The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

A TORY WILL o THE WISP. OsrE of the many Tory devices which have been resorted to in the course of the present electoral campaign is that of trying' to hoodwink the agricultural and industrial classes by holding out the hope that if they will only give the Tory government a new lease of power it will help them out of their difficulties by hitting upon some pkn or Other of guarding them from the stress of foreign competition. Advantage is artfully taken of depression in trade and agriculture, to suggest a return to Protection, under the specious forms of "Fair Trade," iiecip- loeitv," and "Retaliatory Tariffs'' In some few cases the bait has been swallowed, and a vague hope excited of a revival of prosperity as a result of continuing the present Government in power. We all thought the Fair Trade craze which afflicted the country some ten or a dozen years ago was dead; but it would seem that it was "scotched," not killed. Upon the very eve f the present general election the Prime Kim ster himself did not hesitate openly to topose a war of tariffs; and to commit, as ir as lay in his power, his followers to this lineful policy. While the Democratic JKtr in the United States has declared ittff on the side of Free Trade, the Stijjcvters of the McKinley tariff claim LOt Salisbury as a convert to Protection. Othr nations will find out, as England has lon(ound out. that Protection in whatever .forms an unsound and, in the long run, an in/urrms policy, though for a time it may ftppea to succeed. A nw generation has sprung up since the trimph of Free Trade—a generation having mt a faint motion of the intolerable evils ani calamities from which it delivered this natDn, and enjoying the blessings it brings tfem as unconsciously as the air they breathe. Who can doubt that the enor- mous incrase of exports from this country S^-flce 186t is the result of the natural working 0: the "dynamic law that import- ation causcl exportation just as a vacuum in physics is filled up by the air or other .earest fluid." All other facts having any alation to the question point to the same! jonoiusion, but the "Fair Trader" coolly brushes them aside with an air of contemp- tuous indifference. Welsh farmers at anyraie are shrewd enough to perceive that the notion of re-imposing a tax upon corn or au) other kind of farm produce for the benefit of agriculturists is utterly prepos- terous Were it re-imposed the farmers Would receive no gain, no advantage from it, unless it materially raised the price of the food taxed, and it is difficult to imagine that the people of this country will ever eons&nt to the price of bread being arti- ficially raised for the purpose of enabling the British farmer to grow corn at a profit; 7L.L,,7 Salisbury disclaims any such idea. Whllo suggesting that we shou/d return to Protection in order to convert other nations to the principle of Free Trade he would ex- dude food supplied and raw materials from Ma tariff of retaliatory duties, and would include such articles of importation as"wmes, apírítf silks, gloves, and lace." The United States, by far the chief offender of all against Free Trade, would be virtually ex- empt from Lord SALISBURY'S lex talionis, and the duty upon these articles would not, of coilfso, be of the slightest advantage to the farmers, while if it benefitted any other class of the community it would do so at their expense. They could entertain no greater delusion than to suppose that the of the Tory Prime Minister and JCory candidates with Protection can serve the interests of Agriculture in the smallest possible degree. When the "Fair Trade" agitation was at its height the farmers were tteeared that their troubles dated from the repeal of the Corn Laws, which exposed them to competition with the whole world, gad they were bidden to seek relief by taking part in the agitation. But when Mr. CfLAps,ro-N.E gave Household Suffrage to the Counties the idea of reviving taxes upon the food of the people was dropped, as CAPTAIN MYTTON would say, like a hot potatoe," and Tory candidates in agricul- tural constituencies assured the newly- enfranchised electors that such an idea never entered their heads. Lord RANDOLPH CHU&CIHLL even declared that there was not ft member of the present Government who would not recoil with the utmost horror from 8ucli a proposal." These gentlemen did not find it convenient to justiliy to the farmer their specious promises of high, or At len £ <t remunerative, prices for his produce, or to explain in what way the agricultural depression is to be relieved by duties im- pase" upon manufactured goods. As tor the working classes, they are not likely to allow thomsetves to be ensnared by the para- doxk-i! fallacy that "the more you con- tô out of a man's earnings the wealthier he is/' As Mr. Join? MORLEY pointed out at 01113 of the dinners of the Cobden Club, Ufldei' our present system of Free Trade, Dot only is the distribution of wealth fairer, better, safer than it ever was," but owing to the low price of food and of the other necessaries 01 lite our working people, though their wages may not be all tkat they gottld desire, have greater purchasing power fpjfcll those wages than they ever had before." Th.f. truth is that Lord SALISBURY'S pro- posal of a War of Tariffs is a disengenuous attempt to hide the nakedness of Tory poKey. It is merely a "dummy" in the Tory shop window. As Mr. STUART RENDEL gaJd &t Caersws, though the Tories have •'allowed Protection to be dangled before f anners year after year," they are per- feetff well aware of the utter futility of any to carry it into effect, and have not the gmallest intention of engaging in so dangerous and foolish an enterprise. We freely admit that it is due to Captain MfTrosr's credit that he has never, as far as we are aware, held out any false hopes of W kind we have alluded to, but, on the rary. has frankly admitted that a return 10 Protection is impossible. As a devoted follower, however, of Lord SALISBURY he cannot altogether escape from his share of yggpOQBibility for the conduct of his political Jgsui&L* upon this as upon other matters. It i. instructive in this connexion to

