It was supposed that the suppression of nomination days and
the introduction of the Ballot had put an end to the brutal element in elections, but the case of Bath destroys this pleasant illusion. At the Guildhall yesterday week, Mr. Cox, of Belper, the Birmingham League's candidate, who threatened to divide the Liberal party in Bath, was nearly blinded, and many of his friends severely, hurt, by discharges of cayenne pepper in their faces. Of course the Liberal Committee ex- pressed their regret and denied all complicity in the act ; of which, if they were gentlemen at all, they were certainly not guilty, but quite as certainly the act was premeditated and prepared for by some one who resented the division of the Liberal party. Nor is this all. Fighting was frequent in the streets of Bath till after Mr. Cox had retired, and we are not sure that it may not be resumed between the Liberals and Conservatives on the day of the ballot. It is disheartening, but not very surprising, to find that where there is the raging fire of political passion, fuel will be found, even though electoral institutions do not go out of their way to provide it. We would have any man found guilty of throwing cayenne pepper in another's eyes punished with at least a year's imprisonment with hard labour. Mr. Cox was, we think, making a mistake when he divided the Liberals of Bath ; but he had a perfect right to do so, while it is difficult to credit cowards who would use such means to discourage him with any poli- tical motive at all. Captain Hayter is said to be sanguine of success. His defeat would indeed be a blow to Liberal hope. He is the candidate of the party, and not merely of the local Liberals of Bath.
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