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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37737-8.txt b/37737-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b05bf37 --- /dev/null +++ b/37737-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11096 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A History of the Republican Party, by +George Washington Platt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A History of the Republican Party + +Author: George Washington Platt + +Release Date: November 3, 2011 [EBook #37737] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY *** + + + + +Produced by Polyvios J. Simopoulos + + + + +[Transcriber's note: + + In Memoriam + + Michael S. Hart (1947-2011), + + Inventor of the e-Book + + and + + Founder of Project Gutenberg + +] + + + + +================================= +A History of the Republican Party +by George Washington Platt +================================= + + + +[Frontispiece: Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley.] + +A History + +OF THE + +Republican Party + +BY + +GEO. W. PLATT + +----------------------------------- + +"And summon from the shadowy Past, +The forms that once have been." + +----------------------------------- + +C. J. KREHBIEL & CO., +CINCINNATI, O. +1904 + + +Copyright, 1904, +by GEO. W. PLATT. +All rights reserved. + + +Inscribed + +to the Memory of + +the three Martyred Republican Presidents + +LINCOLN, GARFIELD, McKINLEY. + + + + +PREFACE. + +Early in February, 1900, the writer delivered an address before the +Stamina Republican League of Cincinnati on "The Origin and Rise of the +Republican Party." The interest in the subject shown by the audience and +the many words of approbation led to a deeper consideration of the +history of the Party, and the address was repeated on a more elaborate +plan before many other organizations in Cincinnati and vicinity. + +It soon became apparent that the great majority of every audience had +very vague recollections of the tragic events which led to the +organization of the Party, and of its early history, owing perhaps to +the fact that they belonged to a generation that had followed the +enactment of those events. It was also clear that those who had lived in +the momentous decade before the Civil War were deeply interested and +stirred by a new recital of the history of that period, and thus it was +suggested that a History of the Republican Party might prove of interest +and value. + +Like the place of Homer's birth that of the Republican Party is in +dispute, but it is believed that the facts herein narrated are supported +by the weight of evidence. + +It is hoped that this work does not display so much partisanship as to +make it uninteresting to members of other political parties in the +United States. + +GEO. W. PLATT. +Cincinnati, February, 1904. + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER. PAGE + I. Formative Causes .......................................... 5 + II. Ancient and Modern Slavery ................................ 11 + III. Beginning of Slavery in the United States ................. 22 + IV. The Early Federal Government .............................. 28 + V. The Missouri Compromise ................................... 42 + VI. The Abolitionists ......................................... 51 + VII. Compromise of 1850 ........................................ 59 + VIII. Birth of the Republican Party ............................. 70 + IX. First Republican National Convention ...................... 86 + X. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates ............................... 101 + XI. Lincoln ................................................... 112 + XII. Reconstruction and the National Debt ...................... 135 + XIII. Grant ..................................................... 148 + XIV. Hayes ..................................................... 170 + XV. Garfield and Arthur ....................................... 185 + XVI. Blaine .................................................... 201 + XVII. Harrison .................................................. 213 +XVIII. Cleveland's Second Term ................................... 230 + XIX. McKinley .................................................. 244 + XX. Roosevelt ................................................. 285 + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + PAGE + 1. Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley ...................... Frontispiece + 2. White House ........................................... facing 28 + 3. Capitol ............................................... " 44 + 4. Alvan E. Bovay ........................................ " 76 + 5. Schoolhouse at Ripon, Wis ............................. " 84 + 6. John C. Fremont ....................................... " 92 + 7. Wm. H. Seward ......................................... " 100 + 8. Lincoln's First Inauguration .......................... " 124 + 9. _New York Herald_, April 15, 1865 ..................... " 132 +10. Andrew Johnson ........................................ " 140 +11. Ulysses S. Grant ...................................... " 148 +12. Rutherford B. Hayes ................................... " 180 +13. Chester A. Arthur ..................................... " 196 +14. James G. Blaine ....................................... " 204 +15. Benjamin Harrison ..................................... " 213 +16. John Sherman .......................................... " 220 +17. Inauguration of Wm. McKinley, March, 1897, ............ " 244 +18. Thos. B. Reed ......................................... " 252 +19. Second Inauguration of McKinley ....................... " 260 +20. Marcus A. Hanna ....................................... " 276 +21. Theodore Roosevelt .................................... " 285 + + + + + +A HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FORMATIVE CAUSES. + + +"_Resolved_, That the Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power +over the territories of the United States for their government, and that +in the exercise of this power it is both the right and duty of Congress +to prohibit in the territories those twin relics of barbarism, polygamy +and slavery." + +_Republican National Platform_, 1856. + + +Near the beginning of Mr. Conway's small volume entitled "Barons of the +Potomack and Rappahannock" occurs the sententious remark that "a true +history of tobacco would be the history of English and American +Liberty." With whatever truth there is in such sweeping statements it +may also be said that "a history of Slavery in this country would be the +history of the Republican Party." This is distinctly so, at least to the +close of the Civil War, for we are to notice that while the party +originated in a desire to oppose the extension of slavery, the cause of +its origin disappeared in less than ten years after the birth of the +organization. But the results of that cause remained for many years, and +justified the assertion in the Republican platform of 1860 that "a +history of the nation during the last four years has fully established +the propriety and necessity of the organization and perpetuation of the +Republican Party, and that the causes which called it into existence are +permanent in their nature." From its primary position as an opponent of +slavery extension, the new party became the champion of abolition, and +in the chaos brought on by the Civil War, and in the Reconstruction +period which followed, it was kept in power, notwithstanding the +disappearance of its direct formative cause, and the justification for +its continued existence was found in the urgent necessity of the hour. +Gradually but firmly it became a strong State and National Party, +solving the many vexed problems which followed the great conflict, +restoring public credit, reducing the enormous war debt; and when the +slavery question and its direct consequences had been eliminated from +national politics, taking up new political ideas and economic policies, +for the welfare of the entire country, until now, after half a century +of existence, during which time it has written some of the brightest +pages of American history, the Republican Party stands out as one of the +greatest and most consistent of political parties in all the world's +history. + +Taking the popular vote as a criterion of permanent growth, the vote for +the Republican presidential candidates, beginning with 1,341,264 for +Fremont in 1856, reached the maximum of 7,208,244 for McKinley in 1900, +and only once (in 1892) during this entire period did the popular vote +for the Republican presidential candidate fail to show an increase over +the vote of the preceding election. + +The events of the momentous decade before the Civil War (during which +period the Republican Party was firmly established), the election of Mr. +Lincoln, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the story of the national +development along commercial and financial lines since that period, +present the most interesting and vivid chapters of American history. +Throughout its history of fifty years, covering the period just +mentioned, the Republican Party has a remarkable record for solid and +consistent action, resulting universally in national prosperity and +honor, and on the three occasions since its formation (1856, 1884 and +1892), when the voters turned away to listen to the teachings of +Democracy, the invariable result has been national disaster and +humiliation and a retarding of progress. + +The Republican Party was organized in the early months of 1854, and the +direct formative causes leading to its establishment were the repeal of +the Missouri Compromise and the efforts on the part of the South, under +the leadership of that ambitious politician, Stephen A. Douglas (with +his specious doctrines of non-intervention on the part of the +Government, and popular sovereignty), to force slavery into the +Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, which, by the Compromise of 1820, +should have been forever dedicated to freedom. By these efforts it was +seen that the South was attempting to make slavery a national instead of +a sectional institution, and the situation early in 1854 (after the long +series of triumphs of the Slave Power) seemed almost hopeless as far as +concerned political opposition to these radical measures was concerned. +At this time, and, indeed, for many years past, the Democratic Party was +firm and united in its support of slavery, and the course of the Whig +Party, intimidated by its southern members, and fearful of civil strife, +had been one of subserviency to the exacting demands of slavery. The +Whig Party had proven itself totally incapable of meeting the great +question of the hour, and after the election of 1852 was on the verge of +absolute dissolution. + +The astonishing repeal of the Missouri Compromise early in 1854, coming, +as it did, in a time of comparative peace on the slavery question, +obliterated old party lines in the North completely, and left +disorganized groups of anti-Nebraska Whigs, anti-Nebraska Democrats, +Free-soilers, Abolitionists, and Know-Nothings, all of whom represented +every extreme of the northern views of slavery. But underneath these +views was the belief that slavery was a great moral wrong, and that its +extension, at least, should be opposed, and from these seemingly +discordant elements it became, in fact, an easy matter to organize, in a +short time, a strong opposition party to the new aggression of the slave +interests. + +The Republican Party was at first one of defense only; it was a +combination of the existing political elements opposed to slavery, and +its first stand was conservative, not to abolish slavery, but to firmly +oppose its extension. The Party at first had no intention of interfering +with slavery in the States in which it then existed, but the idea of +allowing slavery, with its manifest evils, to be extended into other +States and Territories at the will of the South was not to be silently +borne. The early views of the party, up to the Civil War, were well +expressed by Mr. Lincoln in his last great public utterance before his +election as President in November, 1860 (The Cooper Union Speech, +February, 1860): "Wrong, as we think slavery is, we can yet afford to +let it alone where it is, because that much is due to the necessity +arising from its actual presence in the nation; but can we, while our +votes will prevent it, allow it to spread into the national territories +and to overrun us here in these free States?" + +It will be of interest, before taking up the history of the immediate +casual events which made necessary this new political party, to consider +the early history of that great institution, slavery, which, from the +very beginning of American history to the close of the Civil War, and +indeed for many years after, was the chief disturbing element in the +country; to consider how this institution established itself in other +countries, how it insidiously began its growth in the Jamestown colony, +and how it gained in strength and political power, until, at the opening +of the Revolution it owned half a million slaves, and after Independence +had been gained, forced recognition in the Constitutional Convention and +there domineered the North into the first of a series of humiliating +compromises on the slave question. And from that time on, with +increasing force, pressed its obnoxious doctrines upon the press, the +pulpit, platforms and political parties of the country, until, after +many years of bitter contention, it was met in 1854 by the organization +of a determined opposition political party, which, after one failure, +brought about its political overthrow, an event followed by a last +tremendous struggle for the mastery, in which slavery was wiped out +forever in the life-blood of those who upheld and those who opposed it. