19 APRIL 1913, Page 2

Mr. Bonar Law ended the debate with a powerful and

impressive speech. Here are the words of his peroration :—

"The right hon. gentleman admitted that the present position is not satisfactory, and he tried to prove that the need could be met under the voluntary system. If he will say that he is going to see that it is met under any system I will feel that he has done his duty, but it really is not enough for anyone in his position simply to appeal to hon. members to do what they can ; his duty is, here and now, to see that what he believes to be necessary is done under his responsibility."

These are propositions which surely it is impossible to deny. Colonel Seely said either too little or too much ; too little if he has really changed his mind and intends to advise the nation to adopt compulsion ; too much if he means to advise the nation to go on as it is going at present.