The election for West Derby resulted, of course, in the
return of Mr. Walter Long, the Conservative, who lost his seat in Wiltshire chiefly in consequence of Mr. C. Hobhouse's success in persuading the Wiltshire labourers that the Con- servatives wanted to make their loaves both small and dear. Mr. Long was elected for the West Derby District of Liverpool by a greater majority than that given to Mr. Cross last July, but the poll was a thin one, and as Mr. Long's success was quite certain, it was not perhaps surprising that Mr. D. S. Collin's supporters showed only a rather languid interest in supporting him. Mr. Walter Long polled 3,632 votes, against only 2,275 given for Mr. Collin ; majority, 1357. In July, Mr. Cross's majority was only 1,182; but the new poll, as we said, was a small one. The rival candidates, taken together, polled only 5,907 votes, against 7,032 given at the General Election. In all the by-elections hitherto, except that of Mr. Morley at Newcastle, the Unionists have gained on the Home-rulers ; and the Cirencester seat which Mr. Winterbotham had carried in July was wrested from the Home-rulers. If Mr. Gladstone still believes in the principles of political meteorology which he used to announce during his period of Opposition, he should be feeling discouraged ; but it is not likely that he now gives his attention to events which lower his confidence in the cause of which he is the champion.
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