Two important elections of the week have gone against the
Unionists, and made it necessary for us to redouble our exertions if we are not to have the political affairs of the Kingdom plunged into chaos by an electoral pledge to do what can- not possibly be done without confusion and disaster, nor without the most fundamental as well as what must prove the most ephemeral of political revolutions. In Southwark, on Friday week, the Home-ruler, Mr. R. K. Causton, was returned by 3,638 votes against 2,444 given for Mr. Beddall, the Con- servative Unionist,—majority, 1,191. The result was all the more ominous that the victory, which does not, however, change the Parliamentary balance, was gained by a great increase of the Radical strength, while the Unionists lost nine votes. In 1886, Mr. Cohen polled 2,566 votes, against 2,453 given for Mr. Beddall, —majority, 113; so that, while the Unionists lost nine votes, the Home-rulers increased their poll by no less than 1,072. The Southwark constituency is a capricious one, it is true. In 1880, it gave Lord Beacom.. ' false hopes of a victory only a couple of months before it govt. .'-e Liberals a good majority ; but in that case the poll was a short one, while in this it was an un- usually large one. We fear we must accept the defeat as a very decided declaration by Southwark in favour of a chaotic, and, indeed, impossible tampering with the Constitution.
