MR. ASQUITH'S ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1920, Page 4

MR. ASQUITH'S ELECTION.

As the result of the recent by-election at Paisley, the Eight Hon. H. H. Asquith again obtains a seat in the House of Commons, and it is well that his services should once more be available in that chamber. The events connected with his failure to retain the Premiership and his subsequent defeat at the general election are too recent to need recapitulation, and though his re-elec-tion will doubtless be generally regarded as satisfactory, it cannot be taken as a sign that public opinion in the Motherland is setting in against the Coalition Government. It is to the credit of the electors of Paisley that they recognised Mr. Asquith's great services to the nation in the past, and the need for securing a continuance thereof. With all his shortcomings, Mr. Asquith. Is a finished and masterly statesman, having a personality possessed only by great leaders of men and thought, and well equipped for the leadership of a Party The exigencies of the war demanded that the head of the Government should not only be a man of exceptional foresight and promptitude in arriving at deeisions vital to the issue of the conflict, but also a man of vigorous action and dynamic force. That was the reason winMr. Lloyd George superseded his chief and gathered around him the best brains available inside and outside the House under n coalition that devoted itself to winning the war. This task was accomplished—not. without blunders, or rather in spite of many blunders—end history will deal with the praise and blame of Mr. Lloyd George's regime. Mr. Asquith was not fitted for the exceptional task of head of the administration at such a crisis in the nation's history, hut he none the less proved his intense patriotism, and used his marvellous eloquence to stimulate the people to the utmost effort. The war came to a victorious conclusion, yet the necessity for the coalition remains, but Mr. Asquith desires to see the Liberal Party once more united under his wing. His Liberalism, however, is now out of date, besides which the large majority of Liberals in the House r.re on the Bide of the Coalition. At the same time

he may dc good service iu keeping the Government up to the mark, and nil Governments require this stimulant.. Only those who know from experience the conditions of political activities in the Old Country can realise how Midi a lender as Mr. Asquith can he a power for pood or otherwise. There are two danger signals in his programme—leniency to Germany and a risky policy in Ireland, but it will he far Letter that he diould take an active part in the ITou.i. than that he should be a free lance outside. His following will he small, but his influence, when used in the right direction will he appreciable. At any rate, it is quite fitting he should once more take part in the affairs of the nation, and it is to be hoped that he will help and not hinder the settlement of the great problems facing the country.