4 -N7- THE GRAND OLD MAN. From a Photo, by S. H. WALKEE, Regent Street. "WE ARE ALL PROUD OF HIM."—Sir Stafford Northcote. I

A POLITICAL DISASTER The Montgomery Boroughs have again swerved from their allegiilnee. to the Liberal cause, and will, no doubt, again repent, as they did in 1885, of their political dis. loyalty. The Tory Candidate has been returned Lj xua-ji<• u> ut JlR over Mr 1 HAXBUKY- 1 RACY. It would be worse than useless to attempt to minimise the character of the defeat, and our opponents are quite justified in raising their shout of triumph. There is but small consolation to be derived from the reflection that the Liberal disaster is the result of causes which have as little to do with politics as the man in the moon. The fact makes the defeat not less but vastly more discreditable to the constituency. Honest changes of opinion may convert a majority into a minority, and deserve res- ,,int pect but no one acquainted with the poli- tical complexion of the Montgomery Boroughs would venture to ascribe the Tory victory to this cause. The Boroughs remain essentially a Liberal constituency, and their late representative has always been a faith- ful and staunch supporter of Liberal prin- ciples. We cannot doubt, therefore, that he was in substantial agreement with the majority of his constituents. The severance of the long political connexion of Mr. HANBURY-TRACY and his family with the Boroughs is greatly to be regretted on per- sonal grounds, but the Liberal reverse on Thursday last is also to be deplored for other and more momentous reasons. The Liberal defeat of 1885—which we hoped was simply a temporary aberration to which most constituencies are more or less subject -was bad enough, but this is far worse. We are not referring to the increase of the Tory majority from 83 to I I 9-that is a I comparatively small matter—but to the fact that the Montgomery Boroughs have deserted the Liberal Party i1 the hour of its greatest need; have proved disloyal to its great leader at the crown and summit of his noble and splendid career; and untrue to their country at a crisis in its history when all its faithful sons should promptly rally round its banner.

THE NEXT STEP. A FALSE note has been struck in Wales, and one false note is destructive of harmony. It is impossible for any impartial mind to doubt the enormous preponderance of Liberal opinion throughout the Principality, and nowhere more than in the group of Mont- gomery boroughs. Yet, we now see the old mem ber, wlio tor litteen years has championed the cause dear to the heart of the people- the sacred cause of religious and political equality-set aside in favour of one who opposes every measure which Liberal Wales wishes to accomplish. By what means this unfortunate result has been brought about it is useless now to discuss, though we shall probably return to this matter in due time. What is now more important is to consider how far it may be due to Liberal feeling and Liberal opinion itself. There is no doubt that the question of Home Rule has not been sufficiently studied, and that a certain number of Liberals have accepted it not as it is, but as the enemies of Ireland have represented it to be-a danger to the integrity of the Empire. Mr Gladstone has placed the measure in his first line of attack, and there is no denying that until it is dis- posed of there is little prospect of other re- forms being successfully carried but much as Wales desires to see justice planted in Ire- land the work that comes most near to the Welsh heart and Welsh conscience is the liberation of the Church from the control of the State-the right of worship relieved from the trammels of an alien denomi- nation. We venture to assert that had this measure been placed in the foremost, instead of the second, rank, the unanimity of Liberalism would have been more complete and unbroken in Wales than it has proved on this occasion. What should be the immediate course of the Liberal party ? The first step should be combination and organisation with a view to cultivating the mind of the masses and inducing them to take wide and impartial views on the great problems to be solved in their interests. Progress" should more than ever be their watchword, since the policy of their opponents consists in the maintenance of abuses and the imped- ing of healthy reform but progress to be effective should bo the outcome of thought and reason. The people hold the power, and its exercise should be directed to one supreme end-the liberty, the happiness, the welfare of the many, the destruction of privileges opposed to the public good. The Montgomery boroughs have one more duty—it is that of being prepared for their own honour and in their own interests when the time comes once more, to reverse the fatal verdiet which they have allowed to be passed at the elec- tion of 1892.

