But when they have made that sacrifice they find that
other men often better able to go than themselves are selfishly refusing to bear any part of the burden. The Government meanwhile flog the willing and spare the unwilling horse. No wonder that the willing horses soon regard such partial voluntaryism — or shall we say unfair compulsion T—with detestation. The true grievance of the married men consists, not in the breaking of any pledge by the Government or by Lord Derby, for none has been broken, but in the failure of the Government to apply compulsion to the married men, and so spread the duty of national preservation evenly through all classes. We are therefore fully in agreement with the Liberal War Committee in advocating compulsion all round, and trust the Unionist War Committee may follow suit. Such action, if it is taken in the proper spiel, should not in the least embarrass the Coalition Government. It will show them, however, that the representatives of the people are willing to take the responsi- bility of enacting compulsion the moment the Executive Govern. ment deem it necessary. That should prove a great source of strength to the Government as a whole.
