To make the position of the Radical assailants of the
King even more ridiculous, Mr. Asquith on Thursday, on the demand of Sir Henry Dalziel, gave his interpretation of the much debated sentence in the King's Speech in regard to "the cry of civil war." Though deprecating the question (amid loud cheers from the Unionists), he declared that, in the special circumstances, he would answer it, and he did so in the following terms :—
"In my understanding the sentence in question was not intended, and ought not to be construed, as saying more than what is obviously true, that the apprehension of civil strife has been widely entertained and expressed by responsible and sober- minded persons, among whom I may perhaps include myself."
In his comment the Parliamentary correspondent of the Times tells us that "the King's critics, stung by the last seven words of the reply, could scarcely conceal their mortification. They sat in uncomfortable silence, while the Opposition cheered." We do not wonder.
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