""t:J.1'TI A TORY has been returned for the Mont- gomery Boroughs by the aid of the JSToncon* formist vote. The Nonconformists are in a huge majority in the county,—will they also be untrue to the principles they profess ? It is difficult to conceive for one moment that the Welsh Dissenters would willingly return to Tory thraldom, but we are assured that the Tories look forward to the result of the contest with complacency, and con- template the triumphant return of Captain MYTTON Mr HENRY GLADSTONE, writing from Dalmeny, says You have seen my father's stirring reference to the splendid lead given by Merthyr Tydvil as an example of what Wales is doing, and we have no fears about Montgomeryshire." But the issues clearly laid before the electors by Mr STUART RENDEL have been befogged, and the minds of the electorate led astray from the one simple question they have to decide —Is the Establishment to continue ? It is a sight ior men and angels to witness Tories posing as the upholders of religious equality; Pity," they say, the poor Irish Noneoii- formist." But what of the Welsh Noncon- formist? The Irish have had their alien church disestablished, and the cry the Ulster Presbyterians have raised is one created simply and entirely by sentiment. Will Welshmen—under the protection of tire ballot—refuse to respond to the appeal for a solid vote for the cause of Religious Freedom and Welsh Nationality?" The Tory candidate has emphatically declared that lie will vote against the removal of the injustice which now exists in the shape of the English Establishment in Wales—and vet he and his party, forsooth, claim to be the champions of religious equality in Ireland This fallacious reasoning will, we sincerely trust, be clearly seen through by the Liberal electors of Montgomeryshire. Can it be thought for one moment that Tory sophistry will lead the Nonconformist electors to forsake the party which secured to Ireland that for which Wales has been struggling so long ? Will they give credence to the suggestion that Mr GLAD- STONE will take from Ireland a tittle of that boon which will be pointed to in history as one of the beneficent measures which his wise statesmanship has caused to be placed on the statute book ? Will they forget the noble stand made by Welsh farmers against the obnoxious imposition of tithes ? Will they not remember that a principle is being fought for, and that they have it now within their grasp— once and for ever- to triumphantly terminate the conflict which has cost their countrymen so much ? One word more. A wise observer has said:—" No candidate is safe at a general election if any elector who favours his principles neglects to vote." Our last ap- peal to the Liberals of Montgomeryshire— who have so much to win, and so much to I lose—is, VOTE Vote for Rendel, Wales' champion of Religious Freedom and ¡ Equality!

THE GENERAL ELECTION. The polling commenced in the boroughs en Vfouday, when congests took place for about 6,) eats. The first result announced was that of Bos'on, where a Liheral succeeded in wresting the seat from a Conservative. This proved a good owen, and altogether 11 seats were won during' thr. day and but three lost; on Tuesday the giins and losses were even; but on Wednesday the tide continued to now, aod the Liberals could count a ilett gain of 7 more seats—making altogether 32 votes on a division. On the succeeding chys, the Liberals still increased their lead, and the Tory majority of 68 ba.s all but disappeared. We give a list of the results in the contests where the representation has been altered:— LIBERAL GAINS. BERMONOSEY. R. V. Barrow (L) I 4390 A. Lafone (C) 2,732 Majority 1,fj5 In ISSG the Conservative majority was 353. BOSTON. W J Ingram (LI 1,355 Hon C Willoughby (C) 1,313 Majority 42 Mr Ingram having won bick the seat which he carried in 1835 by a majority of 291, but which he lost in the following year to Mr Farmer Atkinson (C) by the small majority of 48. BEDFORDSHIRE,—NORTH. c-r w E Ruspel I (L) 5,600 Viscount Baring (U) o,056 Majority. 