It is quite possible that before another week has passed
the situation will have again changed, and reason will have triumphed even in the minds of the extremists. We should not be surprised if, when Mr. Asquith has set forth the essential facts of the situation as so practised a Parlia- mentary orator as he is will be able to set them forth, and has explained in his speech on the Address, not only what is possible, but what is impossible, the cry for "Thorough" will die away. We can imagine a speech from the Prime Minister which would blow away the froth as a man blows it away from a tankard of beer, or, to return to our previous metaphor, we can believe that Mr. Asquith, speaking like the fond, mother in the nursery poem, will be able to console his followers by saying:-
' Oh ! do not cry for the moon, my child,
For I cannot give it thee."
