The Peckham election, which took place on Tuesday, resulted in
the return of Mr. Gooch, the Tariff Reform candidate, by a majority of 2,494 (6,970-4,476). At the General Election the Liberal candidate carried the constituency by a majority of 2,339. It will be seen from these figures that there was a turn- over of nearly 5,000 votes. We have dealt with the lesson of the election elsewhere, and willenly say here that, in our opinion, it, like the other by-elections, shows that the country is in no mood to be trifled with on the subject of Socialism, and is deter- mined to mark its vehement disapproval of proposals such as those for old-age pensions, for introducing Protectionist legislation into the coal-mining trade, and for endowing unemployment. No doubt the unpopularity of the Licensing Bill bad a good deal to do with increasing the majority ; but it would not be wise to lay too much stress upon this factor. That the result shows that the Tariff Reformers have converted the country is one which will, we believe, prove to be entirely unfounded. It would, however, not be untrue to say that the country is beginning to feel that the present Government are not very sure defenders of the cause of Free-trade.
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