544 BOW AND BROMLEY. J. M. Macdonald (L) 4,972 Sir John Colomb (C) 3,649 Majority. 423 Sir John Colomb was returned in 1886 by a majority of 571. BRADFORD.—EAST. W S Caine (L) 5,575 H Byron Reed (C) 5,373 Majority 202 The Conservative majority in 1886 was 296. BRISTOL.—NORTH. C Townsend (L) 4,409 Jj Jbry (JLi U; 4,061 Majority 345 At the last election the figures were Fry, 3,537; Carpenter, 2,737. CAMBERWELL.—NORTH. E. H. Bayley (L) 4,294 J. R. Kelly (C) 3,450 Majority 845 Mr Kelly, now defeated, was returned in 1886 with 2,717 votes, Mr Bayley then polling 2,352, and a third candidate 246. CAMBRIDGESHIRE. H. E. Hoare (L) 4,350 Sir Charles Hall (C) 3,952 Majority. 350 This defeated candidate had a majority of 976 in 1886. DEVONPORT (2). Fl. H. Kearley (L) 3,354 E.J.Morton(L). 3,325 Captain Pryce (C) 3,012 R. Harvey (0) I. 2,972 Majority. 313 A gain of two seats to the Liberals, who in 1886 j were ir a minority of nearly 1,000. DEVON.-T A VISTOCK. H Luttrell (L) 4,453 Colonel White Thompson (U) 4,241 Majority 217 DURHAM. MrFowles(L) 1.075 T Milvain (C) 1,000 Majority 75 TheJ^rservative majority in 1885 was 111, and in DURHAM.—SOUTH-EAST. J IZ*-jigrd-on (L) H Havelock-Allan (U) 5,396 Majority. 1'34 FINSBURY. D. Naoroji (L) 2,959 Captain JPenton (C) 2, £ 56 Majority 3 On the last occasion Captain Panton was elected by 5 votes. Mr Naoroji is son of a Parsee priest, j and was educated at Bombay. GLASGOW.-ST. ROLLOX. Sir J. Carmichael (L) 0,247 The Hon. H. F. Elliot (L U) 4,891 Majority. 1,356 At the last election Mr Caldwell was returned as a Liberal Unionist by a majority of 110, while in the previous year Mr J. McCulloch was elected by a majority of 126 as a Liberal. GLOUCESTERSHIRE.—MID. B Jones (G) 4,612 G Holloway. 4,409 Majority 203 GREENOCK. The return of Mr J. Bruce (L) for the borough of Greenock appeas-s doubtful. Until the votes have been recounted it will be uncertain whether the figures published are correct. They were as follows:— L Bruce (L) 3,034 Sir T Sutherland (L U) 2,990 Majority 44 It appears that one of the wards in the town has been credited with having recorded S73 vorp.-?, which is more than the total electorate on the roll, and the excess with which it is credited is 200. It also appears that when both candidates' figures are abided the total is really 200 above the actual votes polled, GREAT GRIMSBY. HJosse(L) 4,201 E Heneage (L U) 3,565 Majority. 36 In 1836 the Right Hon. E Heneage polled 2,882, as against the 2,649 of Mr T. Sutherat. HEREFORD. W H Grenfell (L) 1,507 Sir J Bailey (C) 1,380 Majority 127 The Liberals had a majority in 1335, but lost the seat to the Conservatives in the following year by 1,401 to 1,136. HULL.—EAST. C. Smith (L) I. 4,570 F. B. Grotrian (C) 3,733 Majority 832 A Tory majority of 37 in 1886. INCE.—LANCS. S Woods (Labour) 4,579 Col. R B Blundell (C) 4,352 Majority 227 In 1886: Col. H B Blundell (C) 4,308; G P Taylor (L) 3,226. INVERNESS BURGHS. G Beith (L) 1,615 R B Finlay, Q.C. (U) I,c62 Majority. 