Mr. Asquith, who also spoke on Colston Day at the
Anchor -Society's meeting (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach of course spoke at the Dolphin Society's meeting) began by saying that the date Government had nothing to apologise for and nothing to regret. But he went on to remark that whether or not the leaders of the Liberal party ought on every fresh public occasion to repeat and defend their whole creed was quite another question, and indeed one of expediency, and that it might very well be their duty in Opposition to devote them- selves rather to criticisms of the Government, than to an -exposition of their own political wishes. In good keeping with this prudential view of the case, Mr. Asquith made -an exceedingly moderate and gingerly speech, containing -hardly any political polemic, and admitting freely that any special pressure which could safely be taken off the land should be taken off, though he doubted whether all they could do in that respect would amount to anything --effectual to relieve our agriculture. He concluded by say- ing that he could not court for the Liberal party "the -responsibility of power, unless it has also behind it that irre- sistible strength which can alone secure that its means are adequate to its purposes." Very wise and prudent words. As the Gladstonian party has at present behind it only an -almost incalculable weakness, Mr. Asquith's well-regulated mind leaves all such "meaner things" to "low ambition and the pride of things."
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