The election of President was at hand, and the Democrats were trying their utmost to get the Democrat Polk elected President; whilst the Whigs were noways behind hand in _their_ exertions in opposition, and to carry their candidate to the Capitol at Washington. But, instead of being satisfied with praising their own respective candidates, and placing them in the most favourable light, both parties were chiefly engaged in blackening the character of the man put forward by the opposite party, in such a dreadful manner, that if what they said were true, no respectable dog could have accepted a piece of bread at his hands. In such a meeting they now found themselves, and the settlers had already listened with great attention to the addresses of various orators, whose words were frequently interrupted by shouts of approbation, and rewarded by thunders of applause. "It must be admitted," said Becher, when, after awhile, they had walked up and down outside the house to cool themselves--"it must be admitted that they have a peculiar way of speaking here--such violent abuse of one man, whose only offence appears to be, that their opponents wish to make him President; their style would not suit my taste; however, different countries, different manners; probably the Whigs are not much better." "Worse still, if possible, worse still," said Strauss, laughing. "But could you understand all that the people inside there were saying?" "Well," replied Pastor Hehrmann, "I have listened pretty attentively, but I cannot say that I comprehended everything; some of their sentences seemed very bombastic." "Yes," Becher interrupted him; "now that you mention it, I think I could also affirm that those portions of the speeches which the people applauded most loudly, contained nothing further than very vague ideas; the good folks seem easily satisfied." "Will you believe me," smiled Strauss, "that I will go in and talk nonsense for five minutes--nonsense, pure barefaced nonsense--and that at the conclusion it shall be hailed with loud plaudits?" "Well, I don't think them quite so bad as that comes to, either," said Pastor Hehrmann, with a deprecating shake of the head; "they are actuated with the best intentions--viz., that of having the affairs of the republic, in which they live, managed as well as possible; and if they are not exactly learned men, still they probably can distinguish sense from nonsense." "Well," said Strauss, "we can make the experiment. Come in with me; only keep serious; that's all I ask of you." The meeting was powerfully excited by a speech which had just been made. Here and there violent blows of fists upon the table testified what strength their owners were capable of using should they be called upon to combat for the right cause, and all of them were talking and hallooing together. Strauss had to rattle the tin can several times; at last the excitement abated a little, and the new orator stood upon a chair.