The poll at Lewisham for a successor to Lord Lewisham,
now raised to the Lords in consequence of the death of his father, the Earl of Dartmouth, is to take place on Wednesday, and there ought to be no manner of doubt as to the result. Lord Lewisham was returned by more than 1,000 majority against the united Liberal Party in 1885, and by more than 2,000 majority against the Gladstonians in 1886. Still, there is great reason to fear that the very large preponderance of the Unionist Party will render the Unionists careless about polling, and therefore likely to lose ground. We sincerely hope that not a single Unionist who can vote will stay away, even if he happens to be at some distance from the borough on Wednesday next. It is of the first importance to revive the spirits of the Unionists, who have been so unsuccessful in several county divisions lately, and a great suburban con- stituency like Lewisham is just the place where a signal Unionist triumph would be not only possible but easy. Mr. Penn, the Conservative candidate, deserves the most hearty support from Liberal Unionists, and we are glad to see that the " Liberal Unionist van " is working hard on his be- half. The Gladstonian candidate, Mr. Warmington, has also the aid of a Gladstonian van, and is said to be working equally ha.rd on the other side. Why " vans " should exert so much influence as they seem to have in such elections, it is impossible to say ; but the age is one in which every sensa- tion tells, and, so far as we can judge, even a perambulating "van," especially if furnished with a magic-lantern, is able to set up a sensation.
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