Whatever may be the feeling of the Scotch electors generally
on the subject of the Union, it is clear that the Universities of Scotland are heartily Unionist. On Saturday, Edinburgh elected Mr. Goschen Lord Rector by 1,378 votes over 805 given to Sir Charles Russell,—majority, 573, the largest majority ever gained. And in Glasgow University, Mr. Balfour was elected Lord Rector by a majority of 231 over Lord Aberdeen, Mr. Gladstone's popular Viceroy of Ireland; and Mr. Balfour had not only a majority of the total vote, but he was elected in three of the four " nations " into which the University is divided. In the total poll, 948 votes were given for Mr. Balfour, against 717 for Lord Aberdeen. Indeed, without a majority of the "nations," Mr. Balfour would not have been elected Lord Rector, as the election directly depends on the majority of the "nations," and not on a majority in the total vote. It is clear enough that young Scotland, so far as it is educated, is Unionist, whatever old Scotland may be. We believe, how- ever, that amongst older Scotchmen of the same educated class, the majority against meddling with the Act of Union with Ireland would be considerably greater, and not less than it is among the young. It is the culture, not the class-feeling, which really weighs in the controversy.
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