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ANCIENT AND MODERN SLAVERY. + + +"Slavery is as ancient as War, and War as human nature." + +_Voltaire_. + +"That execrable sum of all villainies, commonly called the slave trade." + +_John Wesley_, 1792. + + +The earliest records of the human race begin with accounts of slavery. +The first slave was probably a war captive whose life had been spared, +and slavery probably originated when the nations emerging from the +savagery of early times discovered that the prisoner captured in war +could render to the conqueror more service alive than dead; and it +became a very early custom that all persons captured in war and not +ransomed by their fellows should remain the property of the conqueror to +be used by him at will or sold to others. It is seen that slavery in its +inception was in some degree an innocent and humane institution, because +it saved many lives and resulted in much development in building, +agriculture and the crude manufacturing of early times. + +It is convenient to divide the history of slavery into two epochs, +ancient and modern, although there are times in the history of several +nations when ancient slavery assumed the modern form. The ancient slaves +were the prisoners captured in war, the hereditary slaves, and persons +who, by the laws of their country, became slaves by the commission of +crime or inability to meet their debts. Modern slavery assumed a more +brutal aspect. Here the slave was not the result of wars, but the direct +object of them, and we find nations engaged in the shameful traffic of +deliberately declaring war upon a foreign and inoffensive people for the +purpose of obtaining possession of their bodies to carry them away for +sale in foreign countries. The modern slave for four centuries was a +distinct article of commerce, quoted and bargained for in the markets +and reckoned on as a medium of exchange. + +For the history of ancient slavery we turn first to Egypt, and find +abundant evidence of the use of slaves from the very earliest times. +Egypt thrived, and its native population was overflowing; but +notwithstanding this, thousands of slaves were brought into the country +by the early Wars of Conquest. Most of these slaves, for lack of other +work, were put to labor on vast monuments, buildings, shrines and +temples. The great Pyramid of Gizeh, near Memphis, the smaller pyramids +near it and the ruins near Thebes, and the Karnak, still remain as +mysterious and wonderful records of the skill of the Egyptian builders, +and as mute evidence of the use of vast numbers of slaves. + +In the quaint diction of early biblical history is told the manner of +the Egyptian use of slaves. We learn how Joseph was treacherously sold +by his brethren into Egyptian captivity, but gaining favor, was placed +in the house of his master, and how, in later years, when famine waxed +sore in the land of Canaan, Joseph's father, Jacob, and his brethren and +their flocks went into Egypt and prayed to Pharaoh for permission to +dwell there, and partly through the influence of Joseph were given +permission to live in the country of Goshen. The Israelites grew and +multiplied until the land was filled with them, but new Kings ruled in +Egypt, hostile to them, and their lives were made bitter with hard +bondage and compulsory work in mortar and brick, "and they built for +Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses." + +When the Hebrews, under the guidance of Moses, left Egypt, they took +slaves with them, and in their subsequent history we find a record of +the use of two classes of slaves, the Hebrew born and those of alien +blood. The Hebrew slave usually became such by selling himself on +account of his poverty, or because it was imposed upon him as a +punishment for crime. He could claim his liberty at the end of six +years, but not so with the alien, who was in bondage for life. Jerusalem +was built, and after many years captured by Nebuchadnezzar, King of +Babylon, who razed the city and carried the upper classes of the Hebrews +captive to Babylon, where they remained in a condition of servitude +until the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, +who, as a political measure, permitted the Hebrews to return to their +homes and rebuild Jerusalem. Egypt went down to rise no more before the +new power of the Persians, who, in turn, gave way to the Greeks, and +they to the Romans. Throughout the history of the ancient people, the +Egyptians, the Syrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Medes and Persians, +slavery developed in the same general way; the prisoner of war was held +in slavery and reduced to the lowest caste, and this we find true in +China, Ancient India and in the history of the Aztecs. + +Slaves were used in Greece, especially so at Athens, where, at the +height of the city's power, there were four times as many slaves as +citizens. The slaves took a prominent part in the domestic and public +economy, being used as agricultural laborers, and as artificers and +servants, and by the State as policemen and soldiers. Sparta possessed +very few slaves, probably only enough to supply the demand for domestic +servants. With the rapid progress of the Greeks came an increased use of +slaves, and the wars not being sufficient to supply the demand, an open +slave trade was soon established. In Greece arose to its height that +peculiar form of slavery practiced by the early Hebrews, wherein +foreigners violating laws, and Greeks themselves, if unable to meet +their debts, were sold with their families into slavery. This brought +about such a threatening state of affairs that by the wise laws of Solon +this form of slavery was abolished. This peculiar slavery also existed +in the early days of Rome, but in the third century before Christ it was +also abolished. + +In the Roman Empire slavery existed from the earliest times, and was +carried to an excess not known before or since in the history of +slavery. The wonderful and rapid rise of the Romans in power, domain and +wealth led to a moral and political degeneracy which demanded the +increased use of slaves in all branches of domestic and public life. +Here, as in Greece, the Wars of Conquest bringing in, as they did, vast +numbers of slaves, failed to supply the demand, and here again, as in +Greece, the slave trade, with its acts of piracy, was established to +obtain a supply, and the occupation of the professional slave hunter and +slave dealer became fully recognized and were the forerunners of similar +acts in the history of Negro slavery many centuries later. The abuses +brought on by the Roman system of slavery led to such decay and +corruption in the Empire that it became an easy prize for the Teutonic +tribes, and Rome of the West fell to rise no more, about the middle of +the fifth century. + +Then probably began the Feudal system, which practically abolished the +ancient form of slavery, and in its place the lower classes of the +population were put in the semi-servile condition of serfs and villeins +to their Feudal Lords. This system spread in Germany, France, England +and Russia, but by the time of the capture of Constantinople in 1453 by +the Turks, Feudalism, the last relic of slavery in Western Europe, was +almost extinct, and was gradually assuming a very mild form in the other +countries, when suddenly and unexpectedly slavery was revived and +perpetuated in a new, its modern form, by a singular and interesting +series of events which brought about the ruthless bondage of an entire +people to nations whom they had never offended. + +Portugal, Spain and England were mainly responsible for fastening the +evils of Negro Slavery on the New World. The Portuguese first began the +modern traffic in negro slaves; the Spaniards introduced them into +America, and the English engaged in and encouraged, more than any other +nation, the infamous slave trade, to supply the New World demand. + +In a strange way Christianity was indirectly responsible for the +beginning of negro slavery in its modern form. For many centuries prior +to the discovery of America the Mohammedans and Christians had been +arrayed against each other in western Europe, and the struggles for the +mastery had aroused the most implacable hatred between the foes, and the +almost inevitable fate of the captives, whether taken by Christian or +Mohammedan, was slavery for life. Fifty-one years before the discovery +of America some Portuguese sailors, coasting along the shores of +Morocco, took captive a few Moors and brought them to Portugal. This +event led to the beginning of modern slavery, for in the following year, +1442, these captive Moors, at their own request, were exchanged for +negroes, which they procured from Africa. It appears that Prince Henry +of Portugal had made many ineffectual attempts to convert these Moors, +and their obstinate refusal made acceptable an exchange for negroes, +"for whatever number he should get he would gain souls, because they +might be converted to the Faith, which could not be done with the +Moors," said the Prince. With what sincerity this argument was advanced +cannot be known, but it is certain that the beginning of modern slavery +was justified by this crafty philanthropy, not only in Portugal but +later in the Spanish Colonies, where the same argument was advanced by +Columbus and accepted by the Spanish Monarchs to ease their minds while +it filled their treasuries. It is also certain that in a very short +time, whether to be Christianized or not, shipload after shipload of the +unfortunate Africans were brought to Portugal and a regular slave trade, +with all its sickening horrors, was established, the Crown receiving +one-fifth of the proceeds as its royal share. Soon Spain engaged in the +traffic, and then the event happened, the discovery of America, which +startled Europe, and opened up a vast new country to whatever good or +evil its conquerors might choose to plant. + +Strangely enough the very events which led to the discovery of the New +World operated to firmly establish the beginning of what was to be its +greatest curse. With the capture of Constantinople in 1453 by the Turks +and the cutting off of that way to the Indies, increased efforts were +made to discover a new route, and the first attempts were down the west +coast of Africa. The Portuguese were the most active mariners at that +time and took the most prominent part in these new voyages, and while +they did not meet with complete success, they discovered a country +thronged with the people, who, by the circumstances already related, +were practically doomed to slavery. So promising was this base of +supplies that about the year 1485 the Portuguese established a Colony at +Benin, on the west coast of Africa, for the purpose of more actively +carrying on the slave trade, and this was the first of those permanent +fortified places established in Africa by the Christian countries of the +world as stations where, by the blackest of cruelties and crimes, they +might obtain large and immediate supplies of this new article of +commerce. From the time of the establishment of this first Colony to the +year 1807, when Great Britain and the United States prohibited the slave +trade (a period of 322 years), Africa was desolated and her people +abducted, sold and murdered by the Christian people of the earth; and +indeed for many years after its prohibition the slave trade was carried +on, notwithstanding that it became piracy to do so, punishable by death, +so profitable had the business become and so rapacious and insensate +those who engaged in it. + +Thus was the slave monster, a gigantic and hideous Frankenstein, created +by the Christian nations, and long after, when it obtained its full +growth, it was to fright them, retard their