The polling at Southport took place on Wednesday, and resulted
in the return of the Home-rule candidate by a majority of 272, the fall figures being : Sir H. S. Naylor- Leyland (L.), 5,100; Lord Skelmersdale (C.), 4.828. Mr. Curzon's majority in 1895 was 764, and in 1892, 584. That the election is a disagreeable fact for the Government we do not deny, nor do we wish to find local reasons for explaining it, though doubtless they were not without their effect. At the same time, it is absurd to regard this election as likely to weaken the Government. If, as is probable, it frightens the Unionist Members, it will tend to strengthen the Government. A defeat of the Government would mean a General Election, and when Members think they are going to lose their seats the last thing they want is an election. Another fact as to the position of the Government is worth remembering. If this Parliament had only a year to run their position might be precarious. As it is, they have plenty of time in which to await the reaction which inevitably follows the excitable and panic-stricken way in which they have been attacked. As one of our correspondents points out in another column, the Government's record of diplomatic successes is really a very large one. For the moment, of course, one is thought crazy for suggesting such a thing, but in a few months' time half the world will be declaring that they always at heart believed in Lord Salisbury, and knew he would "come out on top."
