The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-12-07
American Elections.

DR.. CAuILL, the talented Irish Scholar
and eminent Catholic Divine, as our read
ers know, has been travelling in thi. coun-
try for year past, lecturing on Astrono-
my and other subjects, and writing his
opinions Of our country and its institutions
to the Dublin Telegraph. These letters
are very interesting, and are copied into
all the Irish American journals. The fol-
lowing extract from his letter dated Rome
Nc,o York, previous to the recent election,
will give our people al linking of his idea
on universal suffrage" lie says:
The approaching contest for the cleo
ton Of a President for the United States
is most interesting to me, as it furnishes
the practical working of vote by ballot
and again Of manhood qualification. The
parties or factions here are like those of
other countries swayed to the right or to
the left, or driven backwards or forwards
according to religious, or political, or com
mercia bias; and moderate, or intem
perate or fierce, or weak, or powerful, &C
cordiug to the stamp of the leaders who
direct the masses. In this country there
is on these occasions much talk and bus.
ter but seldom any injurious Violence
Lord Palmerston in speaking Of bis Amer,
lean cousins Gas he calls them says "they
are ever jawing but never give blow
When one reads the public electioneering
prints, or witnesses the torchlight election
eering professions which are continually
held, the foreigner can expect no result
except party sanguinary conflicts wherever
these political opponents may chance to
meet But on close examination of the
habits of this country; and on persona!
observation Of the conduct of the assem-
bled thousands, the foreigner is soon re
lieved from his meuacing anticip8tions;
and lie feels the truth Of PaImerston's
saying-namely, that no disorder. no
breach Of the Constitutional law Of the
Union, will follow the most bois.erous ex
hbition of electioneering enthusiasm.
As the day for the universal voting APP
proacheS, the storm of words Increases;
clouds of angry rhetoric are ever seen
gathering in the political horizon the clio
quent thunder of stump and forensic ora
tory is heard from North TO South flashes
of abolitionist lightning are observed dart
ING through the skies from Boston to
Philadelphia; flags. banners drums, trum
pets, are hoard from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and the American hemisphere
seems to app,o.ch a state of chaos and
dissolution. Wheu To- slit opens in IA
balloting box ike the slit in a post office
window; the vote" appears-puts in his
voting card. The moment this process is
terminated, the storm as if b the wand of
magician begins to abate; the sky be
comes clearer; the sun Of he next morn
ing rises and sudden calm reigus over
all minds, all hearts, all topgUe~, all news
papers; AMI all America being suddenly
changed into peace and quiet, begins
again on the following day as if vote by
ballot, or manhood suffrage, or the Amer
lean President had never existed either de
jure or de .tdcto in the Western henli-
sphere. Surely, then, if such tenn
pest of American political thunder and
lightning can DO nbotoA IN ono day into \
perfect calm, your little Irish hurricane
On the event of your ever obtaining the
Honest, the unperjured right of vote by
ballot can be appeased between morn and
sunset on whatever day your island storm
may arise
The secret Of this political magic is the
fact that the people themselves evoke the
tempest, and aiay il III their constitutional
right. Hence they commit no violence
against their own rights. They glory in
heir power If raising tie storm; and they
boast Of their omnirotence in silencing it.
Your faithful countryman.
II. w. CAIIlLL.