53 In 1886 the Conservative majority was 273. ISLINGTON.—WEST. T Lough (L) 3,335 R Chamberlain (L U) 2,655 Majority 730 In 1886 the Unionist majority was 1,292. Mr Lough is a Protestant Ulsterman. KENSINGTON—NORTH. F. C. Frye (L) 3,503 W. E. Sharpe (C) 3,293 Majority 210 The Conservative majority was 951 in 1886, and 600 kL 1885. LAMBETH.-NORTH. J Coldwells (L) 2,524 H M Stanley (L U) 2,394 Majority. 130 The Conservative majority in 1886 was 412. LEICESTERSHIRE.—LOUGHBOROUGH. J Ferguson (L) 4,713 E De Lisle (C) 3,992 Majority 721 LI ME HOUSE. J. S. Wallace (L,i 2,4 75 H. S. Samuels (C) 2.305 I Majority 170 TOP Conservative majority in 188:3 was 802, and in 1835, 890. LINCOLN. W Croesfipld (I.) 3 401 F H Keratis (-') Majority 215 Loss to the Ministerialists, who in 1336 had a majority of 303. The seat was previ .usly hdd by the Liberals. MONMOUTH. A. Spicer (L) 3,430 Sir G. Elliot (C) 3,137 Majority la 188:3 there was a Tory majority of 4:5. NEW CASTLE-U XD E R-LYME. W S Allen (L) 4,204 D ii Gogiiill (L U) 2',936 Majority. 1,263 Mr Coghdi was returned in 1836 by a majority of 144 over Mr Brindioy, his Liberal "uponeut The figures on that occasion wereCoghill, 2,896: Brindlev, 2,752. NEWINGTON.—WEST. C. Norton (L) 3,421 G. W. (C). 2,328 Majority 1,093 In 1886 the majority for the Conservative was 332. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE -SOUTH. D. C. viuthrie (G) T. L. M. Cartwright (C) 3,S,J Majority 4S OLD EI AM (2). J. B. Cheetham (L) I 12.619 J. T. Kib'bert (L) 12,541 Elliot Lees (C; 22,205 J. \Y. Jtia^lean (C) 11,952 Majority 336 Two Liberal gains. The la;>t Conservative majority in this oonitituenoy was 563. PEMBROKE.—DISTRICT. F. E. Allen (G). 2.530 Gen. J. Laurie (C) 2385 Majority 195 PORTSMOUTH (2). J. Baker (L) 9.643 W. O.Clough (L) 9,448 Sir G. Willis (C) 9,135 Hon. E. Ashley (L U) 9,000 Majority 313 A gain of two seats to the Liberals. The late members were Sir S. Wilson (C) and General Sir W. Crobsmau (L U). READING. G W Palmer (L) 3,999 C T Murdock (C) 3,700 Majority 290 Mr Murdock was returned at the last election by 116,.the numbers being: Murdock, 3,378; Monck, 3,262. SALFORD.—NORTH. W. H. Holland (L) 3,636 A. A. Baumann (C) 3399 Majority 237 The defeated candidate represented Peckham in the late Parliament. In 1836 the figures were Hardcastle (C), 3,327 Arnold, 3,168; majority, 159. SOMERSETSHIRE.—NORTH. C. Warner (L) 3,920 E. H. Llewellyn (C). 3,901 Majoiity 19 A great victory the lory had a majority of 2165 in 1835. ST. GEOBGE'S-IN-THE-EAST. J. W. Benn (L) I. 2,475 The Right Hon. C. T. Ritchie (C) 1,263 Majority 398 In 1335 Mr Ritchie defeated Sir D. Salamons by 564 votes. He was re-elected in the following year by a majority of 485, and upon his appointment to the Presidency of the Local Government Board in August, 13Sb, this figure was increased to 657. The numbers at the last election were Ritchie (C). 1546 Eve (L), 839. STAFFORD. Douglas oci-aignt 1$ Majority 362 I At the last election Mr T. Salt defeated Mr C. H. M'Laren by 93, the numbers being: -Salt, 1,523; M'Laren, 1,435. STOCKPORT (-2) J Laigh (L) 5,202 L J J,lir,i-ige (C).11 I., 4.986 Major S Hume (L) 4,876 P Boives-Lyoa (C) Majority 216 A seat is lost to the Conservatives, Major Hume having taken the place formerly occupied by Mr S Gedge. The Conservatives won both seats, though by small majorities, in 1885 and 1836. SWANSEA —DISTRICT. Sir H. I-Itissey Viviin (G) 5,959 Alderman Monger (L U) 933 Majority .5026 Sir H. H. Vivian was returned unopposed as a Liberal Unionist in 1836, and in 1835 as a Liberal. WALWORTH. W. Saunders (L) 2,512 L. H. Isaaos (C) 2,218 Majority In 18S6 the Conservative majority was 235. WEST HAM.