But, though we are disappointed in this portion of Mr.
Asquith's speech, we must congratulate him upon the manly, straightforward, and clear way in which he defined his own position. He made not the slightest attempt to shelter himself by references to his colleagues, but plainly announced his belief that it would be an injury to the nation to extend the vote to women. What was notable was his evident confidence that his view is going to prevail and that there is no real danger of the bestowal of the vote upon some seven or eight millions, or even on a million, of women. We are not often in agreement with Mr. Asquith, but we are bound to admit that he is by far the most astute of living Parliamentarians, and that he has a power of political diagnosis which is unrivalled. His confi- dence that his side is going to win is of good omen. It is worth noting that Mr. Asquith was always serenely sure that the Parliament Bill would be passed without a peer being made Be does not now expect the women to get the vote, but he wisely does not want to trust to it being all right on the night of the division. He urged the need of the anti-Suffragists taking off their coats. We agree. "Natural horror" at the prospect of ten millions of new electors being added to the register is no substitute for hard work.
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