The Burnley election went against the Unionists, although they increased
the Unionist vote from 4,209 in July last, to 4,181 last Saturday. Mr. John Slagg, the Gladstonian candi- date, and a very able man, polled 5,026 votes on Saturday, against the 4,481 given for Mr. Thursby, the Conservative. It is asserted that a good deal turned on the temperance question.
In July last, both Mr. Rylands and Mr. Greenwood pledged themselves to Local Option, and consequently the temperance vote was divided. This time, Mr. Thursby declined so to pledge himself, and the temperance vote went solid for Mr. Slags. And no doubt this, together with the substitution of Mr. Thursby for the late Mr. Peter Rylands, who was very popular in the borough, did a good deal to determine the election for the Gladstonians. The defeat must be frankly acknowledged. But no bye-election really tests the opinion of the electors. Only at the time of a General Election have we the means of eliminating small local considerations, and judging the true political bias of the country.
