The Gladstonians had a great triumph at Kennington yesterday week,
if Mr. Beaufoy can properly be called a Gladstonian. He came in by a majority of 630 (4,069, against 3,439 for Mr. Beresford-Hope), whereas in 1886 Mr. Beaufoy was defeated by a majority of 439. And this happened on a very heavy poll. The Conservative vote was itself heavier by 217 than it was in 1886; but then, the Gladstonian vote was heavier by 1,277; so that the Gladstonians gained 1,000 more than their opponents, and it is quite clear that a very strong current must have been running in Kennington in favour of Mr. Beaufoy. It is, however, a very doubtful matter indeed how far Mr. Beaufoy is a good Gladstonian on the question of Irish Home-rule. The Newcastle Daily Chronicle, which is certainly not at all disposed to any form of Conservatism or Liberal Unionism, regards his declarations on the question of Home-rule as indicating quite a new phase of Home-rale. The Dublin Parliament, it says, as conceived by Mr. Beaufoy, must take orders from the Parliament at Westminster, like a County Council. Moreover, the claim of Ulster not to be put under the Irish Legislature is to be, as we understand, zealously asserted, and, on the whole, Mr. Beaufoy's idea of Home-rule for Ireland is even less likely to be accepted by the Parnellite Members, than Mr. Chamberlain's old scheme. If Mr. Beaufoy lives up to these declarations, he will probably give as much trouble to Mr. Gladstone,—whenever, or if ever, a new Home- rule Bill is brought in,—as Mr. Chamberlain himself.
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