NATIONALISTS AND UNIONISTS IN ULSTER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sue,—In your article in your issue of January 6th you appear to agree with the Liberal contention that there is a majority of Home Rulers in Ulster. I cannot see how this contention can be substantiated. Owing to the number of uncontested elections of late years in Ulster, it is no doubt difficult to get exact figures for the present moment, but I submit that the fairest test is to take the figures for the last contested election in which a Unionist and Nationalist opposed each other in each constituency, and in the case of those constituencies where no out-and-out Nationalist has ever stood to take the votes received by the "Liberal" candidate, as being approxi- mately those of Nationalists. Working on the basis we find that the aggregate Unionist majorities in Ulster amount to 38,047, and the Nationalist majorities to 27,647, a balance in favour of the Unionists of 10,400. There remains West Donegal, which has never been contested by a Unionist, and is no doubt almost wholly Nationalist. We might give a Nationalist majority of about 5,000 there, and still leave a Unionist majority on balance of over 5,000. I may add that by taking the " Libel al " figures in the cases I have mentioned the position is really made as favourable as possible for the Nationalist, as several Presbyterians vote Liberal who would not vote straight Nationalist.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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