23 JUNE 1888, Page 2

The Home-rulers have obtained a victory in the Ayr Burghs

which throws the victory at Southampton almost into the shade, as Southampton was confessedly carried in no small degree by selfish considerations affecting the commercial prosperity of the place. In 1885, Mr. Campbell (who was, however, the most popular Liberal in a district which has never, we believe, returned a Conservative Member since the great Reform Bill of 1832, when the Ayr district was first created) was returned by a majority of 342 over his Con- servative rival, Mr. Low. In 1886, no Conservative candidate came forward, but Captain J. Sinclair contested as a Home- ruler the borough which Mr. Campbell still professed to repre- sent as a Liberal, though he was a Unionist Liberal, and dis- approved Home-rule. Mr. Campbell then carried the borough by a majority of 1,175 against the Gladstonian. Now it appears that, Mr. Campbell having died, and the contest turning solely on principles, without the advantage of a great local prestige for the Unionist candidate, the borough district has reverted to its old party bias. Mr. Sinclair fought as a Home-ruler against Mr. Evelyn Ashley as a Liberal Unionist, and was returned last Saturday by a majority of 53, Mr. Sinclair polling 2,321 votes against 2,268 given for Mr. Evelyn Ashley. The total poll was thus 4,589. In 1885, when Mr. Campbell won by 342 votes, the total poll was 4,578. In 1886, when he won by 1,175 votes, the total poll was only 4,171. It is clear that what has happened is this,—those Liberals, who with Mr. Campbell for their candidate voted for the Union, returned, as a rule, on his death, to Mr. Gladstone's standard.