REFLECTIONS ON ELECTIONS.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3056, 30 November 1878, Page 2

REFLECTIONS ON ELECTIONS.

That " remnant of a defeated faction " that Mr Speight wrote about on Tuesday last managed to roll' up 381 burgesses to the polling booth for the Mayoralty. What th» faction might have done had the election>been open, to the district—a real party fight (as Speight tried to make, it) instead of a local affair, goodness knows. It should be a lesson to some people I know.^ Even "remnants''can i sometimes be so well pieced as to make a very decent garment. There were too many turncoats opposed to the "remnant of the defeated faction to ensure success to their party. A man who* throws one side overboard without cause is just as likely to sell the other. ;At any rate I wouldn't trust them.

History repeats itself—at- elections as in other incidents. Three /years'- ago the Major was elected with all the Council against him. This year the Major has been returned in face of the present occu-; pant of the office being bis opponent, and; with .five councillors dead against his candidature—the remaining four councillors being friendly but neutral. Moral for opposition councillors : Don't imagine; Jbat be'caus>| you were successful in getting elected the burgesses are going to place implicit reliance on your judg- ■ ment in all matters. Some of you who occupy seats at the Council Board are only there because better men didn't oppose you.

, By the way; I hear there ere to be two vacancies in the Borough Council soon, so that more excitement may be expected. Mr Speight was heard -to say that he " could not possibly sit at the Council table if so and so were elected." (Ihe darned impudence of the critiur.) Mr Brassey takes the defeat so much to heart that he'is said to be •• going away." Well, neither of them will be missed. The one csn be useful, perhaps, looking after his " spiders ; " the other, outside his profession, is a fraud, and like some others we know, has been hoisted into a public position on the shoulders of better men.

Coming down the street I heard an animated conversation. It was conducted in loud tones, no attempt at secresy. There.was a well-known painter relating how that he had put in a claim for £4155, expenses incurred in promoting the election of a certain candidate for the Mayoralty, and that the amount had not been paid, one after another of the committee referring him to some one else. Was it likely, he urged, that be with a family of eleven children could afford to spend His own time and money for the doctor P Not likely. He would summons tb*m.

There is something in dreams after all. A friend of mine dreamt on Monday last that the Mayoral election was over, and that McCullough was returned by a majority of 81. The dream was wrong in one particular. The gpirit'inspiring it, jnot anticipating such a keen contest, was |out just a hundred on either side.

I don't say 'it has anything to do with ,the election, but a telegram was received yesterday from a former resident of the Thames to this effect:—'.' Eejoice and be exceeding glad." '•■'.^;'i ,;• >;■■■' '

- The following was received by lightning despatch from the Moon, but owing to a slight atmospheric disturbance some fifty or sixty thousand millions of miles away in space it did not arrive as soon as it should ; have done. Mercury is to blame, but his excuse is that he didn't think there would be so much interest displayed in our Mayoral election:— . -Who, vaicful boasting ol his pelf, \ Has but one object—that is, self 1 The Doctor. Who nobly aids the Tunnel scheme, Which now-a-days is'all the theme 1 The Printer. Who fifty took, as I'm alive, Then meanly sank to twenty-five t The Doctor. .Who calls you " loafers," one and all. Who don't attend h's beck and,callT His .Henchman. Who won't get in the " Uppah Hoos ?" .;. The self-sufficient cackling goose, . The Doctor. Who stares with most malicious hats? i That blatant ca'f Hck-spittle spate— His Toady. Wha brags of independent pocket (vide poster), But tak's quid care ta keep it lockit ? The Doctor: Who, if a man defends his right, Would have him locked up all the night ? His Shadow. Yo base bom serfs who earn your bread, • Who'd buy your homesteads o'er your head? The Doctor. Who is that noddle with such braes, he With lion's skin upon an ass, he ? '■■;•'.■ He, haw. Who knows you when.hejyants your vote; Wh'en got, then you maj sink or float? The Doctor. Who won't be handled like a tool, let Town Clerk the Borough rule ? The Printer.