Birmingham is about to become the theatre of a contested
elec- tion; Mr. TnomAs Arrw000 having announced his intention of taking the Chiltern Hundreds. Josnen STURGE, the well-known Quaker, Liberal, and philanthropist, has been _selected as can- didate to succeed Mr. ATTWOOD, by the party who have hitherto returned the Members for Birmingham. The Tory candidate is not yet declared. Mr. RictrAno SPOONER'S name has been men- tioned; also that of Colonel CHATTERTON, who commanded the soldiers during the late disturbances. The Birmingham Advertiser states that unless Colonel Trtomesos, who was in Birmingham on Wednesday, shall come forward, Mr. BROWN or Mr. FUSSELL will appear as the Chartist candidate. Our private information, how- ever, leads us to believe that the Chartists have no serious in- tention of opposing the election of Mr. STURGE. He, in the mean- while, had retired into the country, declining to give his personal presence, but not refusing to serve if returned by the spontaneous Suffrages of the electors.
In Mr. STURGE'S case there may be no serious objection to this course ; for his opinions and qualifications are well known to his fellow townsmen, who would gain nothing by catechizing him oF extorting pledges on the hustings : but as a general rule, and in the present state of imperfect representation and slippery politics, candidates ought not to be invisible. By non-appearance, necessary explanations as well as pledges are evaded, and an usurping clique is enabled to act with less risk of exposure. They will take care to represent their candidate in the most favourable light, while he can at any time disavow their interpretation of his opinions. It is well to get rid of personal canvassing; but on the day of nomina- tion the future representative ought to confront the electors, pre- pared to give full explanations to all entitled to require them. Mr. STURGE is one of a class who might be very useful in Par- liament; and though we expect to differ from him on some ques- tions, we shall witness his admission to the Legislature with pleasure, in the belief that he will act independently, and communicate sound information on important subjects to his brother Members.
