The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-24 00:00:00

PHILADELPHIA LIKE A TINDER-BOX !

Thiscity and State are in a whirlpool of polities, and little
else is thought of by any class of pci pie. The entire interest
of the Pivsidential contest inay be ,atid to centre here. for the
party that expects to elect its President must carry Pennsyl-
vania, ail,' the State is so isessrly indanced that the decision of
Philadelphia will carry it osse way or the other. Therefore
each party is casing all its means and influence to procure
majority of the voters of Philadelphia. The election is but
one wek:k off, and the city has been thoroughly canvassed.
There is not a voter its it who has not been persomdly ap-
pealed to, coaxed, or threatened by political agents ; there
is not a house that has not heen visited, or a newspaper that

has not been filled with political articles. A " mass
meetings " are held nightly, and the most eminent orators
from all parts of the country haye been brought here to make
speeches. We have processions, fireworks, tights, and uproar
the whole time. Chestnut-street, the leading thoroughfare, is
crowded by excited people weal ing the badges of their
favourite candidates, eagerly discus,ing the chalices, endea-
vouring to make converts, and not unfrequently indulging in
rows. The town is like a tinder-box, the least spark setting
it off, and the authorities are nimble to keep the peace.
Flags and banners in honiur of one party or the Mimr float
on the breeze in all directions hatols it mush; go about in-
spiring the people to renewed excrtions ; every man has con-
stituted himself an agent for his tay..riw party ; and as
each party is deturninned to win. Ufa with iienNe nothing
undone that will tend to gain a vi tory, the earnestness and
excitement of affairs can be imaginal.

ToRcHLIGHT PROCESSIONS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS.
Gigantic displays are part of the machinery of a political
canvass, and they are being used to aid both parties in
Philadelphia. For several works torchlight parades have
been erratic every night by political clubs, but on 11ctober 1
and 2 the Republicans wt up as large a show as was possible.
They brought old solders of the war to Philadelphia in large
numbers. Delegations came from New England and the far
West. the politioal conneittees paying their expenses. There
were wounded 11101 oil criite!,es, Nen robins limbs. Ander-
sonville prisoners, and hosts of trafealled soldiers who may
or may not have been in the war, but who marched about
town in it great procession, shouting for Grant and Colfax,
and making as nitreh show arid noise :as was possible. It was
called a grand Convention of •• Boys in Blue," anal the
political cumnrittees dressed up all Stools in soldiers' cast-off
clothes, so as to give the display as lunch of a military ap-
pearance 88 pOSSible. I know id 011 e I onsinesi linn here who
provided 15.000 military blouses for the Meaniell. The
demonstration cost probably 200,004 (lets., and, for the
two (lays it was in vogue, took the city by storm. The
Democrats tins week got up another as large as the Re
publican show, if not larger, so that they expect to capture
and captivate the city too. It is ha be a reem di. of of General
Mei their commit ,es are gathering together cast-
off Military (+thing and enttelie,r, :1:1,1 are making collee-
thans of :tearless i,rni legless heroes avirliarnurte as notch
OS tile Republicans. Their palade will probably mate as
much display. and contain as amity met., especially soldiers,
as the Republican one, and its reception will he quite as
enthusiastic. Thus the contest goes au], and the excitement
is swollen RS each day passes. It also increases in bitterness,
and outbreaks constantly occur. FirearleS are generally
carried, and the moment a light begins anywhere fifty
pistols are drawn. In the outskirts of the city, parts..
eularly at night, the political processions are stoned,
and when the Republican clubs venture Mtn sections
inhabited by Irish, who syrup:Chi.: with the Democrats, the
waaiaee end children hoot at them and in every way try to
shim their enmity. The houses of prominent adherents of
troth sides are smeared Milli filth, and the portraits of Grant
and Seymour, which are pe•ted ev( rywhere, are generally
spattered with mud. The Veriolli rlrnhalroirsca and political
head-quarters are like beehives, tilled with swanning crowds,
eaell Mall doilm his best for his party starting investigations
iota, Or movements to influence Voier£s, anal it in
probable that out of the 120,000 voters in Philadelphia, at
least one-fourth are Just rrow giving the greater part of
their time to the is of their party. They do this without
hope of gain, their reward being the victory they expect to
win.