Mr. Asquith, addressing the Council of the London Liberal Federation
on Monday, said that the case against a General Election was immensely strengthened by the fact that many of the soldiers lathe new eleetoreae would be unable to vote. A House of Commons returned by an electorate so truncated must lack moral authority teact for. the nation. He would go into the election as a Liberal, without label or hall-mark. Indefinite pledges should. not be given. Liberalism was- not a dogma, like the Apostles' Creed it was a faith, a spirit. -The pronouncement of the Nstional Liberal- Federation at Manchester six weeks ago sketched the lines of industrial and social reconstruction of. the most comprehensive and democratic character; and it abjured tariffs, open or disguised. Realizing the -urgency of Irish' self-government, -he was prepared to conciliate the susceptibilities and apprehensions of what was called the Irish- -minority. Liberalism -must throw its whole- weight on the side of a patriotic and 'democratic policy, with ite eyes open and its hands free.
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