The Democrats nominated Pudd'nhead Wilson for mayor, and he was left alone in this glory, for the Whigs had no man who was willing to enter the lists against such a formidable opponent.

No politician had scored such a compliment as this before in the history of the Mississippi Valley.
The political campaign in Dawson's Landing opened in a pretty warm fashion, and waxed hotter every week.

Luigi's whole heart was in it, and even Angelo developed a surprising amount of interest-which was natural, because he was not merely representing Whigism, a matter of no consequence to him; but he was representing something immensely finer and greater--to wit, Reform.

In him was centered the hopes of the whole reform element of the town; he was the chosen and admired champion of every clique that had a pet reform of any sort or kind at heart.

He was president of the great Teetotalers' Union, its chiefest prophet and mouthpiece.
But as the canvass went on, troubles began to spring up all around--troubles for the twins, and through them for all the parties and segments and fractions of parties.