The election for Walsall on Wednesday, for a Member in
the place of the late Sir Charles Forster, showed the very consider- able strength of the Unionist Party in that great borough. The Gladstonians gained the day ; but the poll, which was heavy, showed that the Liberal Unionists were more than 500 strong in the borough. In 1886 there was no contest, but in 1885 Sir Charles Forster won his election by a. majority of 1,677 against Mr. James. On Wednesday, Mr. Holden, the Glad- stonian Liberal, won his election by only 539. The numbers were :—For Mr. Holden, 4,899; for Mr. James, 4,360; the total poll being, therefore, 9,259. In 1885 the total poll was only 8,547, Sir Charles Forster polling 5,312, and Mr. Frank James 3,435. On a considerably increased poll, therefore, the majority was reduced to less than one-third of its magnitude in 188.5. Doubtless the former magnitude of the majority was partly due to the great personal popularity of Sir Charles Forster in the borough, which no other politician could expect to rival. But after allowing for that, it is clear enough that the Liberal Unionists are strong in Walsall, and that there ought to be a fair chance of a victory there at the General Election. The by-elections have been so discouraging on the whole to the Unionists, that every sign that the tide does not always run in the same direction should give us fresh energy, and fresh hope that the General Election will be governed by principles different from those which have determined, for the most part, the fate of the by-elections.
