There is an old Indian story to the point. The
East India Company once investigated the question whether their servants used mild forms of torture to make hard-fisted farmers pay their taxes. One ryot in giving evidence declared that he went to the office of the collector, taking with him a bag of gold to pay his taxes, and expecting to be "mildly tortured," but, he added: " When I found that I was not tortured I went away and took my bag of gold with me." Mr. Asquith may think it is due to him, like the ryot, that he should be hard pressed, and if he is not so pressed may withdraw Exclusion. Happily, there is little fear that he will not be properly pressed on the Unionist aide. Mr. Boner Law's admirable speech on Exclusion makes that quite certain. Another proof that the pressure from moderate men is going to be properly exerted is to be found in the very striking letter from Sir West Ridgeway, Home Ruler and ex-Permanent Secretary for Ireland, which appeared in last Saturday's Times. The general effect of that letter is to show that all Nationalists who really mean well by Ireland should favour, not oppose, the temporary Exclusion of Ulster.
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