Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen on Thursday asked Mr. Asquith why he did
not prosecute a man, named Williams, who on Wed- nesday led a mob into some of the squares, and denounced their inhabitants, remarking in particular that the Duke of West- minster ought to be hanged like Foulon with grass in his mouth. Mr. Asquith replied that the speech about Foulon was made on Tower Hill, that no allusion was made to the Duke of West- minster except to describe him as "an idle vagabond," and that in the opinion of the most experienced police-officers, Williams was a man with no following, and would only be advertised by a prosecution. Such men were "contemptible ranters." We suppose the Home Secretary is right, and he can hardly go against the opinion of his own police-officers; but he accepts a very grave responsibility. No sane man will act on Williams's speeches ; but, as Mr. Asquith knows, the real danger of outrage arises from the number of crypto-lunatics to be found in the midst of every great society. He is at this moment prosecuting one of them who has been threaten- ing the Queen. It is satisfactory to know, however, that the police are watching, and that the moment " action " is planned by the English variety of Anarchists, the tolerance of the Government will end.
