The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-25
[FRoX OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

State central committee, on behalf of said
committee, announces officially to-day, in the
columns of the World, the reception of ''news
of the most encouraging character of the pro-
gress of the canvass throughout the State, +"
and ''every indication Of a satisfactory MAORI
ty for the general ticket" His course is un-
usual and would seem to justify the supposltion
that the committee must have some strong
reason for believing that the Democrats will
carry the State, or they would not take this
public method of expressing confidence. The
trouble about all such announcements as these
Is, that people will bet money on the strength
of them. II the result Is contrary to the pre-
diction and they lose their money, they visit
reproaches on the prophets. Mr.. Tilden
knows this full WELL and blows his trumpet
with thorough appreciation of the conse-
quences.
Abeut the Legislature, however, there is
great doubt New York City elects twenty
one assemblymen. usually a solid Democratic
delegation. But now in consequence OF the
auarrels between Tammany and the Reform
ers, the Republicans expect to carry dozen
districts or more. This would insure them
majority of the Lower House at Albany. The
next Legislature has the redistrtcting OF
the State, under the census of 1870, and 1t is
have the supervision OF the work. They did
not scruple under the last census to dlsfran-
chIse, virtually, halt of the Democratic strong
holds. The Senate to be elected will partici-
pate In the choice of an United States senator
to succeed Roscoe Conkllng.
The present interest In local politics is the
coalition between the Reform Democrats and
the Republicans on local ticket. At the CON
vention of the former, on Tuesday night, Gen.
eral Franz Slgel, Republican, was accepted
as candidate for registrar, and Judges Bar
rett and Daily, Democrats, were nominated for
judicial offices. The customhouse Republi-
cans met in convention last night, and en-
dorsed the nominations and the Greeley Re-
publlcans are expected to do the same to-
night. The Tammany nominations have not
yet been made.
The Office of registrar Is prize which poll
ticians naturally struggle for with eagerness.
Next to the position of sheriff and county
clerk 1t yields the largest income In the local
civil list. It's fees mount up sometimes to fifty
thousand dollars per annum, and Its plckings
and stealings To as much more as the registrar
dares to take. The Anti-Tammany Coalition
candidate, Gen. slgel, is the well known Sigel Of
retreats down the Shenandoah valley before
Stonewall Jackson's hosts, was dubbed by the
wits .'the Flying Dutchman." he has done
nothing since the war but run for Office and
be beaten. He invariably turns up candl-
date for something as sure as election day
comes around. Two years ago he headed the
Republican State ticket with Greeley. The
Germans Of both parties, like him, however,
and he will poll the full German vote. His
Tammany opponent will be full-blooded
Irshman-for the contestants for the "Boss's
nomination are Mike Connolly and Ned
Shandley-so that Cet and Teuton will
again be arrayed in conflict.
About these times, target company parades
abound. The Intelligent foreigner, just landed,
who stands on the steps OF the Astor House as
a gang of red.shirted butcher boys and long,
shoremen, with the Inevitable darkey and tar
get at the tail end, march by, gets an incorrect
Idea of the boasted citizen soldiery of New
York. The individuals In red shirts and cigars
are not company of the Seventh Regiment,
but gang OF "bummers" and "beats,n who
have gathered themselves together for the
purpose of e1torting money and drinks out OF
candidates for local offices. Yesterday and to-
day the streets resounded with bands of music
conducting these heroes about town, from
house to house and store to store.
The target company, usually named after
some ward politician, assemblies about nine
o'clock In the morning, In front OF liquor
store, where drinks are free for the occasion.
The uniform and equipments consist oi
red shirts, black pantaloons, wide-awake
stuck in the muzzles. The officers are
so numerous, that when the targeters
march a couple have to be sandwiched be-
tween each die of prlvates They are gor-
geousy gotten up. and flash their swords In
the sunlight like the gallant warriors that they
are. When the company have sufficiently
''liquored-up," 1t starts on It's round OF visits
to the candidates, with band In front and
negro staggering under target behind. When
Oco ,,Io 10
Is drawn up In front, the band plays Hail to
the Chief" and the candidate appears at the
door with silver pitcher or butter dish and
an envelope containing greenbacks, which ne
presents to the captain. Then he delivers a
short speech to the boys, and they give
him three cheers in return. The band
strikes up wearing of the Green and
candidate around the corner. When the list
of the bleeding is exhausted, and all the prizes
to be shot for collected and placed In the
hands OF young men In ciLizens' clothes, VINO
take position In the cortege Just behind the
musicians, the company heads tor Broadway
aud steamboat landing, from which It en-
barks to suburban village to pass the remain
der OF the day. The close of the festivities Is
almost always characterized with drunkenness
and fighting, and sometimes with murder.
The target company, such as have described,
js almost peculiarly New York Institution.
II Ia an outgrowth of some Of the worst lea.
lures OF our local political decentralization.
The Grand Duke is expected to arrive of
Sandy Hook at any moment. painful report
was circulated In the city, yesterday; It was
to the effect that the Polish refugees here had
threatened to attempt the LIE of the Prince il
he appeared in our streets. The story gained
40 much credence, that the Polish National
Society felt 1t necessary to hold hasty meet
ing last night and authoritatively deny that
the Poles OF New York had any such absurd
enterprise on foot. The Prince will be feted
exclusively by selt-appolnted committee OF
wealthy gentlemen. The mayor and anthori-
reception. They probably see very little rea-
son why Americans should go wild over boy
who represents the most cruel and blood
thirsty absolute despotlsm Of Europe-a sys-
tenn which has nothing at all In common
with Republcanism, and the house which has
outraged and butchered Poland. The pre-
fence is that honors should be showered upon
the Muscovlte Emperor's son because the EN-
neror sympathized with the North during our
civil war. An ovation IN which only one-hali
of the American people can participate Is not
national but sectional in Its character, and, as
such. cannot receive the approval of those
Americans who are anxious 10 see the Dltler.
ness of the past buried. .,..,-
The committee have taken the precaution to
hedge in his Imperial Highness from the New
YORK reporters. guard will be stationed al
the hotel doors with strict instructions tc
drive off all interviewing newspaper men
This will put the ostracised on their mettle
| II remains to be seen which enterprising re-
porter will get access to the roof and let him
self down by the chimney into the imperia
apartments. You can depend upon it, Alexis
will be interviewed. NYM.