progress and result in +dreadful retribution. The slave district began with the River Senegal on +the west coast of Africa and continued a distance of fully 3000 miles to +Cape Negro. The enormous sum of cruelty and wickedness which attended +the slave trade throughout this vast territory can never be known, but +may be partially imagined when we know that at its height fully 80,000 +persons were torn from their homes annually, with all the attendant +horrors of rapine, murder and the worst crimes of mankind. + +The evil thus begun and fostered in Europe needed only a new impetus +to make it grow beyond all bounds; owing to economical conditions, it +would probably have died out in western Europe had it not been for the +discovery of America, which almost immediately opened up a new and +enormous market for slaves. The first Spanish settlement in the West +Indies was called Hispaniola, now the Island of Haiti, and this Colony +became the scene of the first use of negro slaves in the New World. A +cruel fate seemed to be working out the enslavement of the African, for +it is almost certain that Columbus in his first voyages did not take +with him any slaves, and there seemed to be no thought of using them in +this new Colony during the first few years after the discovery. The +first negroes were brought to Hispaniola about eight years after +Columbus landed, but they were few in number, and it was probably not +contemplated to use them in the fields and mines, for the Spaniards had +an immense and almost inexhaustible supply of free labor at hand in the +native population, who, by the avarice of the Spaniards, were almost +immediately enslaved and compelled to work in the mines and on the +farms. So greedy were the Spaniards to acquire sudden wealth, and so +numerous the natives, that their lives were reckoned of no value, and so +heartlessly cruel and inhuman was their treatment that the population of +the island, which is given as about 800,000 in 1492, had decreased, it +is estimated, one-third four years later, and twenty years later the +native population is given as only 14,000. These figures are probably +greatly exaggerated, but making all allowances they tell a frightful +story. + +The benevolent Las Casas, aroused by the frightful cruelties to the +natives and their rapid destruction, began his successful opposition to +Indian slavery; but, without knowing or intending it, his success was at +the fearful cost of the Africans, who now began to be imported in large +numbers to take the place of Indian slaves, and it was shortly +discovered that one negro could do the work of four or five natives. +Thus a new and growing market opened for slaves, and the slave trade of +the New World became so profitable that Charles V. of Spain, desiring to +reap the greatest benefit from it, granted, for a consideration, an +exclusive right for eight years of supplying four thousand slaves per +year to the Spanish Colonies. This seems to have been the first monopoly +on the slave trade, but soon other nations were attracted by the ease +and profit of the business, and the Dutch and English began early to +engage their energies in the trade, and the latter, with their superior +methods, greatly increased its profit and popularity. William Hawkins +was the first Englishman to begin the slave trade, and made a trip to +Guinea in 1530. In 1562 his son, John Hawkins, who was knighted later +for his services by Queen Elizabeth, followed in his father's steps and +carried away three hundred slaves to San Domingo. This voyage was +repeated in 1564 and 1567 with great profit, and soon England had +entered and was committed fully to the business. One hundred and fifty +years later the traffic in negro slaves was considered the most +profitable branch of British commerce. + +Thus it is seen that prior to the discovery of America negro slavery had +begun in western Europe, and, like some dread scourge, lay in wait for +new fields in which to operate; and we have seen how it was permitted to +enter so early into the history of the New World. From the islands of +the West Indies the Spaniards went to the mainland, and with them went +slavery; and as more territory was discovered the use of slaves was more +in demand and they were brought over in almost incredible numbers. This +history is not further concerned with the development of slavery in +other countries, or with the horrifying details of the slave trade which +grew up to supply the enormous demand of the New World, except as it +affected this country. + +How slavery became established in the United States, how it dominated +the first attempts of the Colonies to organize a strong Federal +Government, and how, after a series of compromises, seeking to settle a +question which could only be settled by its abolition, it resulted in +the organization of a great opposition political party, the first +success of which was followed by the bloodiest civil war in all history, +will now be the direct subject of our inquiry. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BEGINNING OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES. + + +"I do not say who was guilty of this ... but there was the evil, and no +man could see how we were to be delivered from it." + +_Frelinghuysen_. + + +Ayllon, a Spaniard, who attempted to find the northwest passage, landed +in Virginia as early as 1526, near the same place where the English +eighty-one years later founded their colony, and began to build a town, +using negro slaves in the work, but this settlement was abandoned. Negro +slaves were also used in Florida prior to the Jamestown settlement. +These appear to be the first use of negro slaves in territory +subsequently a part of the United States. But we are not concerned with +these events except as curious historical facts, because they had no +influence on the history of the country, and are of no more importance +or interest than the discovery of America by the Norsemen before +Columbus. But toward the end of August, 1620, an event occurred of the +greatest moment to the history and welfare of the country, and which was +to have a far-reaching and lasting effect upon the political and social +life of the United States. In that month, about thirteen years after the +English founded their settlement, a Dutch ship, in great distress for +food, entered the James River, and after some negotiation with the +settlers, exchanged twenty negroes for a supply of food. This was the +beginning of negro slavery in the United States, and thus was the +disturbing element planted which was to distract the nation for so many +weary years, and the opposition to which was finally to culminate in the +founding of the Republican Party. + +Not many months after these slaves were landed the Pilgrims established +their settlement on the New England shores and began that political and +social life whose subsequent development made them an enemy to slavery. +If there is one scene or period in American history representing the +very genesis of the Republican Party, it is the landing of the Pilgrims +in December, 1620; just as the settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, was +the point from which radiated, by subsequent economical and social +developments, the principles of the Democratic Party. Thus it is seen at +this early period that slavery and freedom were planted almost side by +side to progress along unconsciously until economical conditions and +demands were to make them openly antagonistic; and here began that +remarkable balancing of power between slavery and freedom, which was to +be maintained in later years, after the Union had been formed, by a +series of compromises, and indeed also by a balancing of progress along +economical lines. + +The Virginians at first neither sought nor needed negro slaves; this is +proven by the circumstances under which the first slaves were landed, +and also by the fact that slavery grew very slowly. In 1622 there were +only twenty-two negro slaves in the Colony, and in 1648, twenty-eight +years after the first acquisition, there were only three hundred in +Virginia; not that the settlers were averse to using them, but because +another class of cheap labor was obtainable in the great number of +criminals which were sent from England to work out their freedom in the +New World, and by other white persons who voluntarily sold themselves +and became indented or bond servants for a period of years in payment of +their passage to America, or for other considerations. The use of this +class of labor began very shortly after the first settlement, but toward +the close of the seventeenth century the use of indented servants became +less as negro slaves became more numerous. + +Negro slaves were introduced into every one of the other Colonies when +they were founded, or a short time afterwards, and to the close of the +Revolution negro slaves were used in every Colony. The North was for +slavery as long as it was necessary and profitable, and the early +settlers in New England found no scruple in using as slaves the Indians +captured in war; and when negro slavery appeared later, the shrewd +Yankees made money in the slave trade along the coast to the South and +to the West Indies. The modern Newport, R. I., was the great slave mart +of New England, and it is said that the first slave ship used by +American colonists was fitted up in a New England port. + +Prior to 1715 the number of slaves in America was not so great, but +after that year they increased in large numbers, not only by an active +demand which sprang up for them, but also by the infamous Asiento Clause +in the Treaty of Utrecht between England and Spain, whereby the former +for a period of thirty years, from 1713 to 1743, took the exclusive +right of importing and selling 144,000 negroes into the Spanish Colonies +at the rate of 4,800 per year, and more could be brought in on the +payment of a small tax. This made England the greatest slave nation in +the world, and her interest demanded, and Parliament saw to it, that +nothing adverse to the use of slaves should happen in the American +Colonies. The growth of slavery in America from 1715 to 1775, and the +slave population in the Colonies at these two periods, were as follows: + + 1715 1775 + New Hampshire ........ 150 629 + Massachusetts ........ 2,000 3,500 + Rhode Island ......... 500 4,373 + Connecticut .......... 1,500 5,000 + New York ............. 4,000 15,000 + New Jersey ........... 1,500 7,600 + Pennsylvania ........} 2,500 10,000 + Delaware ............} 9,000 + Maryland ............. 9,500 80,000 + Virginia ............. 23,000 165,000 + North Carolina ....... 3,700 75,000 + South Carolina ....... 10,500 110,000 + Georgia .............. 16,000 + ------ ------- + 58,850 501,102 + +Of the half million slaves in this country at the opening of the +Revolution, 450,000 were in the Southern Colonies. The reasons for this +are found in the difference in economical conditions and political and +social customs which separated the Northern and Southern Colonies before +the Revolution. The Northern group devoted themselves mainly to fishing, +commerce and farming. The soil, especially in New England, was +unpromising for the production of great staples, and the result in the +North was concentration of the people, growth of town life, distribution +of political power, great freedom of speech and press, and a wide +discussion of political principles. The South devoted herself wholly to +the production of three great staples, rice, indigo and tobacco, and the +result in the South was just the reverse of that in the North. Great +plantations were established, few cities of any importance sprang up, +manufacturing did not thrive, the South importing almost every article +of use or luxury. Political power was in the hands of a few, and the +three great staples demanded cheap labor, working under the most +destructive conditions. Thus, influenced almost entirely by environment +and economical and political development, the North became the scene of +freedom to individuals and protection to industries, because these +things were absolutely essential to the existence and happiness of the +people; and the South, by the same necessity, was dedicated to slavery +and free trade. + +It must not be thought that the colonial period was without any +development of opposition to slavery. The German Quakers of Pennsylvania +in 1688 took a stand against the use of slaves in their community, and +they subsequently became the most active opponents to slavery and the +slave trade. Their efforts, however, had little effect except in +Pennsylvania, but it is important to mark their action as the beginning +of the abolition movement in this country. There are records in the +Southern Colonies of taxes placed upon the importation of slaves prior +to the decade before the Revolution, but it would appear that these +taxes were more for revenue than as prohibitive means, and that they +were of no value in diminishing the demand and the number of negroes +imported. However, in 1769, a distinct sentiment crystallized in +Virginia against the further importation of slaves, and the Legislature +passed a law prohibiting it, but this was vetoed by the Royal Governor, +acting under orders from the Crown; the same thing occurred in +Massachusetts two years later. In 1772 Lord Mansfield proclaimed the +law, "As soon as a slave sets foot on the soil of the British isles he +becomes free." This decision had a marked influence on the anti-slavery +sentiment, which was now strong in the Colonies, and the approach of the +Revolution, with its spirit of national independence and of individual +right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, seemed to promise +freedom to a people who had already suffered three centuries of terrible +bondage. