On Saturday last Mr. Asquith made an excellent speech to
the Tyneside Liberal Association at Wilmington Qnay,—a speech which showed as much good sense as patriotism. He insisted, and, as we believe, quite truly, that while there were plenty of differences in the Liberal party as to the way in which the Government had acted in the ante bellunt period, there was no divergence now the war had begun. After deprecating not only attacks upon our generals, but also on the Cape Ministry, and asking whether it was wise for .` responsible persons to go about whistling for alliances," he went on to deal with the present situation, and to make a most useful appeal for a sense of proportion. Any student of history must know that the exaggeration of our reverses had been grotesque. We must, in fact, remember that we were putting our battles under the microscope. If we failed now it would be the end of the British Empire; but we were not going to fail, though to prevent failure great sacrifices might be necessary.
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