22 AUGUST 1885, Page 3

Sir Charles Dilke's constituency have determined to accept as absolutely

true his assurance that the charge brought against him is untrue, and to stand by him at the General Election. This is, we think, honourable to the electors of Chelsea ; and it was, we think, honourable to Sir Charles Dilke that he offered to retire rather than endanger the seat by contesting it with so grave an accusation hanging over his head. We cannot, how- ever, in the least agree with some of our contemporaries that even if the charge were true, and had not been denied, politics should have nothing to do with conduct. If great constituencies once show that they hold such a creed, we may be quite sure that the result would be a great impetus to profligacy. All that is really known of a man will count, and ought to count, in commanding the confidence or rousing the distrust of a sound popular feeling.