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE EARLY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. + + +"The policy to sustain which Mr. Lincoln was elected President in 1860 +was first definitely outlined by Jefferson in 1784. It was the policy of +forbidding slavery in the National Territory." + +_John Fiske_. + + +The history of slavery from the opening scenes of the Revolution to the +meeting of the First Congress affords a curious example of the direct +influence of self-interest upon the opinions of mankind. The opening of +the Revolution saw an emphatic and unanimous expression against slavery +and the slave trade, and a general spirit of emancipation was abroad. +Two years later this had changed, for when the Declaration was +promulgated there was no mention of anti-slavery sentiments in it, and +as Independence became more and more assured, the feeling against +slavery seems to have weakened, and finally, when a serious attempt to +perfect the Union was made, the slave question was decided by expediency +and not by principle. + +In 1773 and 1774, when the colonists spoke their final defiance against +Great Britain, and the latter launched her retaliatory measures, the +climax was reached. It is to be kept in mind that at this time slavery +existed in every one of the Colonies. The First Continental Congress, +representing all the Colonies except Georgia (who agreed to concur), met +at Philadelphia in September, 1774, to determine what should be done in +this grave crisis. It turned out to be largely a Peace Congress, but a +protest, several addresses and a non-importation and non-consumption +agreement was signed. One of the Articles of this agreement provided +that "We will neither import nor purchase any slave imported after the +first day of December next, after which time we will wholly discontinue +the slave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor will +we hire our vessels or sell our commodities or manufactures to those who +are concerned in it." This important and far-reaching resolution +received the unanimous support of all the Colonies. Would that its +spirit had been kept alive! + +[Illustration: The White House, Washington, D. C.] + +Almost two years after the First Continental Congress met (the +Revolution having been started in the meantime) the Declaration of +Independence was adopted, but there was no expression in it against +slavery or the slave trade. The original draft of that instrument +contained a fierce denunciation of England's part in the slave trade: + +"He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most +sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who +never offended him; capturing and carrying them into slavery in another +hemisphere, or to incur a miserable death in their transportation +thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of Infidel Powers, is +the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep +open a market where men could be bought and sold, he has prostituted his +negative by suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or +restrain this execrable commerce." + +These burning words were from the pen of Jefferson, who had been the +most active in his opposition to slavery. They were omitted from the +Declaration, out of compliance to South Carolina and Georgia, but they +voiced unquestionably the sentiment of a large majority of the +Continental Congress. This was the first fatal concession to South +Carolina and Georgia, and we shall find them again united and +influencing the other Southern Colonies to maintain a bold stand for +slavery at the most critical period in the nation's history. + +On the same day in June, 1776, that the Committee was appointed to draft +the Declaration of Independence, Congress resolved that "A Committee be +appointed to prepare and digest the form of a Confederation to be +entered into between the Colonies." The work of this Committee was the +Articles of Confederation, which were presented in November, 1777, for +ratification by the States. These Articles contained no anti-slavery +sentiments, and we are only concerned with them in noting the unexpected +and most important results which came up before the ratification was +completed. Several of the States claimed a right to the territory west +of the Alleghanies to the Mississippi under their original charter. +Their claims were conflicting, and Maryland refused to ratify the +Articles of Confederation until the land-claiming States should +relinquish all their rights to Congress. For a number of years these +States were obdurate, but Maryland held out resolutely and bravely, and +finally, by her firm action and the magnanimity of New York and +Virginia, the question was settled by the cession of the disputed lands +to Congress. The acquisition of the Northwest Territory is one of the +great turning points in American history, for we shall see that the +subsequent development of this territory was of no less importance than +the saving of the Union from annihilation by the slave power. + +Thomas Jefferson was the most urgent against slavery of all the founders +of the nation. His statesmanship foresaw the evils negro slavery would +bring upon the nation's social and political development, and his nature +was stirred by the great moral wrong. Long before the Declaration of +Independence he worked untiringly in Virginia to bring about a sentiment +against the slave trade, and his efforts met with success. His fierce +denunciation of England's part in the slave trade was stricken from the +Declaration, but he did not give up the fight, although the material +interests of the South thwarted his plans for the moment. When, by the +unforeseen results attendant upon the ratification of the Articles of +Confederation, that imperial domain reaching from Pennsylvania to the +Mississippi and from the Ohio to the Lakes became national territory, +Jefferson, with the prescience of a mighty genius, saw an opportunity to +deal a death blow to slavery. This magnificent public domain, +subsequently to be divided into the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, +Wisconsin and Michigan, was given to the nation on condition that it +should be cut up into States, to be admitted when they had a certain +population, and that the land should be sold to pay the debts of the +United States. Throughout this vast region there were very few people, +and there had been no social, political or economical development, and +so the only opposition which could come in Congress to any measure for +the future government of the Territory would be from the original +States. No sooner had the cession been fully made than Jefferson +suggested a plan which, if it had succeeded, would have confined slavery +North and South to the mountain boundaries of the original States. His +plan for the government of this new territory, among other things, +provided that after the year 1800 slavery should be prohibited in it. He +went beyond this and advocated and urgently solicited Virginia, North +Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to cede their rights in the land +west of the Mountains, and he would have had slavery prohibited in this +territory also after the year 1800. His plan was no more or less than to +prohibit slavery after the year 1800 in all land between the Alleghanies +and the Mississippi, from the Lakes to Florida. + +On April 19, 1784, Jefferson's Ordinance came up for consideration. +North Carolina moved that the clause prohibiting slavery after 1800 be +stricken out; South Carolina seconded the motion, which was put in the +form, "Shall the words moved to be stricken out stand?" Six States voted +that the clause should stand, three were opposed to it, but as the +Articles of Confederation required the votes of nine States, the motion +was lost and the Ordinance, with the slavery clause taken out, was then +adopted. + +The following year Congress made inducements so attractive that in a +short time several companies were organized and bought large tracts in +the new National Territory; and as they purposed settling on their +purchases at once, Congress agreed upon a more elaborate plan of +government and laws than those set forth in the Ordinance of 1784. The +famous Ordinance of 1787 was the result of this agreement. Mr. Jefferson +was not present at the time of its adoption, having been sent as +Minister to France, but the influence of his work and sentiments were +felt, and his ideas were adopted in a new form. The new Ordinance +repealed the old one, and among other things provided that the Territory +should be cut up into not less than three nor more than five States, all +of which were to be admitted into the Union when they had a population +of 60,000 free inhabitants. The States which might be formed were +forever to remain a part of the United States, and it was declared that +the Ordinance was to be considered as a compact between the original +States and the people and States of the new territory, and forever to +remain unalterable unless by common consent. Most important and +far-reaching of all was the Article, + +"There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said +territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party +shall have been duly convicted; Provided always, that any person +escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed +in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully +reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or +service, as aforesaid." + +With slavery forever prohibited in such a large territory, with the +Ordinance beyond repeal, and secession condemned, the Ordinance of 1787 +stands out as one of the most remarkable and most important enactments +in American history. What the Declaration of Independence and the War +had obtained, and the Constitution was to make more perfect--the Union +--the development of the country under the Ordinance of 1787 was to +preserve. The South yielded to the strong anti-slavery clause in this +ordinance because a fugitive slave clause was added to it, and because +she had a plan of making the territory west of Virginia, North Carolina, +South Carolina and Georgia slave territory. This was done shortly +afterwards, when two years later South Carolina and North Carolina, and +Georgia in 1802, ceded their western claims to Congress on the express +condition that it should be slave soil, and Congress accepted the +territory on that condition; Kentucky being admitted as a slave State in +1792. + +While the national greatness and safety were being worked out in the +West, affairs were in a miserable condition in the East, owing to the +radical defects in the Articles of Confederation which had been in +operation since 1781. The cup of bitter national humiliation was being +drained to the dregs, but fortunately the best men of the country +finally succeeded in calling a Convention to revise the Articles. The +Convention met at Philadelphia in May, 1787, and by September had +adopted a new Constitution. + +The great struggle between the North and the South began in the +Constitutional Convention. Slavery and the conflicting commercial +interests were the difficult questions which divided the country and +resulted in the first of the Compromises that held off the Civil War for +so many years. It was decided to have an equal representation of States +in the Senate and an unequal representation in the House, based upon +population; but should slaves be counted as population? This and the +other slavery questions which came up in the Convention threatened to +disrupt the proceedings entirely. There were at this time about 675,000 +slaves in the country, of which number fully 625,000 were in the South. +South Carolina, henceforth to be so active for the interests of the +South, immediately claimed that these slaves should be considered as +population to be counted in fixing