The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-31 00:00:00

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
Next Tuesday will be a great day in the United
States, for however certain of victory the Republi-
cans may be, a President cannot be elected, and the
mass of the State tickets, as well as the Legisla-
tures, both Federal and State, without a scene
of intense excitement. Elections in England are
tame in comparison, for the English do not cast
their votes for the Sovereign ; for both Houses of
Parliament ; for Mayors and Corporations, for
Ministers of State, Lord Lieutenants, and other
officers of counties ; nor do nearly all the posts in
the kingdom hinge on the majorities rullol
off. If not only the heads of the several depart-
ments, but all the clerks remained on the tip-
toe of expectation, as the offices from which

they derive their dmy bread are in jeopardy,
awaiting the result of the ballot—if the Government
of India and the colonies—if Irish dis :ffection and
the Irish Churcli—if the whole system of taxation
and a reform of the Civil Service were the questions
involved, then Englishmen might begin to under-
stand the cause for this climax of excitement. It
is acknowledged that the Englishman is more
phlegmatic, neither so imaginative, nor of so ex-
citeable a temperament, as his American cousin.
While, then, every stimulant—not omitting an
enormous consumption of whisky—is applied to a
comparatively explosive material, it would indeed
be strange if it did not result in a " blow-up"
which can here be but little imagined. The
October elections have, however, taken much
of the bitterness out of the contest, which
might otherwise have become positively dangerous.
Supposing Grant and Colfax's election to be con-
ceded, there will still remain for decision questions
of vast public interest. Of these, the chief centres
in the Empire State. There was a time when no
one dreamt that Democratic candidate could there
be defeated ; now Mayor Hoffman is by no means so
certain. Indeei, great anxiety is felt, and
although we believe that the Democrats will
carry New York, it is possible they may be
defeated, and this possibility causes uneasiness.
New York is, in truth, an Empire State. In popu-
lation, in wealth, and in all the attributes of a
powerful nation it is in advance of any other
political community on the American continent.
Its great city, ranking third in the world, in itself
far exceeds the whole population on the Pacific
coast, from Sitka to the south of Southern Cali-
fornia, and back to the eastern slopes of the Rocky
Mountains. It is the American gate to the At-
lantic, whence radiates, and to which centres a
commerce second to none. We need not then
1)3 surprised when the government of such a State
is in question, independently of its influence on the
Union, that the result should be looked to with im-
mense interest. On the 13th and 14th October
138,000 names were recorded; 83,000 on the 13th,
which was increased by the 15th to 92,669, while
46,000 had been registered in Brooklyn. In the
two days more set apart for registration, it was
expected that the number would be doubled•

Within the limits of the city it is said the Demo-
cratic municipal majority would be 90,000, and that
a large majority will be cast there, for the Demo-
cratic ticket is almost certain. But the question is
whether the Republican majorities in the rural dis-
tricts may not swamp their opponents' city majo-
rity, but notwithstanding the shock given to the
Democrats by the result on the 13th, we think this
improbable. " Brick" Pomeroy keeps the steam up
admirably, and announced that he would turn his
paper into a morning daily after the 24th inst.
Although the Democrats will fight for " a place',
in the November elections in many States, and
carry some, yet the interest of the elections now
kentres in New York, where the struggle at pre-
sent progressing must be hard and bitter.