The only important speech of the week has been Mr.
Asquith's, delivered on Monday at Leeds. It was important because he repeated the demand which he made some months ago, that the leaders of his party should drop their reserve as to the particular scheme by which they propose to carry out their Home-rule programme, and declare at once its broad features,-'i.e., whether it is to be a general scheme for federating the distinguishable elements of the United King- dom, or otherwise. Mr. Asquith insists that without some such declaration, the opponents and the lukewarm friends of Irish Home-rule will be able to say that the country has not been consulted as to the constitutional method to be adopted for granting Home-rule to Ireland ; so that even if Irish Home- rule should be voted at the next Election, another dissolution and another vote of the constituencies on the particular plan to be adopted would be inevitable before the opposition of the Unionists, and the disinclination of the House of Lords to adopt the new scheme, could be overcome. Mr. Asquith dill not think that it would improve Mr. Gladstone's chances. of success to go to the country on half a scheme, and to ex;iibit the distrust of the people which would be implied by his very careful suppression of the least popular features of t141.plan.
