CONFESSION AND ATONEMENT.
[TO TES Enrros OP TER"SPECTATOR."] Sin,—We all welcome Mr. Lloyd George's fine appeal to the noblest sentiments which inspire mankind and the spirit of self-sacrifice which is at the root of Christianity, and we are thankful to Mr. McKenna for resisting the attempt to weaken our Fleet, to which we are so deeply indebted in the present struggle. But one more thing is needed—a full and hearty confession that, but for the peace policy which hampered Lord Roberts's appeal for a substantial increase of our small but gallant Army, this terrible war might have been averted, and certainly would not have cost us so large a sacrifice of the flower of our Army. The Liberal Party as a whole share this act of criminal ignorance and folly, and yet seem still inclined to push to the utmost a technical advantage, never endorsed by the nation. Till this is undone the truce which patriotism has enforced is apt to be regarded as a scrap written on rag- made paper. And now for atonement. The Government, with its huge majority, might well try to follow in the wake of "barbarous" Russia in the crusade against vodka, with the full concurrence of the Opposition. We are learning slowly the virtue of temperance, and the German in Champagne is driving the lesson home. Now is the time for a whole- hearted but temperate attack on what is a national disgrace.
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