We could wish that the movement had been started by
the National Service League, since the League is justly trusted and admired as the depositary of all truth in this matter, and the society which has made the country familiar with the lucid and democratic principles of National Service. But it is of course perfectly clear why the National Service League did not move in the' first instance, and perfectly natural why it should not have done so. When the war broke out the League placed its extensive machinery at the disposal of the Government, and patriotically held itself estopped from carrying on propagandism. But although the National Service League did not open the present movement, the movement is so right in itself that it can scarcely suffer thereby. At all events, we hope that the meetings will be a vast success, and that the Government will, as a result, intro.. duce National Service (of course using the new Register to distinguish between the men they call upon and the men they exempt) because they recognize that the people want it and mean to have it. Such a popular demand would be irresistible.
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