5 SEPTEMBER 1914, Page 3

We have no objection to a little rhetoric, but here

is a specific suggestion for committing a bombastic and theatrical personal outrage such as our forefathers, thank heaven, absolutely refused to allow in the case of a worse sinner, the Emperor Napoleon. Remember, too, how, when Bliicher wanted to blow up the Pont de Jena, and had actually mined it for the purpose, Wellington baulked him by putting a British sentry on the bridge and daring him to blow the gallant fellow into smithereens. Again, remember how John Lawrence met the wild proposals for fantastic vengeance made to him during and after the Mutiny. He would have none of them on any condition. But if these reasons are not sufficient for condemning Mr. Frederic Harrison's outburst, surely he might remember that we have not yet beaten the Kaiser. We suppose some of our hotheads will think us very poor-spirited for this protest, but we at any rate may remind them that we did not wait for the war to find out the German Emperor and his advisers.