—No RT jr. Archibald GrOre (L) 4.976 Forrest FLIttOR (0). 4,943 Majority 33 At the last General Election the tigns were as .follows:—Fulron, 3,n:20; Cooke, 3,193. WEST HAM.—SOUTH. Keir Hardie (Labour aad L) 5.2 J0 Major Banes (C) 4,056 Labour and L majority 1,204 A Tory majority of 306 at last election. WHITEHAVEN. T S Little (L) 1.306 Sir J Bain (C) 1,033 Majority. 21S In 13S6 the late llr G. Cavendish-Bentinck (C) was L' returned by a majority 106, aDd on his death ,n 1891 Sir J. Bain was elected as his successor by a majority of 233. WILTS.—NORTH. J. Husbaii(I (L) 4.569 M. S. Maskelyne (L L) 3,c71 M. S.. (I Majority 9PS In 13S6, two Liberals polled 2930 between them: the Unionist received 3401. WILTS.—DEVIZES. C. Hobhon»e (G) Wa"ter H. 3,758 Majority 13 GREAT YARMOUTH. i All. Nloors"n (L) 2 972 ir Henry Tyler (C) 2,7o4 Majority. 263 Last election, there was a Tory majority of 966. LIBERAL LOSSES. BARROW-IN-FURNESS. C W Cayzer (L U) 3,312 J A Duncan (L) 2,390 il,T,ijority 422 At the last General Election Mr W S Caine, standing as a. Liberal Unionist, won the Eea-t by 1,333. In July of lpst year tha.t gentleman resigned. A bye- election taking place, the representation of the con- stituency was contested by three candidates, Mr Duncan" now defeated, standing as a Giadstocian, and winning by 132 votes. BELFAST.—WEST. II 0 Arnold-For?t°r (U) 4,260 T Sexton (X) 3,427 Majority 839 This is an important Unionist gain. In 1886 Mr Sexton had a majority of 108. DUBLIN COUNTY (SOUTH). Hon H Plunket (C) 4,371 Dr Mullen (Pj 2,261 Sir T Esmonde .1. 1,452 Majority. 2,110 In 1836 Sir T. Esmonde had a majority of 1768. DUBLIN (ST. STEPHENS-GREEN). W Kenny (C) 2 393 J M Meade (P) •> *75 IV L (N) 615 iltajority 15 A seat lost through the division in the Irish PArtl. EDINBURGH (WEST). Lord Woimer (L U) 3.72S Euchauan IL) 3.216 Majority. 512 Mr Btzchaian detected Mr Raleigh in 1S33 by ft majority of 46. FERMANAGH.—NORTH. E M Dane (J; 2 795 J Jordan (X) 2,433 Majority 3û7 GL A.SGO W.—CAMLACHIE. A Cross 'L U) 3 4^,5 J M'Culloch (L) 3.084 R Cunmngharne-Graham (Labour) 9uo AA-att, (L) 179 Majority 192 Mr <_ tinninahame-Graham is left without a seat in the House of Comtuoiis, LONDONDERRY CITY. J un1 Justin McCarthy 1,9-4 Majority 23 MONTGOMiiRV DISTRICT. Sir P'VCH Pryce-J'».,es (C) 1,406 Hon F. Haubury-Tracy (L) 1 233 Majo-if.y 113 NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE (2). C F Harnm md 13.823 John Mo:\ley (L, lo.fwj J 10.686 Majority 2.919 Tirs is a train ot oue for the Conservative*. In 1366 Mr Hamm md poliei 8.44:), Money had a majority of 2,661. NOTTINGHAM.—WEST. Colonel Seeley (L U) ft H Broadhurst (L; Majority 301 Mr Broadhurst was a representative of the Labour interest, and had been for a short tic.e Under- Secretary for the Home Department in Mr Glad- stone'a Government. At the 18SG election be J aeieatea uoionei S>eeJy, o has now been successful. • by 849 votes. PERTH CITY. WWhitelaw (C) 1.3P3 C S Parker (L) 1,171 James Woollen (Labour) Majority. 227 In 1886 Mr Parker defeated a Unionist by 1 573 to 1,120. ROCHESTER. H Davies (C) 2 119 F B Maddieon (L) 1.7L2 Mnjori'y. 407 At a bye-election in the numbers ".vere—Mr Knatchbuli-Huge-seen (L) 1.0">5 Mr A H Davie" (C) 1,580. Colonel Hughe-H.aJ;ett (C) WliS e!ec;e& at the head of the poll at the Genera! in 1886, when the figures were as follows: Halle:, 1,600; Belsey, 1,553. ST. PANCRAS.