the representation in the House. The +North argued that the slaves were chattels and should not be counted, +for it was seen at a glance that if this enormous number of slaves were +to be counted on any basis, the political power of the South would be +greatly increased. South Carolina made open and repeated threats to +withdraw from the Confederacy, and the situation was serious, because, +without her and the other Southern Colonies, who would unquestionably be +influenced by her, the work of the Convention would not be ratified, and +there would be no Union. The inexorable necessity of the hour demanded a +compromise, and it was decided that in apportioning the Representatives +there should be added to the whole number of free persons three-fifths +of all other persons. This was equivalent to saying that five slaves in +the South should be counted the same as three white persons in the +North. + +In regard to the slave trade there was a sentiment in all the States +except Georgia and South Carolina against it, because five slaves +counted as three whites, and because almost all of the eminent men North +and South were at this time opposed to Slavery itself as not only a +moral wrong, but as something which would injure the development of the +country. The Southern planters insisted upon a continuation of the slave +trade, but at the same time they were fearful that the North might tax +their exports. The second great Compromise was affected, and it was +agreed that the importation of such persons as any of the States might +think proper to admit should not be prohibited by Congress prior to +1808, but a tax on each person so admitted might be imposed, not +exceeding $10, and that no tax or duty should be laid on articles +exported from any State. A Fugitive Slave Clause very similar to that +contained in the Ordinance of 1787 was also added. + +By these Compromises, especially the one giving representation for +slaves, the South was given that tremendous political power which she +wielded so long to threaten and coerce the North to her bidding. The +Slave Power was politically enthroned, not to be finally dislodged until +the election of Mr. Lincoln. At this early period, however, it was +firmly and honestly believed that in a very short time slavery would +disappear in all of the Colonies, as it was already dying out rapidly in +the North, and it was fully believed that after 1808, when the slave +trade should be prohibited, slavery would become extinct. It must be +remembered that at this time cotton was not a staple of the South, and +there was nothing seriously present or threatened, in the social or +economical development of the South, which made slavery absolutely +necessary. Nobody foresaw how greatly cotton was to add to the wealth +and standing of the South, and nobody foresaw the great injury which the +Constitution was to do the North. + +When Washington was inaugurated, April 30, 1789, the United States +reached from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, and from the Lake of the +Woods, the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence and St. Croix Rivers southward +to Florida, which then extended to the Mississippi and was owned by +Spain. + +All of the threatening phases of the slave question had been compromised +by the various provisions in the Constitution, and the common territory +of the nation had been practically partitioned between Freedom and +Slavery, with the Ohio River as the dividing line. With some exceptions +the Northern States still possessed a large number of slaves, New York +and New Jersey having the greatest number (33,000 out of the 40,000 +still in the North), but not only in these States, but throughout the +North, emancipation was making rapid progress. + +The population of the country was scattered along the Atlantic seaboard, +but the migration to the west of the Alleghanies had set in strongly +both north and south of the Ohio River; the settlers from Virginia and +the States south of her carrying with them, westward, the prejudices and +customs of their mother States, while the settlers north of the Ohio +River took with them into the wilderness the energy and thrift of the +East, and its spirit of freedom and emancipation for all individuals, +laying the foundation of those great States which, in later years, +untrammeled by the commercial conservatism of the East, were so +outspoken and sturdy in their expressions against slavery. The first +census, taken in 1790, showed a population of 3,929,827, classed and +divided between the North and South as follows: + + Free + White. Negroes. Slave. + North .......... 1,900,976 27,109 40,370 + South .......... 1,271,488 32,357 657,527 + +These figures are interesting because of the political effect that the +population of the two sections had upon the representation in the House. + +The South was still devoting herself to the raising of tobacco, rice, +indigo, and several lesser staples, but since the close of the +Revolution, owing to the dying out of the indigo plant, a new staple had +received considerable attention. Cotton had been cultivated in Virginia +by the early settlers, but little attention had been paid to it, and +only enough was produced for domestic use; but after the close of the +Revolution it gradually came to be cultivated in all the Southern +States, and it was quickly discovered that being an indigenous plant it +grew very rapidly, and the climate, soil and the great number of slaves +at hand were favorable toward making it, with some attention, a most +promising and valuable product. + +The development of cotton manufacture had been gradual but certain to +this period, which saw the triumph and use of the mechanical inventions +of Hargreave, Arkwright, Crompton and Cartwright. The steam engine was +introduced to supply motive power, and only one thing stood in the way +of an enormous production of the new staple. The separation of the seed +from the cotton fibre was a tedious and time-consuming task; one negro +could only remove the seeds from about two pounds of cotton a day, and +consequently only a small amount could be sent to market. + +In 1790 not a pound of cotton was exported from the United States. In +1793, Eli Whitney, of Massachusetts, who was temporarily in Georgia, +invented his Cotton Gin, one of the earliest and most remarkable of the +many great inventions of Americans. This invention was productive of +most important and far-reaching consequences. It caused an industrial +revolution in the South by making cotton the great staple. The +production increased by leaps and bounds, bringing great wealth and +increasing social and political power to the South. With the earlier +form of the new invention the seeds could be removed from about one +hundred pounds of cotton a day. In 1792, 192,000 pounds were exported to +Europe; in 1795, after Whitney's invention, nearly six million pounds +were exported. The value of the export in 1800 was $5,700,000; in 1820, +it was $20,000,000. These figures represented enormous wealth in those +days. + +Whatever sentiment in the South against slavery had survived the +Constitutional period now disappeared completely. Cotton brought about a +new view, and from being an evil to be eradicated in some way in the +course of time, it was now regarded as absolutely necessary to the +social and political welfare of the South. The strongest of human +passions, avarice, ambition and worldly interest now bound the South +closer than ever to slavery. The slaves produced cotton--which was +wealth--and wealth brought independence and social distinction; besides +the slave was a political advantage of great importance, because five of +them, without any voice in the matter themselves, counted as three white +persons. Under these auspices grew the Slave Power, soon to be a bold, +threatening and overbearing faction in the nation. + +While the South and the Slave Power were thus being prepared for great +wealth and political standing, circumstances were working in the North +to counteract and balance, in a way, this development. New England was +beginning to feel the first impulses of a great industrial development; +interest in commerce and manufacturing was awakening, and inventive +genius, called into action by economical necessity, was at work, and the +use of machinery and mechanical inventions was increasing. New England +was shortly to be covered with cotton and other factories. + +The war between France and England opened to the United States almost a +monopoly on the West Indies trade in 1793, and it was the North that +received the greatest benefit from this trade. Congress in 1791 had +established the United States Bank at Philadelphia, with branches in all +of the important cities, and this aided the North more than the South. +In short, the North was developing that capital, energy, ingenuity and +thrift and use of mechanical inventions, the lack of which was the +greatest weakness of the South. The settlement of the Northwest +Territory by pioneers from the northern States is also to be kept in +mind. + +This great manufacturing and commercial development, and the movement of +the population westward, also awakened in the North a lively interest in +internal improvements, and the steamboat, railroad and telegraph were +soon to add their tremendous influences and advantages to this section +of the country. The various pursuits and the development of the North +increased and attracted population, and the balance between the North +and the South, which was so nearly even in 1790, grew steadily in favor +of the North, until at the opening of the Civil War the North had +nineteen million free people against eight and one-quarter million in +the South, the South at that time having four million slaves. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE. + + +"The Missouri question marked a distinct era in the political thought of +the country ... suddenly and without warning the North and the South, +the free States and the slave States, found themselves arrayed against +each other in violent and absorbing conflict." + +_James G. Blaine_. + + +Shall there be Slave States other than Louisiana west of the Mississippi +River? This question coming suddenly before the people in 1818, laying +bare the inherent antagonisms of the North and South, aroused the entire +country to a white heat of excitement; and only after a most bitter and +alarming struggle resulted in the third great Compromise on the slavery +question. + +From the time of Whitney's invention to the Missouri Compromise, three +important events happened in the history of slavery: The first Fugitive +Slave Law passed in January, 1793; the acquisition of the Louisiana +Territory in 1803, and the abolition of the slave trade in 1807. + +The call for legislation to enforce the Fugitive Slave provision in the +Constitution came, strangely enough, from the North. A free negro had +been kidnapped in Pennsylvania in 1791 and taken to Virginia. The +Governor of Virginia refused to surrender the kidnappers, claiming there +was no law on the subject. Upon the matter being brought to the +attention of Congress by the Governor of Pennsylvania, a Fugitive Slave +Law and also an Extradition Law for fugitives from justice were enacted. +While the fugitive from justice was surrounded by the safeguards of a +requisition accompanied by a certified copy of an indictment or +affidavit charging the crime, these safeguards were not given to the +slave, but he could be forcibly seized by the owner or his agent and +taken before a magistrate. There was no trial by jury, and the only +requisite for conviction was an affidavit that he had escaped. The +harshness of this procedure was resisted from the very first by the +northern people, but this law was on the statute books until the second +and last law on the subject was passed as a part of the Compromise of +1850. + +When the time came at which Congress could abolish the slave trade, a +law was promptly passed, after considerable angry debate as to its +terms, prohibiting the slave trade after December 31, 1807. In fact, it +was necessary to even effect a compromise on this subject on the point +as to what should be done with any slaves that might be imported +contrary to the law; and it was decided that they should belong neither +to the importer nor any purchaser, but should be subject to the +regulations of the State in which they might be brought. As far as it +restrained the South, the law abolishing the slave trade proved to be +more of a dead letter than the Fugitive Slave Law did in the North, +because the slave trade was carried on with more or less openness until +the Civil War, it being estimated that about fifteen thousand slaves +were brought into the country annually. The abolition of the slave trade +caused several of the border States to devote their