The electors of Stroud seem fully resolved to take upon
them- selves the business of settling the election law of the country. Once more a petition has been filed, this time against the return of Mr. Brand ; and if Mr. Brand were unseated, and a Conserva- tive elected in his place, we should probably have another petition and another election trial. There seems no reason why this method -of fighting out political battles should not be carried on to infinity, except that it is very costly and very unsatisfactory to everyone con- cerned. The constituency is left without representation, perhaps at a most important crisis, and in addition to the expenses of the petition and its trial, the cost of the new election must be counted. There is, besides, the waste of time and temper, and the intemperance of every sort, from beer-guzzling to hard swearing. It may be thought that the electors of Stroud might be well satisfied with the facts that have been already ascertained respecting the charac- ter of the borough. It has been proved to be not generally corrupt, though it possesses a small corrupt element ; it has been shown that it is fickle in its political choice, and that parties are evenly balanced. Cannot those who are beaten bide their time, amid save the credit of their town?
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