The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-02
Letter from New York.

Letter from New York.
The Political Prospect-The Water st. Re
uiral and the "Vickedest man."-A Little
e. Unpleasantness-Ope Boufe-The Gre
cian Bend.
New YORK, Sept. 20, 1868.
To the Editor of the Press:
The waves of the political sea are begin
ming to run high in New York and their
crests are naturally somewhat yeasty. | do
not claim the above figure of speech as orisi-
nal but rather as showing the effect of habit
and association upon initiative animals. In
this Democratic region the tayorite expires
sions OF Mr.. Seymour's are highly trea ured,
more highly than in Yankee land, and you
have not forgotten "the whelming tide which
was sweeping our party on to success" nor
'the sea of troubles into which his nomina-
ton was about to plunge him." never fully
understood the force OF the latter figure, how
ever, until L saw an illustration in late
number OF Harpers Weekly, wherein the ar
tist had depicted Horatio struggling wildly in
a stormy sea, two immense waves cf which,
labelled Maine and Vermont, were in the act
of "whelming" him. have taken Jew
notes upon the direction and rate with which
the foam upon the said political sea is run
ming, and send them to you as indications
of the strength of the current.
A month ago when left the city for lit
tie tr p Down East, political matters were
comparatively quiet here, but the same could
hardly be said now. l was repeatedly asked
by friends in Maine what our prospect in
New York was, and l said in every instance
that thought Seymour would carry the
State, though by a reduced majority from
that of last ial. Returning just alter your
election found that my friends on both
sides OF the house "had heard from Maine"
and all drew pretty nearly the same concu-
sion from it. 1 was gratifed, also, to find
that our chances here had materially improv-
ed; at any rate the Republicans generally are
more hopeful, and some OF them quite conf
dent of winning back the lost ground in No
vember; but am satisfied that the result will
be but small majority for the winning side
whichever it is. Let me give the data from
which draw my conclusions. l think none
OF the Democratic leaders here have any hope
OF carrying the country at large for their can
didate, but they hope to carry this State
And there are special reasons why they will
move heaven and earth to accomplish this
The Tammany Ring after years OF bitter war
fare has obtained an undisputed ascenedncy
in the City, and the leaders OF the other lac
tio1s of the party, including Fernando Wood,
Iii, n
zation, which considered merely as a polti-
cal machine is the most marvellous in the
country. For thorough discipline, definite
ness pf purpose, and concentration of action,
it has no equal-as to the morality OF its
code and of its aim the less said the better.
And Tammany Hall has now the manage
ment OF the party in the State, and has put
its Grand Sachem, Hoffman, in domination tor
Governor. He is very popular in the city,
and these various influences combined will
throw an immense vote for him here. Back
of all this and giving intensity to the efforts
of ammany to carry the State, is its firm
purpose to overthrow the commissions in
| which is now lodged so large portion OF the
| power and revenue Of the city. If it sue
ceeds in this, it has under its control the dis
bursement of twenty-five millions of taxes
Annually, with all the attendant patronage
Here is something very tangible to strive for
something which men who sneer at the
"party OF mo, al IDEAS" do not deem in the
| least visionary.
| On the other hand the unfortunate differ
| hatm 10 uinoc n the Rpnnhiinan
| party In the city, with have been SO great a
source OF weakness for some time past, have
been reconcIled, and the party will mach to
| the polls in y ovember with unbroken ranks.
| The ward organizations are thorough and
the canvass energetic. They promise great
increase upon the Republican vote over last
| year, and so far as l can judge the same is
true throughout the State. Therefore
should not be surprised it we carried the
State for Grant and Coltax.
Meanwhile the conflict wakes warmer, the
number OF clubs on both sides is legion, and
public meetings are the order OF the day.
| Senator Comess and other OF our Irish Amer
icaus will attempt, at the Cooper Institute
two or three nights hence, to detaeh some oil
their countrymen from the ranks oi the enc
my. The Democracy next mon'h are 10
hold great meeting at Tammany Hall, to be
followed by grand torchlight procession un-
der the marshalship of the xell-known Capt.
Rynders
One feature in New York elections has not
as vet been introduced in Maine, believe
that of target excursions, in which the prizes
are paid for by the candidates-lttle tokens
of esteem and personal good will you know
and not for moment to be thought OF as
bids for votes.
But have taken up quite space enough
with political matters and will notice lev
things OF general interest.
THE WATER STREET REVIVAL.
A great deal has been written and sait
about John Allen, "the wickedest man il
New York" and his reformation. He ha:
abandoned his lormer business, that of keepel
of low dance house-but there are good
many skeptics as to the completeness Oh lie
reform. His eagerDess for notorie1y Seen'
hardly consistent with very Peni''-
frame of mind, and his late proceeuihse III
Connecticut, where he was announced u oles
tnre but did not on account OF an attack o
deIer;u,n tremens, as is alleged, have not in
creased the confidence in his sincerity. Hi
case has called the attention of Christians ant
philinthropists to the worse than heather
quarter in which he lived and an energetic
effort is being made to cleanse the foul spot
Prayer meetings are held in Allen S od place
as also in one or two other places IN tna' vi
cinity which are hired tor that purpose dur'IS
the time the services are held. One OF the
establishments so hired, is the "rat pit" OF on
Dick Buns, who proceeds TO purity hi
nlace alter the mis- sonares have left (so tn
story runs) by turning rats into his pit to b
killed by the dogs of his sporting friends
t The spirit which prompts this endeayor t.
raoap erate this desnerate locality cannot b