attention to slave +breeding, which, with the increased demand and the large advance in +prices, became a profitable industry in Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky. + +The acquisition in 1803 of the Louisiana Territory, the wonderful and +romantic exploration of it by Lewis and Clark in 1804-5, the closing of +the Indian Wars and the second war with England, and hard times in the +East, caused that tremendous rush of population to the West, which +resulted in the admission of so many new States prior to 1820, and +opened anew the slavery question. Vermont, admitted in 1791, Kentucky +1792, Tennessee 1796, Ohio 1803, Louisiana 1812, Indiana 1816, +Mississippi 1817, Illinois 1818, and Alabama 1819, had raised the number +of States to twenty-two; eleven free and eleven slave; the early custom +of admitting a free and slave State together having been strictly +followed. The admission of these States effectively partitioned all of +the territory east of the Mississippi between Freedom and Slavery, with +the exception of the Michigan Territory (subsequently divided into +Michigan and Wisconsin), and the new Territory of Florida, purchased +from Spain in 1819. West of the Mississippi only one State had been +admitted, and the rest of the land was known as the Missouri Territory. +The tide of population passing down the Ohio, or through the States, had +crossed the Mississippi into the Missouri country, and Missouri, in +1818, petitioned Congress for permission to form a Constitution and +enter the Union. Nothing was said about slavery, but it was known that +the great majority of the Missouri settlers were slave owners or +sympathizers, as those who held anti-slavery opinions were content to +remain in the States formed out of the Northwest Territory, and it was +therefore certain that Missouri would be a slave State. + +[Illustration: The Capitol, Washington, D. C.] + +The Bill authorizing Missouri to act was taken up in the House on +February 13, 1819, and immediately Mr. Tallmadge, of New York, moved +that the further introduction of slavery in Missouri be prohibited, and +that children born in the State after its admission should be free at +the age of twenty-five years. Instantly and unexpectedly an exciting, +violent debate took place between the North and South. Neither professed +to understand the position of the other, but the North was more +sincerely astonished, because for the first time she realized what the +South had intended for many years, that slavery should be made a +permanent institution in the original States, and that it should be +forced into the Missouri Territory as a matter of political necessity; +because the extension of slave area had by this time become absolutely +necessary for the interests of the South. + +It was a plain proposition that if the South lost control of the +legislative reins at Washington, slavery would eventually be doomed by +adverse legislation and by the admission of free States. At the time the +Missouri question came up, the North, by reason of her larger +population, controlled the House, but the Senate was controlled by the +South. The censuses taken in 1800 and 1810 had shown that the North was +increasing two to one in population over the South, and the coming +census, it was feared, would show a much larger increase in favor of the +North; in fact, when the census for 1820 was published the division of +the population was as follows: + + Free + White. Negroes. Slaves. + North .......... 5,030,371 99,281 19,108 + South .......... 2,831,560 134,223 1,519,017 + +With a great moral weakness to justify, the South now knew herself to be +growing physically weaker, and her skillful leaders, always alert on +every phase of slavery, saw quickly that the South must insist upon more +slave territory, not only to maintain the equilibrium in the Senate, but +to counteract the growing population in the North. Therefore the +Missouri question was pressed with violence, threat and strategy. The +South was determined that Missouri should come in as a slave State or +the South would secede from the Union; the North not only argued that +slavery was a great wrong, not to be encouraged by its extension, but +was equally determined that the South should have no more political +advantage because of her slaves. "This momentous question," wrote +Jefferson, "like a fire-bell in the night, awakened and filled me with +terror." + +With the two Sections dead-locked, nothing could take place but the most +acrimonious debates, accompanied by threats and defiances. The House +adopted the Tallmadge Amendment, but it was rejected by the Senate. +Neither branch would recede from its position, and amid scenes of the +greatest excitement in Washington and throughout the country, the +Fifteenth Congress adjourned. + +The Sixteenth Congress met on December 6, 1819, and the Missouri +question came up immediately. A compromise that the territory west of +the Mississippi should be divided in the same manner as that east of the +river was rejected by the North. Fortunately or unfortunately, there is +some difficulty in deciding which, Maine applied at this time for +admission, and the South in the Senate refused to admit Maine unless the +North would admit Missouri, and out of the situation rose the Missouri +Compromise. By a close majority the Senate joined Maine and Missouri in +the same Bill, and then Senator Jesse B. Thomas, of Illinois, moved +that, excepting Missouri, slavery should forever be prohibited in all +the Louisiana Territory north of 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, +this being the southern boundary of Missouri. The Bill was taken to the +House toward the end of January, 1820, but it refused to concur. The +Senate stood fast, and after some further angry debate the House yielded +early in March, 1820; Maine came into the Union, and Missouri was +permitted to draft a Constitution, which, if acceptable, would admit her +to statehood. + +But the difficulty was not over, for when Missouri presented her +Constitution it was found to contain a provision that the Legislature +should pass a law preventing free negroes from settling in the State. +The North violently opposed this provision and refused to admit +Missouri, and the situation was even more serious than when the original +subject was considered. The intense excitement spread from Washington +throughout the country, and many felt that the Union would be dissolved. +The debate continued until the middle of February, 1821, without +solution, and Congress was to adjourn early in March. Maine had already +been admitted, and her representatives were in Congress. The South felt +that she had been betrayed. Finally a second compromise on the Missouri +question was reached, through the efforts of Henry Clay, and Missouri +was admitted upon condition that no law should ever be passed by her to +enforce the objectionable provision in her Constitution. + +While it was true that the North received in area decidedly the best of +the bargain, the Missouri Compromise was a distinct victory and gain for +the South, because she obtained a present, tangible and important +advantage in the admission of a slave State and the establishment of +slavery in the heart of the Louisiana Territory. The North obtained +nothing but a hazy, speculative advantage, and as the subsequent history +of this Compromise proved, the South intended to keep it only as long as +it served her interests. + +On the subject of the sacredness of the various Compromises on slavery, +it is interesting to note that a strong attempt was made to set aside +the Ordinance of 1787. After Ohio had been admitted the rest of the +Northwest Territory was organized under the name of the Indiana +Territory, and as many of the settlers were slavery sympathizers, they +very early (1802), under the lead of William Henry Harrison, asked +Congress to at least temporarily suspend the operation of the Ordinance +of 1787. This was refused, but Governor Harrison and a large number of +the settlers persisted until 1807 in their efforts; fortunately Congress +took no action, and in 1816 Indiana came in as a free State. There was a +struggle to make Illinois a slave State, by amending her Constitution, +which continued until 1824. + +The Compromise of 1820 practically settled the slavery question for +twenty-five years, for the question only came up in a serious form when +new territory was acquired and the manner of its division arose. No more +States were admitted until 1836, when Arkansas became a State, to be +balanced by the admission of Michigan in 1837. From 1820 to 1845 the +main issues before the people were those relating to the Tariff, +Re-chartering the Bank of the United States, and Internal improvements. + +The greatest political excitement, having an important bearing upon the +feeling between the North and South, was the opposition of the South to +the protective Tariffs of 1824 and 1828, and to the question of Internal +improvements. As a culmination of her opposition, South Carolina passed +a Nullification Ordinance in 1832, based upon the doctrine of State +rights as advocated by John C. Calhoun, but the difficulty was settled +by Clay's Compromise Tariff Bill of 1833. The opprobrium of +nullification and secession, however, does not rest entirely with the +South; the Federal Press of New England and many Federal leaders in +Congress deliberately discussed and planned a Secession Movement in +1803-4 because they thought that the purchase of the Louisiana Territory +was unconstitutional and that it would give the South an advantage which +the North would never overcome. This movement, however, never gained +strength enough to be serious. + +One result of the Missouri Compromise, most important in its political +effect, was that it created a solid South, and divided the North into +various opinions as to what should exactly be done to meet the evil. It +was this uncertainty on the part of the North and the lack of +organization on the direct subject of slavery opposition that permitted +the South to hold out so long after she had been greatly outnumbered in +population and left far behind in material progress. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE ABOLITIONISTS. + + + "If we have whispered Truth, + Whisper no longer; + Speak as the tempest does, + Sterner and stronger." + + "Song of the Free," _Whittier_, 1836. + + +Great changes in the political and economical life of a nation seldom +take place abruptly. The forces responsible for a change or modification +of conditions are generally at work long before the final result. +Nations, like individuals, grope for the truth, forming different +opinions, trying different plans--now radical, now conservative--often +failing to see and grasp the solution when it is at hand, but all the +while bringing about conditions which, when the crisis comes, form a +solid and decisive basis for action. Such is the history of this country +with reference to slavery for the three decades prior to the Civil War. +From 1833 to the organization of the Republican Party, and after that +event to the promulgation of the Emancipation Proclamation, public +opinion was incessantly agitated by the organized efforts of the +Abolitionists, although they differed among themselves and divided as to +the best plan under which to act. + +While the Northerners grouped into the Whig and Democratic Parties, and +condemned the constant agitation of the slavery question as disturbing +the public peace and jeopardizing party success, still they could not +help recognizing the cogency of the abolition argument; and as year +after year went by, and the aggressions of the slave power continued, a +steady change went on in the North and the anti-slavery sentiment became +more and more pronounced. When active political opposition to slavery +finally began it found the North not exactly unanimous as to what should +be done, but with her mind almost made up on one point, that slavery +should at least be restricted to the territory it then occupied; it +required a great political shock, such as came in 1854, to amalgamate +this sentiment. From this standpoint the opinions in the North reached +out to the extreme views of Garrison and his followers, that slavery +should be stamped out regardless of all consequences. + +The Quakers, who, from the early colonial days, had been strongest in +their expressions against slavery, formed the first Anti-Slavery Society +in the United States at Philadelphia in 1775. The Revolution interrupted +their work, but at its conclusion they resumed their efforts patiently +and incessantly, year after year, in their attempts to arouse the public +mind to the enormity and dangerousness of the slave evil. Although other +States organized anti-slavery societies immediately after the +Revolution, the Pennsylvania Society