NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE most important political event of the week in home politics has been Mr. Asquith's speech on Thursday at Leeds. A strict verbal analysis of the speech shows that there is nothing in it which conflicts with what Mr. Asquith has said before about Ulster. He is far too accurate and cool-headed a speaker to introduce inconsis- tencies ; and yet the tone and emphasis of the speech dis- tinctly suggest a change of attitude in the Prime Minister, and we do not wonder that the speech has been received with disappointment alike by Unionists and by those Liberals who recognize that the situation is far too serious for temporizing and finessing. Mr. Asquith has by no means withdrawn his declaration that he is open to consider any suggested settle- ment of the Ulster problem, but he laid more stress than before on the determination of the Government to take short and sharp measures with their opponents. Indeed, his words have convinced many readers of his speech that the unbending group in the Cabinet have won a victory over the group which stands for reason, compromise, and patriotism in its highest sense.
