Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-11-05

The above admirable representation of the recent
great procession Of huge paws, bnttenders, roarers,
rowdies, indomitabes damnables and other branches
| of the hydra-headed locofoco party, is toleraby
fair representation Of the whole Of the professions
that have taken place, and that will take place
during the preparatory election movements, the ac
tua contest for the three days. and the rumphal pa
rades at the close As said some time since, we
fast approaching glorious millennium in politics
upon earth. The materials Of which society is COM
posed to be fast resolving themselves into their
original elemens the devil himself in proprid per-
coma appears to have presided the preparatory
proceedings, and TO have allowed on this occasion
oil hell to break loose.
Although II Is abeut ten years since the great split
took place in the Tammany party; yet il is but
Gently that the Tammany party has branched off into
so many heads and tails At present it is perfect
political Saturnalia with us; and the greatest upon
earth since the Saturnalia Of the Romans. Amongst
the Ahenians, the democrats, enthusiastic and deter
mined they were, and furious as was the popular
clamor. cut up half so many queer " Shines"
to a classic word, IS the democracy Of New
York; in short, there was nothing rich in Athens
as have at our charter and county elections and
the only thing in ancient history that at all resem
bles our proceedings in the present day is the sa-
turnalia amongst the Romans. In-the days Of the
Athenian and Roman republic the elections for their
various officers were carried with a con- bic
degree Of spirit and some little humor; in England
in the days Of Fox, the elections at Westminster
evinced small portion Of noise aud humor and
the beautiful Duchess Of Devonshire going round
about the polls and kissing the voters, was q ne "
feature in electioneering policy; but IL reserved
for New York. at the present day. to cap the climax
of noise, riot, fun, frolic, humor, strange tricks
fighting, cheating, lying, swearing, bloodshed, black
guardism, unearthly professions, and extraordinary
proceedings.
The origin Of the present locofoco party may be
traced 20 Tom Skidmore, who, the year 1928 was
member Of the Adams party in this state. He, how.
ver entertained peculiar notions relative 10 the
tariff, which he introduced at the meetings oi his
party, by which he gave them great deal Of trou
BILE; he was voted down, however. After the cleo.
tion OF General jackson in 1929, Skidmore got up
meeting Of carpenters and others, and addressed
them, and organised them as a nucleus for the
" working mems party, which he formed soon after
All that season he had meetings Of the nee hanics
and working men; he kept calling them together.
drumming them up, aad haranguing them, until at
last they numbered 1000 voters; he then passed
the famous Anti Bank resolutions, (the first which
were passsd Of the kindl talked about division Of
property, and electioneered strongly In the fall Of
lSz9, when they ran one 81 their men in the As
each party tried 10 conciate them.
This game was carried on through the summer of
1889, when the great fights took place in Tarnmany
Hall and the North American Hotel In the summer
Of lSO, Robert Dale Owen and Fanny Wright an
peared upon the political field OF action; and then
cane another violest split up in the ranks OF the
locofocos. Then came the different branches Of
Fanny Wright meo," and !" 0wenists," and :. skid
moreites, and "agrarians,' and "levellers" Be-
fore this time. the ramnsny men had glored In the
sobriqusfs Of " Bucktails," and Mohawks." and
other Indian names All the summer of 1890 they
fought most fsriously in the coal hale of Tammany
Hall and in the Pewter Mug. Al last the agrarians
drove out Saul Alley asd the old Tammany men into
the Pewter Mug II was in this summer, TOO, that
the great fight took place in the North American
Hotel. between the working men and the Fanny
Wright men. This fight lasted three hours by the
city hall clock. IL was then that Matthew L. Davis
secsived the title 81 the "Old Boy in Specs" A
men. down with the Petticostsi" "Oh no, my
friends" said he up with the pettcoatsl up with
the petit coatsv'
Thu. went on the great game Of Iocofoco politics.
till 1881, in the summer 81 which year Saul Alley
and his party got back 10 Tammany Hall and
matters went smoothly till tina, fall elections when
Eli Moore came into the political arena lie began
his canting and disgusting by hypocrti
protesting to be the friend ri the j6urneymen print
ers and ultimately of the whole of the nbers Of
the trades union, whom he betrayed In the spring Of
1892 he became very troublesome, until ne received
office and quiet. Then came Ming, Slamm
Bang, Riell < Co into the field; then came the new
names of the " slam bangers." "radicals," " spital
6eiders," sc. In 1893, this party became dreadfuy
troublesome. In 1884 came the famous split Of the
1000; and the great scene At Tammany Hall where
the old buck tails again driven out after short
fight, and had the lights put ont Then ofhc others
who had possession II the room, each drew tsIlow
candle out If his pocket, and occfecs match and lit
The same. These gained them the title Of " loco
| iocos," which they have worn with various
dihcations 10 this day IL 1896 came the celebrated
meeting IN the Park and the flour riots and sacking
" hsrts Aour store. All through 1896, the rioting
al L. AL .afl AZ.