The other point to which we desire to draw attention
is the fact that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman has not as yet offered any sort of apology to Mr. Boyd for having called his original story" from beginning to end a lie." That it most certainly was not. Mr. Boyd's memory no doubt somewhat magnified the details and made them more sensational; but for Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, in view of the letters, not to withdraw his accusation that Mr. Boyd's story was "from beginning to end a lie" is grossly unfair. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman certainly cannot plead that we have not set him an example in the matter of apology for overstatement. Indeed, we have been very severely criti- cised in certain quarters for making "unnecessary apologies." We do not, of course, need, or ask for, any apology as regards ourselves, but we maintain that it should be given in the case of Mr. Boyd ; and we venture to think that if Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman consults any fair-minded friend on the subject, he will be advised to withdraw and express regret for the use of the expression, "from beginning to end a lie." If a man has committed himself to an overstatement there is only one dignified and gentlemanly course to pursue,—i.e., to apologise; and unquestionably Sir Henry Campbell. Ba,nnerman committed himself to an overstatement.
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