The election to fill the vacancy at Devonport caused by
the death of Mr. E. J. C. Morton, took place on Wednesday, and resulted in the return of Mr. Lockie, the Unionist candidate, by a majority of 28 (Lockie, 3,785; Brassey, 3,757). At the last election two Liberals were returned, though by small majorities. Thus the Government has actually won a seat from the enemy during the height of the agitation against the Education Bill. We do not wish to lay too much emphasis on a single by-election, especially in view of the crude appeals to the self-interest of the dockyard labourers in which Mr. Lockie is alleged to have indulged, but we think it is fair to say that if the country were as deeply moved as Dr. Clifford assures us it is, we should see some sigris of it at a place like Devonport, where Nonconformists must be, very numerous. If the country were moved to its depths by the tyranny and bigotry and injustice of the Bill, the Opposition would not lose seats. Note, too, that the election was largely fought on the Education question.
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