The polling at Rochester, which took place on Wednesday, resulted
in the return of Mr. Tuff, the Unionist candidate, by 521 votes, a majority greater by 42 votes than that secured by Lord Cranborne. Mr. Tuff] was personally very popular. Indeed, he possessed all the advantages that come from local influence, whereas Sir Harry Johnston was comparatively un- known in the constituency. It does not seem certain whether Mr. Tuff considered himself a Chamberlainite or a Balfourite on the fiscal question, but that he was in fact a Protectionist in principle there can be no doubt. At the same time, he pro- fessed himself against the taxation of food, and no doubt led many electors to imagine that the Protectionist scheme can be carried out without taxing food,—a delusion which, we are bound to say, has received no sort of encouragement from Mr. Chamberlain. The Protectionists, nevertheless, have a right to regard the election as a victory for their side. The verdict of Rochester leaves us, however, quite as confident as ever that the nation as a whole is opposed to Mr. Chamberlain's policy, and will have none of it.
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