As we have often felt compelled to criticise Mr. Asquith's
action, we desire hero to express our belief that throughout the coal crisis he has acted with a moderation, tact, and good sense which does him the highest credit and fully justifies public confidence. The sympathy he showed for the miners in the beginning was, we are sure, sincere. Equally admirable has been the good temper he has displayed in spite of what must have been his disappointment at their want of reasonable- ness. Mr. Asquith possesses a great asset in. the fact that he has the sympathy of comprehension. He has a mind which is unfortunately rare in politics—one capable of fully, and not only partly, understanding a situation and of analysing the elements of which it is composed. In addition, his mind is not one of those which are " awed by rumour." Happily also he has very little amour propro and is not drawn into foolish courses by irritation.
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