—WEST. H R Graham (C) 2 9>4 H L W Lawson (L) 2 942 Msjortv. 42 At the election of the Giadstcniar: majority was 64. j SCARBOROUGH. Sir G R Sitweii (C) J Rowntree (L) 2.122 Majo-ity. 171 In 1874 the constituency returned a Corservatire, in 1880 it returned a Liberal at the top or the poll, in 1835 Sir G Sitwell won the seat for the Tori- a-jd in 1856 he was ousted by Mr Rowntree, V.. he has now in turn displaced. STOCKTON. T Wrightson (C) 4.733 Sir H Davey, Q C (L) 4 447 Majority 311 Sir Horace Davey, who Solicitor-General in Mr Gladstone's last Administration, aod who has Q\1E been defeated, was rirst elected for tho 1 i- V.t n. rnaiority of 395. WALSALL. F James (O E T Holden (L) 4.9u9 Majority 7 Sir Charles Forster was returned unopposed as a Gladstonian in lSS. aad upon his death: 1891, Mr Holden was elected by a majority of 533. WEDNESBURY. IV Lloyll (C) 4.98S The Hon. P. Stanhope IL- 4.926 Majority 60 The Liberal majority in 1896 was 662, Mr Stavhop* on that occasion defeating Mr LloycJ. who had been elected in the previous year by a majority or 195. WOLVERHAMPTON.—WEST. Sir A Hickman (C) 4.772 Sir W Plowden (L). 3.056 Majority 1,116 At the last General Election Sir W Pias-don, who was defeated by Mr Hickman iu 1885, was.returned by a ms-jority of 123, the numbers baing—Plowden, 3,706; Hickmas, 3.583. YORK CITY r. J G Butcher (C) F Loakwood, Q C (L) 5.06# A E Pease (L) 4 Si-$ Majority. 46 This is a Ministerial gain of one seat; Mr Butcher, who stood alone on the Conservative side, having ousted Mr Pease. In 1636 the Gladstonian majority was -t5-S. (WELSH AND BORDER COUNTIES ELECTIONS. CARNARVON. Lloyd-George (L) 24 Sir John Puleston C) 1957 Majori ty 197 CARDIFF. Sir E J Reed (L) 7.226 J Gunn (Uj Majority 056 CARMARTHEX DISTRICT. Major E R Jones (L>_ 2.412 S i i, j j j e S 7 Majority 225 CHESTER. It A Yerbu-gh (C) 3.143 Ba-ron Halkett (L) 2.523 Majority C2o No change. The Conservative majority b, been greatly increased. DENBIGH DISTRICT. Hon G T Kenyon IC) 1.664 T H Wil Hams (L) 1.566 Majority 64 The Tory majority was 217 in lS. DENBIGHSHIRE (EAST). G Osborne Morgan (G) 4,183 SlL ynn \C) 3.432 Majo-ity 756 GLAMORGANSHIRE (SOUTH;. A J Williams (G) 4. Sir M Morgan VC) 3,825 Majority 9 18 MERTHYR TYDVIL. B A Thamas (Li 11.948 W P Margin (Li 11.756 B F an, s L U) 2.304 Majority 9,152 SHREWSBURY, H D Greena. Q C (C) 1.979 J B Batten (L) 1,573 Majority 406 No change. In 1886 the figures were—Watson (C), 1,826; Jones (L), 1,269. SWANSEA TOWN. I R D "Burn-le (L) 3.733 Sir T D Llewellyn 3,011 I Majority 722

compare the two candidates for Mont- gomervshire in their attitude towards agri- cultural questions. Captain MYTTON has little to offer but the vaguest generalities. He is in favour of light railways for Wales, and is most anxious to assist in passing such measures as would promote the welfare of the farmers and labourers. The gallant CAPTAIN does not, however, give us the slightest inkling as to what measures would in his opinion have this effect. All we know is that he would not include in them any measure of land reform and tenant right, or any special legislation whatever for the benefit of Welsh agriculturists. Mr. STUART REXDEL, on the other hand, is strongly in favour of land reform and tenant right, and, by his Welsh Land Bill, has shown his earnest desire for special land legislation in accordance with the needs of Wales. The farmers of Montgomeryshire ought, therefore, to have little difficulty in deciding which of the two candidates has the stronger claim upon their support.