The by-election in North-West Staffordshire, which took place on Wednesday,
has resulted in the victory of Mr. Stanley, the Liberal and Free-trader, over Mr. Twyford, Tariff Reformer and Unionist, by a majority of 2,349. At the General Election Sir A. Billson's majority was 2,110. This increase in the majority on a lower total poll is of special significance owing to the fact that there was no possible doubt as to the fiscal views of the Unionist candidate. Hitherto when Unionist candidates have done badly at by-elections Tariff Reformers have told us that it was because they had not the courage to advocate taxes on food, and, in fact, "to go the whole hog" in regard to the Chamberlain policy. Now in North-West Staffordshire we have had a boaci-fide " whole- hogger "—a candidate" whom the Morning Post's corre- spondent described as enjoying a "delirious honeymooning" with Tariff Reform—and this is the result. We believe that as a matter of fact the Tariff Reformers who have so often watered down their principles in face of the electors were from the electioneering point of view quite right. Tariff Reform is all very well in the study or the caucus, but when it is brought face to face with the electorate it is at once seen to be an impossible creed.
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