LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
MR. GLADSTONE AND BY-ELECTIONS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.'')
Sin,—May I call your attention to Mr. Gladstone's article in the last Nineteenth Century, to show in what way he arrives at his conclusion that an appeal to the country on the question of Home-rule would give in its favour a majority of 109 ?
He makes the number of what he calls anti-Irish in 1885, 249. He does not count in the Liberal Unionists returned in 1885, though when it suits his purpose he classes them as the most " anti-Irish." The number of anti-Irish ought, there- fore, to have been put down in 1885 as 350.
According to Mr. Gladstone's own calculations, the majority given for the Union in 1885 would be much larger now, larger by 63 votes, were an appeal made to the country this month.
Previous page
