, if not exactly an ornament, certainly an undoubted asset to the Liberal cause until commercial and personal disaster plunged him into notoriety. He had built before then a reputation as a shrewd and successful businessman, a pillar of Nonconformity, a devoted friend of the temperance movement, and a dedicated champion of Liberalism, first in municipal Croydon and then on the national platforms on to which, as a reliably crowd-pleasing orator, he was often invited to speak. David McKie tells his story.

38 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 A ‘sincere, thorough and hearty Liberal’? jabez balfour, 1843 – 1916

alfour – Jabez in was Croydon, where he soon Under his Tamworth in the west Midlands, his youth and in his established himself as a person of his heart was always in Croydon, late notoriety, but consequence. The town’s popu- guidance, where it often seemed that little always J. Spencer lation had grown from 6,000 in of consequence moved without Balfour when he 1801 to well over 50,000 by the the Libera- him. The issues he raised in the Bwas in his prime – was born, on time the Balfours arrived, and Commons were as likely to con- 4 September 1843, in the Maida Jabez and Liberal businessmen tor building cern the people of Croydon as Hill area of London, to Clara like him believed it was time it society … the people of Tamworth. Before Lucas Balfour, a celebrated lec- was thoroughly modernised and borough status, he regularly turer, writer and temperance given its independence from the established topped the poll for the school campaigner, and her husband county of Surrey. board. He sat on the bench and James, who had married her Though motivated by a itself as was active in local charities. He when she was not yet sixteen high local patriotism, they also spoke often, and copiously, at and whose own attachment scented a political advantage. the biggest the extravagant self-congratu- to the temperance movement Ratepayers excluded from vot- society in latory banquets that punctuated reflected a previous weakness for ing under the old limited vestry the civic year. He served on an drink. Clara Balfour’s fame as system would be enfranchised the land, array of committees from the a writer and a speaker at a time if Croydon attained borough hospital to the commons preser- when women speakers on public status, and that would push up offering vation society. He was president platforms were rare brought the the Liberal vote. ‘In Croydon’ of the local Liberal Party and a family out of near penury into a says J. N. Morris in his history families … patriotic officer in the military relative affluence which paid for of religion and politics in the the chance Volunteers. the precocious young Jabez to be town, Religion and Urban Change, He was also by now a figure sent to schools abroad. ‘incorporation put an end to the to liberate of increasing national repu- By now, his father was work- claims of Anglicanism to act as tation. Under his guidance, ing at the Palace of Westmin- the focus of community loyalties themselves the Liberator building society ster as an aide to more senior … what the “democratisation” – its name designed to echo officials while developing his of local government … achieved from the that of the Liberation Society, own business interests. In the was therefore the supersession suze- an umbrella organisation pro- year of his seventeenth birth- of the Anglican oligarchy who moting the interests of English day, probably though his father’s had previously ruled the town rainty of and Welsh Nonconformity and contacts, Jabez joined a firm of by what was in effect “a new challenging the privileged sta- parliamentary agents. But his municipal elite”.’ landlords. tus of Anglicanism – established ravening ambition and restless That Croydon was given bor- itself as the biggest society in energy propelled him towards ough status in 1883 might have the land, offering families who greater things. Having married been partly due, Balfour sug- (Left): Jabez had seen no such hope before ‘wanted’ on and settled in Reigate, he moved gested, to the influence he had charges of fraud the chance to liberate them- in 1869 with his wife and young deployed as a backbench Liberal (Croydon Local selves from the suzerainty of family to the greater stage that MP. Though he represented Studies Library) landlords. A string of satellite

Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 39 A ‘sincere, thorough and hearty Liberal’? companies buttressed the Liber- for the Liberation Society as hos- greatness of Gladstone to the ator: some to buy land, some to tile to the survival of the Angli- need to reform the franchise build homes for the society’s cli- can church and by implication and extend it to women or the ents. In time, the Balfour group to the Christian religion too. case for home rule for Ireland, launched its own bank, the Lon- And despite their success in local he could captivate and enthuse don and General. Before long, it politics, the Liberals were con- an audience, his Commons moved away from its founding sistently disappointed at national speeches were rare and made commitment to extending the elections in Croydon, even after no great impact. An MP could benefits of home ownership to Jabez had gone and less contro- achieve far more, he liked to unprivileged families and began versial candidates contested the explain, by assiduous work in to embark on prestige projects: seat. Maybe with his character- committees and party meetings the mighty Hotel Cecil, off the istic optimism, Jabez overesti- and Westminster corridors than Strand; the luxurious apartment mated his chances of success. At by addressing the House. He complex of Hyde Park Court; any rate, in the event, he took made much more of a splash in Whitehall Court, alongside the only 4,315 votes to the 5,484 of His fellow his constituencies: at Burnley, National Liberal Club. Admir- the eminent local Tory drafted a town he always extolled in ers began to talk of Balfour’s in to oppose him. Croydon lavish terms, he got himself ‘Midas touch’, and companies His affection for Croydon did installed as president of the in trouble sought to steady not survive this reverse. There- Liberals football club, on whose behalf themselves and redeem their after he was rarely seen in the he accepted the Lancashire Cup reputations by giving him seats town. He left his fine house and persuaded after their unexpected defeat on their boards. As the Pall Mall moved to the edge of Hyde Park, him to put of their bitter rivals Blackburn Gazette was later to recollect: while he also acquired a coun- in 1890, while also delivering ‘Evidently, he was the coming try house in the village of Bur- his name a lecture lasting one hour and man, and there appeared to be cot in Oxfordshire, where he twenty minutes to the local Lit- no bounds to his popularity. He established himself as the phil- forward erary and Philosophical Society was affluent, always smiling, anthropic modernising squire of in honour of Dr Johnson. And always ready to give freely of the village. as charter working people’s organisations both time and money.’ Balfour was eager throughout mayor of were impressed with the energy So when borough status was to resume his career at West- and resolution with which he granted, his fellow Croydon minster. Though he lost at Wal- the town, took up their causes at West- Liberals persuaded him to put his worth in the general election of minster and in government name forward as charter mayor 1886, and failed to hold a Liberal a role he offices. Above all, he got him- of the town, a role he performed seat at a by-election in Don- self talked about: as for instance with such energy, enthusiasm, caster two years later, he took performed when, trapped in a late-running generosity and swagger that advantage of an early warning of with such train and anxious not to be late the aldermen and councillors a coming vacancy at Burnley to for a Burnley occasion, he hired voted to keep him on for a sec- sweep into the town and tie up energy, a special train to complete his ond term. With his seat at Tam- the nomination within hours of journey from Wakefield. worth doomed to be swept away the formal announcement that enthu- Yet the party leader on whom in a redistribution, he hoped to the former member was quitting. he always lavished such praise ride back to Westminster on this Six days later, he was elected siasm, failed to fulfil his dream of min- tide of popularity at the general for Burnley, unopposed, the generosity isterial office. Perhaps Gladstone election of 1885 as member for town’s Unionists having been knew what was coming. Within Croydon. so badly wrong-footed that they and swag- weeks of his re-election, Bal- But here he was disappointed. did not put up a candidate. At four’s commercial empire was In the second year of his mayor- the general election of 1892, he ger that in serious trouble. The economy alty his reputation was dented was re-elected with the biggest was running into recession. The by the operational problems percentage majority seen in the the alder- near-collapse of the great city and financial difficulties of town since the 1832 Reform Act. men and house of Barings had fractured the Croydon tramway system, Now he anticipated preferment, investors’ confidence. And sub- which he ran with some Liberal confidently expecting, accord- councillors ordinates strategically placed colleagues, and his opposition ing to one seasoned political within Balfour companies had to a planned new railway line reporter, an under-secretaryship voted to begun to betray him. The col- linking the town centre with the at the very least. lapse of one of these companies city of London – an opposition The record of his Commons keep him brought down his London and all too clearly attributable to his performances hardly suggested on for a General Bank, where customers seat on the board of a rival com- that Balfour would prosper at found the doors locked against pany. The Tories also succeeded the despatch box. Despite his second them on 2 September 1892, and in alienating potential supporters success on public platforms, within a few days the rest of the by representing Balfour’s support where on subjects from the term. empire began to look doomed.

