The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-19 00:00:00

AMERICA.

English elections, though not deficient in excitement,
compare but tamely with the American contests, and sink
into complete insignificance by the side of the struggle in
Pennsylvania. The party that expects to elect its Presi-
dent must carry this State, and the strength and tl.e
influence of every kind which each possesses is in this
instance concentrated to the utmost. The leading Repub-
licans and Democrats from all parts of the country—Blair,
Pendleton, Sickles, Wilson, Sherman, Burnside, and
others—come to lend their aid to their respective
sides. A dozen " mass meetings " are held nightly.
Processions, fireworks, fights, and uproars prevail the
vhole time. The excitement, says the Times correspon-
dent, is swollen as each day passes. The contest also
Increases in bitterness, and outbreaks constantly occur.
Firearms are generally carried, and the moment a fight
begins anywhere, fifty pistols are drawn. The processions
are stoned, the houses of the prominent men are smeared
with mud, and the portraits of the two Presidential can-
didates, which are everywhere posted, are treated with no
greater respect. Out of the 120,000 voters in Pennsyl-
vania, about one-fourth, during the contest just termi-
nated, gave the whole of their time to their party. This,
be it said, " they do without the hope of gain, their
reward being the victory they expect to win." The con-
test decides the destiny of the American nation for four
years, and is bitter and earnest in proportion to its
importance.
Everybody votes. In Pennsylvania every white male
citizen over 2.1 years of age may be qualified by the pay-
ment, once in two years, of a tax equal to about nine-
pence, and a residence stipulation which is satisfied by
sleeping in any one house for ten days previous to an elec-
tion. Foreigners who have resided five years in America
can vote by becoming naturalised, and as the political
committees are always ready to pay expenses, the suffrage
is almost universal.

Each side liberally avails itself of cheating. It is supposed
that in a keen contest ten per cent. of illegal votes at r
polled. Citizens under age and foreigners who have not
been naturalised are brought to the ballot. Squads of
men go from one division to another, voting twice or
oftener. Districts which are doubtful are " colonised" by
locating a set of voters to secure a majority. There are
strict laws against these frauds, but neither party can claim
purity over the other. In the meanwhile the 11-141ot seems
powerless to secure either secresy, honesty, or quiet.
„.- _ .

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