The Chertsey by-election—the polling day is next Wednesday—is creating a
great deal of interest through- out the country. The Ministerialists, though they are straining every nerve, have clearly no great confidence that they will be able to keep the seat. Yet if they cannot carry a constituency like Chertsey, it is difficult to see what they can carry. For the first time since Mr. Chamberlain split the Unionist party, the Unionist Free- traders have taken definite and united action at an election, and, in the absence of any disavowal of the Chamberlain policy on the part of the Government candidate, have urged Unionist Free-traders to vote for the Free-trade candidate. We are glad, however, to note that while thus asking Unionist Free- traders to make their Free-trade principles effective, they urge that it is the duty of Unionist Free-traders to remain Unionists, and not to join the Liberals. This is sound advice. If the seat is won by the Free-tirade candidate, it will un- questionably be largely owing to the determination of the Unionist Free-traders not to place party considerations above the cause of Free-trade.
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