19 MARCH 1904, Page 3

The by-election in East Dorset has gone exactly as all

by- elections now go when the Government majority is not in four figures. The supporter of Mr. Balfour has been beaten, and the Opposition gain a seat. Mr. Lyell has con- verted a Government majority of 96 into a Free-trade majority of 820. And yet there are still people who cannot see that Mr. Chamberlain and Mr Balfour have between them sent the Unionist party to destruction.