The by-election at Altrincham, which has excited such very great
interest during the last month, has resulted, as we felt sure it would, in the return of the Unionist, Mr. G. C. Hamilton, whose majority was 1,262. Mr. Hamilton polled 9,409 votes and Mr. L. Kay-Shuttleworth 8,147. At the election in December 1910 the Unionist majority was only 119, and in January 1910 there had been a Liberal majority of 901. Such figures speak for themselves, but we may note that the startling change is not accompanied, as sometimes happens, by a falling-off in the total poll. On the contrary, the increase of the total poll over that of the election of December 1910 is 1,671, the increased Unionist poll being 1,407, the increased Liberal poll 264, and the increased Unionist majority 1,143. This splendid victory following upon the almost equally brilliant victory at Newmarket should make those Unionists who only ten days ago were croaking as to the impossibility of the party ever recovering its position feel ashamed of themselves. The time for faint hearts and low spirits in the Unionist Party is past, and the doom of the Government is settled. It is unthinkable that the Govern- ment should now refuse a general election before the third time of asking of the Home Rule Bill. Even to oblige kind Mr. Redmond they will not stain their hands with the blood of the Ulstermen, when a dissolution will certainly relieve them of the necessity.
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