Those who have been inclined to be led away by
the stream of atom poured upon Mr. Asquith's bead because we have not yet won the war and have been in so many tight places might recover their balance by remembering that at the worst crisis of the American War Abraham Lincoln was assailed with even greater vehemence as foolish, incompetent, irresponsible, clown, or pantaloon, who dabbled with the work of soldiers and upset their best plans. Especially was he accused of being indifferent, or even callous, to the fate of the Northern armies, and incapable of realizing the nature of the terrible tragedy through which his country was passing. Men in those days spoke of him in language of which a year or two later they repented in sackcloth and ashes. All that we have said of the attacks on Mr. Asquith applies also of course to the attacks on Sir Edward Grey. It is disgusting to see men who a very short time ago fawned upon Sir Edward Grey attacking him merely because he is in trouble and difficulty. We never flattered Sir Edward Grey in the days of his success as a heaven-born statesman, but we are certainly not going to sling mud at him now because he has had a turn of bad luck.
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