23 MAY 1914, Page 2

Our own opinion on the point just raised is that

the Speaker had no right to put the question he put to Mr. Boner Law. If Mr. Boner Law had thought his supporters in the wrong, he would have appealed to them on his own initiative. He very naturally resented being "cornered" by a question from the Chair. No doubt the Speaker was in a difficulty, and had to act as seemed best to him at the moment, but we cannot think that his impulse was a happy one. The essential question now is, " What is to be done ? " We most sincerely hope that the Opposition will make no attempt on Monday to renew the disorder of Thursday. They have made their protest, and any farther action of a provocative nature vrill tend to put them wrong with public opinion. It would then be premeditated, and could not be excused as due to sudden indignation. In our opinion, by far the moat impressive and most dignified course will be for the Opposition to attend the House at question time, and then to withdraw as a body and not return till after Whitsuntide. There is nothing likely to incite to disorder in Ulster in such action. It will, however, make the country realize the con- dition to which the House of Commons has been reduced by the Government's shifty policy of "diddle and drift."