The by-election at Southport has resulted in the return of
the Liberal candidate, Sir George Pilkington, by a majority of 583 votes over Mr. C. B. Balfour. The votes polled, 5,635 and 5,052, show an increase of 535 and 224 on the Liberal and Conservative polls at the last election, when the seat, held for twelve years by Mr. Curzon, was captured by the late Sir H. Naylor-Leyland. The new Member, whose return makes no difference to the balance of parties in the House, sat for the division in 1885-86, has been three times Mayor of South- port, and was generally admitted to be the strongest local candidate available. We have never attached great import- ance to by-elections, and can make no exception in the present case. We note that it has been said in some quarters that Mr. C. B. Balfour would have secured more votes but for the defection of the extreme Protestants, who desired to give the Government a reminder of their power. It is also said that many Ritualists abstained, or even voted for Sir George Pilkington, because they consider that Mr. A. J. Balfour has not shown them enough sympathy. In that case Mr. Balfour's action in the House pleased neither side,—not an uncommon occurrence when one treats both combatants fairly in a bitter contest.
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