40 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 A ‘sincere, thorough and hearty Liberal’? Balfour tried to dismiss these Balfour Balfour established himself in Yard’s extradition specialist, a problems as merely ephemeral, Buenos Aires and then, when the redoubtable man called Frank but investigations by the Offi- had worked press caught up with him there, Froest, hired a train and had it cial Receiver swiftly made them in Salta, 800 miles up-country. stationed in sidings near Salta. look terminal. on the Here he was joined by a When, in April 1895, the latest The whole edifice, it was young woman he said was his ruling favouring Balfour’s extra- quickly established, had been basis that wife, though in fact she was the dition was reported from Bue- built on illusion. The cel- if people daughter of an old business asso- nos Aires, he had Balfour aboard ebrated profits were nearly all ciate, who had been his unoffi- the train before the local courts pure invention. Balfour had thought cial ward after the early death of could convene to declare this worked on the basis that if peo- her father. His wife, Ellen, had procedure illegal. With Froest on ple thought you were highly you were long been out of the picture, the footplate, the train steamed successful and prosperous they confined to the Priory Hospi- south-eastwards. But a posse of would pump in the sums that in highly suc- tal since a breakdown after the Salta officials and Balfour sym- time would make you successful cessful and birth of her second child, with pathisers caught up with it, and and prosperous. Under Balfour’s no expectation that she would one of the officials rode on to the accounting system, companies prosperous ever recover. Ensconced in Salta, line in order to block the tracks. simply computed what divi- Balfour resisted all attempts When the driver attempted to dends and bonuses would need they would to return him to London. He stop the train, Froest obstructed to be paid to keep them looking planned to do business there, and him, and the train mowed the healthy and commercially allur- pump in the local community was confi- horseman down. Later the Brit- ing, and then cooked the figures the sums dent he would bring the place ish government paid $50 in ex to fit. Fictitious transactions were new prosperity. The great tem- gratia compensation, stipulating engineered between Balfour that in perance champion negotiated to that this was to cover both the companies (easily done, as the purchase a local brewery. Even man and the horse. directors of company A would time would when the extradition treaty was The outcome of the trial be much the same people as the finally ratified, he thought him- when it came was a foregone directors of company B) to boost make you self safe, arguing that it could not conclusion, and the sentence of company balance sheets when successful be used retrospectively. fourteen years’ imprisonment results were due to be published When the federal courts in with hard labour, handed down and dividends fixed. Complai- and pros- Buenos Aires said that it could, on 28 November 1895, reflected sant valuers and auditors devised he took up more time by appeal- less the largely technical charges and approved grossly inflated perous. ing. He was adept in exploiting he faced than the public outrage assessments of company assets. the angry resistance to central over the havoc the crash had (At one point, one of the Balfour power then evident in much of created. Many hundreds were companies had as its auditors a the Argentine republic, claim- ruined. Some killed themselves; retired Nonconformist minister ing that federal attempts to send some went mad; some died from and Jabez’s tailor in Walling- him home constituted an outra- grief and despair. ‘You will ford.) The money which trust- geous attack on the rights of the never’ Balfour was told by the ing investors had committed to province. As soon as a ruling judge, a former Conservative the Liberator to safeguard their was given by the government MP, ‘be able to shut from your futures had been shamelessly or the courts of the capital, the ears the cries of the widows and milked for other Balfourite pur- authorities in Salta refused to orphans you have ruined.’ poses. Too late, they found that accept it and asserted his right He served ten years and four the man who paraded himself as to stay. And even when that months of his sentence. Released their benefactor had robbed and hope of escape appeared to be on 14 April 1906, he was hired betrayed them. exhausted, he and his advis- by the Northcliffe Press to write As the awful truth began to ers discovered a provision in an account of his prison expe- emerge, ruined shareholders and Argentine law which said that riences, which led the Weekly Liberator clients clamoured for no one against whom a legal Despatch for twenty-six weeks recompense, even for vengeance. case was outstanding might and was later, in a slightly more But at this point, their prey dis- leave the country; on which muted form, published as a book: appeared. For weeks there were basis, they organised a roster of My Prison Life. Remarkably free rumours of sightings all round sympathisers to bring actions from self-pity and self-excul- the world. In fact, he had fled to against him one after the other. pation, its revelations shocked Argentina, which seemed a safe British officials in Buenos middle-class breakfast tables. enough choice since no extradi- Aires began to warn London When the Northcliffe Press tion treaty existed between that that hopes of ever getting him tired of him, he set himself up country and Britain (there had back were fading. In the end it as a mining consultant, though been negotiations, but no final took something close to a kidnap that came to a halt with the out- version had ever been ratified). to bring him home. Scotland break of war.

Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 41 A ‘sincere, thorough and hearty Liberal’? But still he would not give Perhaps less dishonest than his to make pious people, among whom he up. In August 1915, just short of their businesses prosper; and got aspired to be numbered, could his seventy-second birthday, he the great- clean away with it. Bad though always shore themselves up with went out to Burma to take up he was – and the sufferings he a precedent from 1 Chronicles a post at a tin mine. When his est mystery inflicted on his victims cannot 4:10, which suggested that God new employers realised how old be condoned or forgiven – he might approve of their hopes of he was, and contemplated what in Balfour’s was not, even then, the worst of becoming rich. ‘And Jabez called the heat of the place might do story is the bunch. on the God of Israel, saying, Oh him, they ordered him home. Perhaps the greatest mystery that thou wouldest bless me That decision, though well whether in Balfour’s story is whether he indeed, and enlarge my coast, meant, was fatal; he returned was an honest man who went to and that thine hand might be to a bitter winter. He died on he was an the bad or whether he was bad all with me, and that thou would- 23 February 1916, on a train to along. His mother had written to est keep me from evil, that it south Wales, where he was due honest one of his older brothers when may not grieve me! And God to start a new job with a col- man who Jabez was five: ‘he will either be granted him that which he had liery company. ‘A man of cold- good or evil – there is nothing requested.’ blooded villainy’, The Times went to negative about him’. Spender, ‘Into the depths of human had dubbed him in the moment who examined his rise and fall motives’ wrote Spender ‘what of his disgrace, ‘one of the most the bad or more closely than most, was sure plummet can be cast? In the impudent and heartless scoun- never entirely sure. His develop- complexities of human charac- drels on record.’ Yet now he whether he ment of the Liberator seems to ter, who shall judge or decide?’ was almost forgotten. It took was bad all have been coloured by a genu- These are questions that go some time for the authorities in ine commitment to enhance the much wider and deeper than the Newport, where his body was along. daily lives of Nonconformist history of Jabez Balfour. removed from the Fishguard England – while also enhancing train, to establish who the dead the lives of those who sat round David McKie, a former deputy man was. Obituarists over the the boardroom table. This Non- editor and chief leader writer of next few days remembered him conformist Liberal was fully The Guardian, now in retire- as a minor politician and major attuned to the kind of teach- ment, writes a weekly column, rogue. ing more often identified with Elsewhere. His Jabez, The Rise Yet others who knew him Adam Smith and for that mat- and Fall of a Victorian Rogue, suggested that had bad times not ter Margaret Thatcher, which published in 2004, was shortlisted arrived when they did, he might teaches that men fired with the for the Whitbread biography prize. have ended up knighted, pos- urge for self-enrichment are His Great British Bus Journeys: sibly ennobled, even a member often the most effective agents Travels though Unfamous perhaps of the Privy Council. for the general improvement of Places appeared in March 2006. Had his companies survived the economy and of society. And through the crisis of 1892, they might possibly, some City observers maintained, have pros- Journal subscriptions pered to a degree where genuine profits would have accrued, his As noted in the last edition, the subscription rate for the Journal of Liberal History is increasing from the 2006–07 membership year, which starts with the next issue, number 53. This will allow companies might have been put us to increase the length of each issue and so publish the greater volume of material now being back on an honest footing, and submitted. We have also taken the opportunity to simplify the rates structure, which is as follows: those who became his victims Standard subscription (printed copies): £20.00 a year for individuals (£12.50 unwaged) and would have been saved from £30.00 for institutions. Overseas (non-UK) subscribers should add £5.00 to these rates. penury. Some of his cherished projects, like the Hotel Cecil, Online subscription (no printed copies will be sent, but access is made available online to pdf would indeed make substantial versions of all current and past issues): £40.00 for individuals and £50.00 for institutions. money one day. And certainly, it For payment details, see page 3. Payment is now possible by credit card via our website, www. was mordantly noted later in the liberalhistory.org.uk. City and in newspaper commen- The subscription year for individual subscriptions starts on 1 October, but subscriptions taries – the outstanding example commencing after 30 June continue until 30 September in the following year without further of which, still richly readable, payment. Subscribers receive all issues of the Journal published during the subscription year; those was that by J. A. Spender in the joining before 1 July are sent any issued since the previous 1 October. The subscription includes Westminster Gazette – there were membership of the History Group unless we are informed otherwise. those now occupying the high Institutional subscribers are invoiced at the start of the calendar year for the period until the places to which Jabez Spencer following 31 December. Balfour had once aspired who Standing order mandate forms are available on request from the Membership Secretary (see had resorted to methods no contact details on page 3).

42 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006