Two by-elections have been decided since our last issue, one
of which throws some light upon the popular appreciation of Protection, while the other does not. The first was the return for Warwick and Leamington of the Right Hon. A. Lyttelton, the new Secretary for the Colonies, by a majority of 190. This shows a reduction on his former majority in 1900 of 641, principally caused by an increase in the Liberal vote of 545. The balance, 96, was of course due to Unionist absten- tions, the general effect being that the new fiscal proposals, while they have given the Liberals new hope and energy, have by no means captured the whole Unionist party. Remember, too, that Mr. Lyttelton, though he began by speaking of Mr. Chamberlain practically as his co-leader with Mr. Balfour, in the end found it necessary to insist, and with the utmost vehemence, that there was no question of the taxation of food before the electorate. It is admitted that but for such a declaration he could not have kept his seat. The other election, that for West Belfast, where the new Secretary for War, Mr. H. 0. Arnold-Forster, was returned on Friday week by a majority of 241, was of a different kind. In this case also the majority was considerably reduced, but as the contest was between a Nationalist andra strong defender of the Union, the result had little bearing on the fiscal question. The Nationalists, it is known, will vote on that " as may best accord with their view of Irish interests "—that is, of course, according to the concessions made on questions purely Irish— but at heart they are all convinced Protectionists.
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