The Unionists suffered a keen disappointment on Wednes- day in
the election of Mr. Neville for the Exchange Division of Liverpool by the narrow majority of seven votes. Mr. Neville polled 3,217 votes, Mr. Goschen 3,210. Mr. Goschen, there- -fore, is still without a seat in the House of Commons, and the Government without any adequate financial spokesman there. The Irish Party voted against him with the utmost enthusiasm ; but in spite of their exertions, Mr. Goschen all but turned the election against the Gladstonian and Parnellite allies. He reduced the majority, which in July was 170, to 7 ; but we had confidently hoped that he would have done more, and won the day by a large majority. We frankly acknowledge the severity of our disappointment,—though great as it is, it is due rather to the over-confidence of the Liverpool managers, than to any permanent mischief which it can do to the Unionist cause. Mr. Goschen in any case fought the battle with admirable spirit and ability, and has made every Unionist his debtor for his all but successful effort to win a seat from the Home-rulers. There is a strength of fibre in him which the gelatinous politicians of the newer school never display.
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