In this essay about the silliness of politics, Washington Irving uses the observations of a foreigner who happens to witness an election day to comment on the ridiculousness of the entire proceedings.  Irving suggests that an election is really just a madhouse with people trying to get others to vote for their candidate by whatever means necessary, to the point where only beer can calm them down.  Irving cleverly uses the form of a letter from the outsider to a friend in his old country to convey his message to his audience, which is intended to be the political leaders who partake in these endeavors.  He uses the character of the foreigner to convey his own disbelief and amusement at what the political elite will do in order to ensure victory for their candidate.  The entire essay has a humorous tone to it because of the puzzlement of the outsider, who doesn’t understand what everyone is doing and why they are making such a big deal out of it, even getting into fights over the stupidest things.  Irving touches on ontological questions about the importance of money, whether truth is absolute or relative, and how individuals act in society.