MR ASQUITH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 14 January 1916, Page 6

MR ASQUITH

THE "SPECTATOR'S" PROTEST.

The 'Spectator," of November 13th. makes the "following spirited protest against .persistent- attacks made by a section of the press on Mr Asqiuth and other Ministers. "The personal attacks made on the" Prime Minister and the attempts to drive him from office though they have failed so completely, have been of a ve"ry unjust and malignant type. . . . Those who have -been inclined to he led

away by the stream of obloquy poured npon Mr Asquith's head because we have not yet won the war and have' been in « so many tight places might recover their balance by. .remembering that at the ■worst- crisis of the American War Abraham Lincoln was assailed with even greater vehemence as foolish, incompetent, irresponsible, . clown, or pantaloon, who dabbled with the work of soldiers and upsefc their foest- plans. Especially was he accused of "being in- ; different, or even callous, to the fate of the northern armies, and incanable of realisln e he nature of the terrible tragedy through, which his country was passing. Men in those days spoke of loin in language of which a year or two later they repented in sackcloth, and ashes. " AIL that? we have said of the attacks, on Mr Asquith applies also of : course to the attacks on Sir Edward Grey. It is disgusting to see men who a very short time ago fawned upon Sir Edward Grey attacking him merely because lie is i'ntrouble and difficulty. We "never flattered Sir Edward Grey in the days of his success as a heaven-bom statesmen, ibut we are certainly not going to sling mud at him how because he ias had a wirn of bad luck."