The result of the polling at Horsham was declared last
Saturday, Lord Tumour being elected by a majority of 784 votes. Lord Tumour polled 4,388, and Mr. Erskine 3,604 votes. This has been proclaimed by the Protectionists as a great triumph for Mr. Chamberlain's policy; but if the figures are compared with those at previous elections, it will be seen to be nothing of the kind. In 1893 the Unionist majority was 1,884. But this was only a year after a General Election at which the country as a whole returned the Liberals to power. Since then the Unionist position at Horsham has not been assailed. In other words, even when the country went Liberal, Horsham was an absolutely safe seat for the,Unionists. But now, instead of being an absolutely safe seat, the Unionist majority is only 784. The fact is, if Horsham had gone the other way, hardly a Protectionist could have hoped to be returned to Parliament. But though the complete defeat of Protection is certain at the next General Election, no sane Free-trader expects that there will be no Chamberlainites sent to Westminster. If, however, we work out throughout the country the effect of majorities of 1,884 in 1893 being reduced to majorities of 784 in 1904, it will be seen that the prospects of the Protectionists are pitiable in the extreme. The proofs of the ruin wrought by Mr. Chamberlain on the Unionist party are writ large in Horsham.
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