Mr. Asquith at Huddersfield on Thursday week attacked the Coalition
with more vigour than he has shown of late. The forcing of a General Election at this juncture " was a profound blunder." The present bartering of seats and ticketing of candidates " recalled the palmiest days of secret diplomacy " ; and since Labour with- drew from it, the Prime Minister's Party was no longer a Coalition. Sound Liberals were black-listed by the Coalition Caucus, on nu other ground than its determination, to secure " a reliable majority." He did not think that the electors would tamely submit to the hall-marking of candidates in London. The new House of Commons would start with " the minimum of moral authority," because of the absence of our fighting men from the polls, and because of the numerous band of minority candidates. The Maurice controversy " had nothing whatever to do with unity of command." He appealed to the country to return to the new Parliament independent Liberals, fettered by no compromising. pledges, " free to think, free to speak, and free to act."
