The New York herald., 1870-11-08
The Election To-Day.

| In the absence of violence OF uistuioahce,
| which we do not anticipate, twill be pleasant
thing to see the rival factions advancing to the
polls to cast their votes for their favorite can
didates, as they have been accustomed to do
in the good old honest fashion when the polls
were Free Much of the interest, however,
vanishes with the certainty of success which,
In poetic phrase, is evidently about ito perch
upon the banners" Of The Tammany democracy.
Before these lines are read the heat of contest
will probably have reached cooling point.
So skilfully has the campaign been managed
by the leaders of Tammany that no obstacle
appears to stand in the way Of victory,
either within the disaffected ranks Of
the domestic household or in the SER
ried columns of the republican army.
We say that the contest Of to-day loses a
good deal of the ordinary interest which per-
tains to local elections, because the result may
be regarded as q matter already assured. But,
on the other hand, we must not forget that an
element altogether new in State elections,
and which possibly may result ia disorder,
has been introduced between the voter and
his right to exercise his privilege as citizen.
We mean the late law of Congress, which for
the first time in the history of the country
stands like gaunt spectre at tho polls Of q
State election challenging through its active
agents-who, we are sorry to say, comprise
gang of the worst ruf1ians, black and white,
which the community can snpply-challeng-
- a. of a;ts xCya l.
vote be honest or otherwise, at the will Of
these marshals. Under these circumstances,
then, it becomes the duty Of every
voter to-day to bear patiently the irritation
which may arise from the operation of this
law. IT. for example, drunken ruflian,
armed with the authority of commission as
deputy United States marshal, should modest
him, or-which is not i,nprobable-a pompous
negro, clothed with similar authority by the
United States Commissioner, should lay hands
upon him, let the voter keep his temper and
remember that his first duty is to deposit his
vote in favor of democratic principles, and
evils with which the spirit of Capitalization is
endeavoring to crush out the individual privi-
leges of the citizen.
There is no reason to anticipate
any fraudulent voting, repeating or
false canvassing of tho ballots which
can affect the result of the election. The city
authorities have provided against anything OF
that kind, and the repeater will stand but
poor Chance If he falls into the hands of the
police Justices. Inasmlch as there seems TO
be no disposition towards anything but fair
election to-day there is no reason why every
thing should not be as lovely as the pleasant
autumn weather which we are enjoying.
Tammany will of course ''come up smiling"
into the arena, AID the unaedged democracy
will have to retire to its corner defeated, but
not much bruised, because the Tammany
gladiators are good -natnred fellows, as, indeed,
they can afford to be under the circumstances,
From the result of the election we may safely
look for the continuance in Off 20 and the popu-
lar endorsement Of the mon who, being placed
at the head Of the different departments Of the
city government, have been assiduousy taking
care the public interests the men who have
met the slanderous assaults of political adver-
saries with straightforward statements
certified to by our foremost citizens-and, if
the testimony of such men as John Jacob
Astor and Moses Taylor be not true then
these gentleman must be consummatc rascals.
They have established the fact that the finances
of the city are correctly and faithfully
managed. The vote will also be popular en-
dorsement of the men who, in the Departments
of Public Works and Public Parks and Docks,
are clothing the city with beauty and useful
ness. The testimony rendered at the polls to-
day will undoubtedly endorse their action, and
surely no good citizen, whatever his political
affiliations may be, or whoever may be his
favorite candidate, can very much regret that
the city government should remain in its pre-
sent hands.