GREAT TRADITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11578, 23 December 1915, Page 4

GREAT TRADITIONS.

"It was quito like old times in tho House of Commons on Tuesday," says tho "Telegraph" correspondent. "The benches woro crowded for questions; tho galleries wero full at an early hour; Ministers sat tightly packed on the Treasury bench, and the Iloitso was evidently on tho alert to givo tho Prime Minister a really cordial welcome on his entry. "Mr Asquith looked well. The rest imposed by his recent indisposition has done him good. His voice was strong and fresh. Ho did not disdain a show of humour in certain passages in his speech. Always master of himself when addressing tho House of Commons, ho never allowed, moro complete self-pos-session, while lie held tho unflagging attention of tho assembly for an hour and three-quarters—an unusually long speech for one who contrives, as a. rule, to find a, single hour fully adequate for all ho has to say. "In tho Peers' Gallery tho Archbishop of Canterbury enjoyed tho centre seat over ilio clock, but the observed of all observers was Lord Fisher, himself vitally interested in ono of the principal topics of the day." " W 7 hen the Prime Minister rose loud cheers burst from all quarters," says the " Westminster Gazette." " Mr Asquith soon made it evident that ho was in excellent form. Ho spoko in thoso clear, calm, strong tones of his that travel to all corners of tho House. His manner was essentially. confident, and his style as usual perfect,"

HE SMOTE AND SPARED NOT. "He declared quite early that he intended to disappoint thosp people who expected him to appear as a criminal or a penitent. "'I aQn not gloing to apologise either for tho Empire # or the Government,' said the leader of tho Hotise, banging t'Juo despatch-box emphatically, and tho House itself cheered this declaration to tho echo. " He smot© and spared not when ho camo to speak of ' that small coterie of professional whimperers who keep our enemies supplied with a daily diet of lies.' " A recent instalment of which diet," says tho "Telegraph," "moved an important German journal to declare that ' for a long time past -we havo read nothing in enemy papers which has had such a cheerfully heartening ' effect upon us as this Job-like screed.' " '' The House cheered acquiescence when he declared thai, the present situation called for three things: "A proper sense of proportion. " A limitless stock of patience. " An overflowing reservoir of active and passive" courage. ! '"I do not think our people as a j whole show any lack in any of these qualities.' "The Pirimo Minister remarked that ho could conceive no better medicine than the actual facts for those people who (if there were any such) were downhearted about the way in which tho British Empire was playing its part in the greatest struggle of history. AN ELOQUENT PERORATION. "Tho speech ended in a peroration whose elevated and eloquence deeply moved the House," says "I-1.J." in the "Chronicle." "Thus ended a great speech, manful and forthright, very becoming to a national leader in a time of national stress." Mr Asquith's peroration ran thus: " I havo tried to tell the House this afternoon the whole truth. Ido not think I have kept back anything known to us which ought to be known to _ the House, unless it is a thing which, jf told for the first time, would become known to the enemy. PREMIER'S PERSONAL POSITION. " I have made no attempt to conceal anything in tho past history of the war, its conduct, its failures, shortcomings, iF you like: but, if I may, by the leave of tho House, I should like to say before I sit down one or two words with regard to my own personal position. When the war broko out I was the head of the Government. I take my share—and no one has a larger share—of responsibility at that supreme moment in tho attitude and policy of this country. A terrible responsibility it is, measured by what has happened, and by what 'is still to happen. Much of our best blood spilt; thousands of young lives cut short in tho very promise of their youth, tho cry goes up in evcr-incrcas-

MR ASQUITH'S FAMOUS SPEECH.

"A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE TO A TRIUMPHANT ISSUE."

ing volume day by day and week by week from torn hearts and from mutilated homes. THE GREAT DECISION. "Every morning, which one or other of us throughout tho country does not tremble to think what messago of direct and personal loss may not bo in store for us and others? And wo might havo stood aloof, spectators, hut not actors, in this tho most moving tragedy in tho history of man. Wo might havo stood aloof, but is tliero one oven of those who nro enduring tho unspeakable anguish—childless parents, .widowed wives, desolate comrades and friends—is thero ono who wishes that Great Britain had acted otherwise? I do not believo that there is. "Searching, if tho House will allow me to say so, tho utmost depths of my own heart end conscience, I would not unsay or undo that groat decision. Wo havo from that moment to this laboured with the unceasing and devoted aid of my loyal councillors and colleagues to uphold tho common cause, to bring to its support every resource in men and money, prudenco and courage, in unity and self-sacrifice that this kingdom and this Empiro can provide. If there havo been errors and shortcomings, failures of judgment, lack of foresight in tho conduct and direction of onr policy, I am tho first person in tho United Kingdom to .acknowledge them. there has been anything of sloth, indifference, self-complacency, unwillingness to fa<x>_ unpalatable facts, a desire, or even a. disposition, to conceal from our fellow-countrymen the truth, I challenge ■anyone to prove. I am as confident ,3s I was fifteen months ago that wo are going to carry a righteous cause to a triumphal issue, and I am not going to shift the burden which has been put upon me until I am satisfied that I cannot hear it, or that •it can 'be borne better by others. So long as I enjoy, as I am proud to think and I liopo I do, the confidence of my Sovereign, tho House of Commons and tho country, I shall .not surrender tho task, heavy indeed beyond the power of myself, or any other man, but as noble and as inspiring as any in history. ENDURE TO THE END.

| , there be moments, such as como to all of us, when we aro tempted to bo faint-hearted, let us ask ourselves what year in our. history has done more to justify our faith in tho manhood and the 'womanhood of our pooP lxi • It 3ias bought us, as w-e cr.nnot at this moment forget, the imperishable story of the last hours of Edith Tl' a eri 'ible, her teirible, ordeal. Sho has taught the bravest man amongst us the supreme esson of courage. Yes, and m this United Kingdom and throughout tho dominions of the Crown there are thousands of such women. A year ago we did not know it. l< Wo have great traditions, but a nation cannot exist by traditions aloDe. Thank God we have living examples of all tho qualities which havo built up and sustained our Empire. Let us be worthy of them, and enduro to the end. - ' (Prolonged cheers.)