Perhaps the most striking incident of an Election which, in
England, has ran steadily against Mr. Gladstone's policy, is the magic influence exerted by the Prime Minister in the capital of Scotland, where Mr. Goschen, who was elected by a majority of 2,408 in November, was, without a single modification of his own principles as then announced, rejected on Monday by a majority of 1,441,—solely, no doubt, because in the meantime Mr. Glad- stone had announced a new policy for Ireland, which Mr. Goschen had, by anticipation, last November strongly con- demned. Mr. Gladstone, telegraphing his congratulations to Edinburgh on the defeat, is stated to have expressed his joy that "the capital of dear old Scotland had shaken off her chains." But to our mind, "the capital of dear old Scotland" has rather hugged the chains by which she is bound to Mr. Gladstone, than shaken off those by which she was bound to Mr. Goschen. For she accepted Mr. Gosohen after hearing his political convictions fully expressed, without at that time knowing Mr. Gladstone's. But now she has shaken off Mr. Goschen, only because, after hearing Mr. Gladstone condemn him, she accepts humbly the fiat of the greater leader. Central Edinburgh followed East Edinburgh, rejecting Mr. Wilson by a majority of 1,524 in July, after electing him by a majority of 1,247 in November. Only West Edinburgh ventured to adhere to its political faith after hearing it condemned by Mr. Gladstone. That is political loyalty to a leader of a very exalted kind. But is it loyalty to political conviction P