took the leading part, and was +comparatively alone for many years in the work. In the First Congress +this Society presented a Memorial, asking Congress to exercise its +utmost powers for the abolition of slavery. The subject was the occasion +of a heated debate, and Congress decided that under the Constitution it +could not, prior to 1808, abolish the slave trade; but that it had +authority to prevent citizens of the United States from carrying on the +African slave trade with other nations (a law to this effect was +subsequently passed); and that it had no authority to interfere with the +emancipation of slaves or their treatment in any of the States. The +Pennsylvania Society watched Congress closely and worked along patiently +year after year, meeting with failure after failure. This early +Abolition movement had among its supporters the foremost men of the day +--Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Jay and Henry are some of +the illustrious names connected with the movement, just as in England +the names of Burke, Fox and Pitt are recorded against the iniquity. When +the purchase of the Louisiana Territory came before Congress, the +Pennsylvania Society petitioned that measures should be taken to prevent +slavery in the new territory, but the Federalists were more engrossed +with a discussion of Constitutional questions, and the opportune moment +went by without any action on the matter. + +The agitation connected with the Missouri question brought about the +formation of a stronger anti-slavery sentiment in the North, and a group +of fearless men sprang up to devote their lives and energies to an +Abolition movement. They were radical in their views, progressive in +their methods and absolutely fearless in their denunciations. Benjamin +Lundy, a Quaker, may be said to be the father of the Abolition movement. +In 1821 he began the publication of _The Genius of Universal +Emancipation_, the first Abolition paper; he was joined at Baltimore in +1829 by William Lloyd Garrison, henceforth to be the most zealous, +unceasing and uncompromising of all the Abolitionists. Garrison, extreme +in his views, left Lundy, and in January, 1831, at Boston, without +capital and with little help, started _The Liberator_, and placed at its +head, "The Constitution of the United States is a covenant with death +and an agreement with Hell," which declaration was printed in every +edition of the paper until President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation +went into effect, when it was changed to "Proclaim liberty throughout +the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." + +As a result of Mr. Garrison's activity many new abolition societies were +formed, and on December 4, 1833, a National Convention of them was held +at Philadelphia, and the American Anti-Slavery Society was organized, +with Beriah Green as President and Lewis Tappan and John G. Whittier as +Secretaries. This Convention decided to petition Congress to suppress +the domestic slave trade between the States, and to abolish slavery in +the District of Columbia and in every place over which Congress had +exclusive jurisdiction. It admitted that Congress had no right to +interfere with slavery in any State, but its plan was to circulate +extensively anti-slavery tracts and periodicals, not only in the North +but throughout all of the slave-holding States, and to organize +anti-slavery societies in every city and village where possible, and to +send forth its agents to lift their voices against slavery. It frowned +on the work of the American Colonization Society, which had been +organized in 1816, for the purpose of colonizing parts of Africa with +American negroes, as tending to deaden the public conscience on the +question. + +With this energetic organization the anti-slavery movement now gained +rapidly in strength, but its political work for many years was confined +to a fruitless interrogation of candidates and to sending hundreds of +petitions and memorials to Congress. Anti-slavery pamphlets and papers +were also sent broadcast North and South. On seeing _The Liberator_, +with its extreme views, and on reading the anti-slavery pamphlets, the +South was enraged beyond all bounds. A North Carolina Grand Jury +indicted Garrison, and Georgia offered a large reward for his arrest and +conviction. On July 29, 1835, all anti-slavery papers were taken from +the postoffice at Charleston, S. C., by a mob and destroyed. The +following year Mr. Calhoun, in the Senate, demanded the suppression of +the right of petition on any matter connected with slavery, and in 1838 +the House adopted the infamous Atherton Gag-Rule, "Every Petition, +Memorial, Resolution, Proposition or Paper touching or relating in any +way or to any extent whatever to slavery or the abolition thereof, +shall, on presentation and without further action thereon, be laid upon +the table without being debated, printed or referred." This remarkable +rule was adopted year after year in the House until 1844, when it was +repealed through the efforts of John Quincy Adams, who for ten years +fought nobly for the Right of Petition, although he was not entirely in +sympathy with the Abolitionists. + +During this period the sentiment against the Abolitionists was very +strong in the North. In many places mobs seized upon and destroyed their +papers and printing presses, and broke up their meetings and mobbed the +speakers. James G. Birney's paper, _The Philanthropist_, was twice +mobbed in Cincinnati. On November 7, 1837, the Abolition cause was +baptized in blood by the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy, who was shot while +defending his paper and press from the attack of a pro-slavery mob at +Alton, Illinois. The following month Wendell Phillips delivered his +first abolition speech against the aggressions of the Slave Power and +the murder of Lovejoy. The continued despotism of the Slave Power, its +attempts to muzzle the freedom of speech and press, to deny the Right of +Petition, to obstruct the mails, and to obtain an Extradition Law for +the trial of citizens in slave States on charges of circulating +anti-slavery documents, and the use of violence against all who dared +raise their voices against the slavery dogmas, aroused the abolition +societies to more radical action, and a group of Abolitionists now +formed, determined on political action. This was one of the causes of +the disruption of the American Anti-Slavery Society and the withdrawal +of Garrison and his followers, who refused to take part in any election +held under the pro-slavery Constitution. + +The great leaders of the Whigs and Democrats in the North, who were +aspirants to the presidency, dared not take any active stand against the +growing demands of the Slave Power, and both parties bowed abjectly to +the monster and passed in silence these gross violations of +constitutional rights. Both parties deprecated the slavery agitation, +especially the Whigs, who were highly incensed because it jeopardized +their candidates more than it did those of the Democrats. The failure of +the two great political parties to act led to the first political +organization of the anti-slavery sentiment. At Warsaw, New York, on +November 13, 1839, the Abolitionists held a convention and nominated +James G. Birney, of New York, for President, and Thomas Earl, of +Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. This was subsequently called the +"Liberty Party," and was the first of the three anti-slavery parties to +appear in national politics. Its platform demanded the abolition of +slavery in the District of Columbia and in the territories; stoppage of +the interstate slave trade, and opposition to slavery to the fullest +extent of Constitutional powers. Mr. Birney did not desire the +nomination, and in the election of 1840, that resulted in the defeat of +Van Buren by Harrison, the Abolitionists received only 7069 votes out of +a total of two and one-half millions. The membership of the abolition +societies at this time was about 200,000; the failure to show strength +at the polls may be accounted for by reason of the refusal of many to +vote at any election held under the Constitution, and also that many +feared the dissolution of the Union, and preferred, if they voted at +all, to remain with the Democratic or Whig Parties in the hope that +their party would take some decisive action on the question. + +While the Slave Power in the United States was making violent efforts to +perpetuate itself and stifle all opposition, all the other civilized +countries of the world were abolishing slavery. Great Britain abolished +it in all her colonies in the year 1833 at a cost of one hundred +millions of dollars; but the United States, already showing itself to be +the most progressive nation in the world, could not throw off the evil, +and it remained a cause of bitter distraction until overthrown +politically by the success of the Republican Party and removed by +Secession, War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the amendments to the +Constitution. + +Although the Abolition cause seemed hopeless after the election of 1840, +they persisted in their work, and soon a series of events happened-- +Texas Annexation, the Mexican War, and the Wilmot Proviso, which, +independent of their efforts, brought about a direct issue between the +North and South on the great question--an issue to be finally decided +only by the Civil War. The work of the early Abolitionists, however, had +an influence of inestimable value and weight on the immediate success of +the Republican Party when it was organized. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +COMPROMISE OF 1850. + + +"That, as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any +territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, neither +slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said +territory." + +_Wilmot Proviso_, _August_ 8, 1846. + + +From the campaign of 1844 to the Civil War the slavery question +dominated all others in politics, North and South. During this period +almost every legislative question was decided with reference to its +effect on slavery. Press, Pulpit and Platform felt the baleful influence +of its presence, and aspirants to the presidency and to lesser political +honors sacrificed principle, conscience, and the support of their +friends to obtain the favor of the aggressive and dominating Slave +Power. The Democratic Party during this entire period took a bold stand +on the question; an anti-slavery wing of the party appeared in the +North, but at no time was it successful in changing the party platforms. +The Whig Party, with its strong pro-slavery wing in the South, and with +its northern members desirous of party success, omitted entirely any +mention of slavery in its platforms, and although the anti-slavery +members of the party were outspoken in their private views of slavery, +they attended the party conventions and acquiesced in the platforms +until 1852, when there was a general desertion of the Whig platform and +candidate. The refusal of the Whig Party to make a direct issue of the +slavery question doomed it, sooner or later, to dissolution; and +although the party was successful in 1840 and in 1848, its +disintegration really began after the election of 1840. + +To say that the result of the "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign was a +bitter disappointment to both Democrats and Whigs is putting it mildly. +The Democrats were deeply chagrined at the defeat of their candidate by +a "clap-trap" campaign, and the disappointment of the Whigs came with +the death of President Harrison and the succession of Tyler, who played +directly into the hands of the Democrats and the Slave Power, bitterly +antagonizing the party that elected him. + +The Texas question now came up to disturb politics and again bring +slavery directly before the people. Texas had gained her independence +from Mexico, and had applied, in 1837, to be received into the Union, +but the offer was declined by President Van Buren. The tragic death of +Mr. Upshur, Secretary of State, on February 28, 1844, and the +appointment of Mr. Calhoun to that office, made possible the completion +of a long conspiracy to admit Texas, and to further extend the slave +area by a war with Mexico. A Treaty of Annexation was immediately +prepared (April 12, 1844) and presented to the Senate, but was +subsequently rejected. It then became apparent that the South intended +to make a political issue of the Texas question, and there was great +alarm in the North, for the admission of Texas meant a slave area +capable of being divided into five or six slave States. In addition, it +meant war with Mexico over disputed boundaries, and the fact that Mexico +had not fully recognized the independence of Texas, and the result of +that war would unquestionably be the acquisition of more area contiguous +to the South. + +Mr. Clay and Mr. Van Buren at this time were the only ones prominently +mentioned as possibilities for the Whig and Democratic nominations for +the presidency; both published letters in which they opposed the +annexation of Texas. Mr. Van Buren's letter cost him the Democratic +nomination, for when the Convention met at Baltimore on May 27, 1844, he +was unable to obtain a sufficient vote under the two-thirds rule, and +the South forced the nomination of James K. Polk of Tennessee. This +division on the slavery question in a Democratic Convention is of great +historical importance as a link in the chain of events which led to the +final great political division between the North and South. The +Democratic Platform was emphatic in its support of slavery and the +condemnation of the Abolitionists; it advocated the annexation of Texas +and the occupation of Oregon, and the Democrats went into the campaign +with the rallying cry of "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight," in the North--a +promise of more free soil--and in the South the "Annexation of Texas." + +Mr. Clay's letter had made him stronger than ever with his party and he +was nominated unanimously. The Whig Platform, however, was absolutely +silent about the Texas question, and there was absolutely no mention of +any opposition to slavery; the whole question was totally ignored. Mr. +Clay would have defeated Polk had he not been led into the blunder of +writing another letter on the Texas question, in which he largely +withdrew from his earlier position; this alienated great numbers of the +Northern Whigs and threw thousands of votes to the candidate of the +Liberty Party. This party, in a convention at Buffalo the preceding +year, had again nominated James G. Birney for President. Its platform +was long and elaborate, and contained strong denunciations of slavery +and pledged the party to work for its abolition. The Liberty Party +polled a total of 62,300 votes, defeating Clay, who lost New York, the +pivotal State, with its thirty-six electoral votes, by 5,106, the +Liberty Party casting 15,812 votes in that State. Texas annexation +followed the election, but the pledge in regard to Oregon was cast +aside. "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" was nothing more than a campaign cry, +never intended to be followed up, and, in truth, could not have been +without a war with England. + +With the great Texas victory achieved, the South now turned herself to +the acquisition of more territory, and war with Mexico was declared May +11, 1846. The Whig Party in the North was strongly against the Mexican +War, and a strong element also expressed itself in the northern +Democratic ranks as against it; the opposition became so threatening +that, as a new House was to be elected in the Fall of 1846, the +Administration decided to end the War, if possible, and Congress was +asked to give $2,000,000 to be used in negotiating a Treaty with Mexico, +fixing the disputed boundaries. Immediately David Wilmot, of +Pennsylvania, introduced a Proviso, which had been prepared by Jacob +Brinkerhoff, of Ohio (both Democrats, and both afterwards members of the +Republican Party), to the effect that slavery should be prohibited in +any territory acquired from Mexico. This Proviso carried in the House, +but the Senate adjourned its session without coming to a vote on it. The +Proviso appeared again often in Congress, but was never adopted; it +caused more excited debate between the North and South than anything +that had ever been introduced by the anti-slavery element in Congress. +Although defeated, it served to amalgamate the anti-slavery forces, and +from that day they rallied around it as representing the fixed and +unalterable sentiment of the North; on it the Free-Soil Party entered +the Campaign of 1848 and it was the underlying principle in the +organization of the Republican Party in 1854. As a counter-balancing +action to the Wilmot Proviso, Mr. Calhoun, in February, 1847, introduced +in the Senate a long resolution to the effect that Congress had no power +to prohibit slavery in any territory, and that any attempt to do so +would be a violation of constitutional rights and lead to a dissolution +of the Union. No vote was ever taken on this resolution, and it was +nothing more than a deliberate attempt to force the issue with the +North. + +The Thirtieth Congress met December 6, 1847, and had among its members +Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, and Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, the +former elected as a Whig and the latter as a Democrat; in the Senate +Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, took his seat for the first time in +that body. Opposition to the war was strong, and it was finally closed +by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed February 2, 1848; by its +terms vast stretches of new territory were acquired by the United +States. This land had been free soil by the Laws of Mexico since 1827, +but the South, as a matter of course, expected, and had planned, to make +it slave soil, and she was determined to oppose to the utmost any +attempt to keep slavery out of this new territory; the North was equally +determined that it should remain free. The campaign of 1848 came on with +the question undecided. The Democratic Convention nominated Lewis Cass, +of Michigan, and adopted a platform similar to those of 1840 and 1844, +but nothing was said about slavery in the new territory. The Whigs +nominated Major-General Zachary Taylor, of Louisiana, for President, and +Millard Fillmore, of New York, for Vice-President, and their Convention +adjourned without adopting any platform at all. + +The failure of the two great parties to take up the prohibition of +slavery in the new territory was regarded with great indignation by many +members of both parties in the North, especially so by the Whigs; in +addition, an element of political revenge crept into the situation to +help the anti-slavery sentiment. The defeat of Van Buren in the +Democratic Convention of '44, and the anti-slavery sentiment in the +Democratic Party, had divided it, in New York, into two factions known +as "Barnburners" and "Hunkers"; the former being those who were opposed +to the extension of the slave area, and were likened to the Dutchman who +burned his barn to rid it of rats; and the latter were "Administration +Democrats"--"Northern men with Southern principles," who "hankered" +after office. Samuel J. Tilden and Benjamin F. Butler were two of the +leading "Barnburner" leaders. When the Democratic National Convention +convened in 1848, both "Barnburners" and "Hunkers" applied for +admission; the Convention offered to permit the New York vote to be cast +between them. This was refused by the "Barnburners," and they withdrew +and held an enthusiastic meeting in New York, and soon became known as +"Free-Soil Democrats." A National Convention was called to meet at +Buffalo, August 9, 1848. The old Liberty Party had already held their +Convention in November, 1847, and had nominated John P. Hale, of New +Hampshire, for President, but Mr. Hale withdrew and the Liberty Party +joined in the new movement and attended the Free-Soil Convention. Mr. +Van Buren was nominated for President, and Charles Francis Adams, of +Massachusetts, for Vice-President. The Free-Soil Platform was, of +course, strongly antagonistic to the Slave Power, and concluded with the +stirring words, "We inscribe on our banner, 'Free Soil, Free Speech, +Free Labor and Free Men,' and under it will fight on and fight ever, +until a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions." + +The Free-Soil Party was the second predecessor of the Republican Party, +and it was a curious circumstance that in this campaign it was to have +at its head a man who had been a Democratic President. The Free-Soilers +of New York later nominated Senator John A. Dix for Governor, and the +split in the Democratic Party in that State was complete, and lost the +election for the National ticket. Many Whigs hesitated between Taylor +and Van Buren, but Horace Greeley, in the _New York Tribune_, advocated +the election of Taylor. The vote in New York, which was again the +pivotal State, was: Taylor, 218,603; Cass, 114,318; Van Buren, 120,510. +The total Free-Soil vote was 291,263. It was a strange and fateful +effect that made the Liberty Party in 1844 divide the Whigs and give the +victory to the Democrats; and in 1848 the Free-Soil Party, a successor +of the Liberty Party, divided the Democrats and gave the Whigs the +victory. + +The Campaign of '48 assumes another important aspect, in that Mr. +Lincoln took an active part in it; it fixed his ideas on slavery, and +impressed him with the utter hopelessness of reconciling the North and +South on this question. Mr. Lincoln had made his debut in the House in +December, 1847, with the famous "Spot Resolutions." In the Spring of '48 +he urged his Illinois friends to give up Clay and support Gen. Taylor. +He attended the Whig Convention at Philadelphia and was well satisfied +with the nominations and the prospects of victory. Late in July he made +a strong speech for Taylor on the floor of the House, attracting the +attention of the campaign managers to such an extent that he was sent to +New England where he delivered a number of speeches, pleading with the +New Englanders not to join the Free-Soil movement, but to vote with the +Whig Party. Here he saw the strength of the anti-slavery movement, and +what he heard made him think deeper on the great question of the hour. +After listening to one of Governor Seward's speeches at Boston, in +September, he said, "Governor Seward, I have been thinking about what +you said in your speech; I reckon you are right. We have got to deal +with this slavery question, and got to give more attention to it than we +have been doing." Later in the campaign Mr. Lincoln stumped Illinois for +Taylor. + +When the Thirty-first Congress convened for its first session, on +December 3, 1849, all was confusion and uncertainty in regard to the +situation. A great many felt that the crisis had been reached at last, +and that nothing but a civil war could result. The South feared that its +long cherished plan of more slave territory was to be frustrated, and +the anxiety in the North that the territory acquired from Mexico might +be made slave was equally great. An event now occurred that brought +matters directly to an acute crisis and necessitated a settlement or a +war. Gold had been discovered in California early in 1848, and instantly +there was a tremendous influx of population, with the result that late +in 1849 California was ready for admission into the Union, not as a +slave State, as the South fondly hoped, but as free soil. With the +convening of Congress came the President's message, and it was a severe +blow to the South, for it advocated the admission of California as a +free State. The South now indeed saw its plan rapidly weakening. Violent +opposition was at once made to the admission of California as disturbing +the equal balance between the two sections, and in addition the South +complained bitterly of the difficulty of capturing slaves who escaped +into the free States. She also complained of the constant agitation of +the slave question, and now demanded that the territories should be open +to slavery, and asserted that any attempt to enforce the Wilmot Proviso +or to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia would lead to an +immediate dissolution of the Union. + +Such was the acute situation in December, 1849, and the men, scenes and +debates which attended the solution of this grave crisis present a +remarkable and dramatic picture. All eyes now turned to Mr. Clay, the +great Compromisor, then in his seventy-third year. In January, 1850, he +began his efforts to bring about what proved to be the last compromise +between the North and the South. Four great speeches were delivered on +the resolutions introduced by him. Mr. Clay, so feeble that he had to be +assisted up the Capitol steps, spoke early in February. On March 4th Mr. +Calhoun, too weak to speak himself, had his speech, full of antagonism +and foreboding, read by a colleague. Three days after Calhoun's speech, +Webster delivered his famous "Seventh of March" speech, in which he +sacrificed the support of thousands of friends, and demoralized the +entire North by condemning the Abolitionists and advocating the passage +of the Compromise measures. On March 11th Mr. Seward delivered his +"Higher Law" speech, denouncing the Compromise. The great triumvirate, +Clay, Calhoun and Webster, appeared in this debate for the last time +before the American public. Calhoun died on the last day of March. Late +in '51 Clay resigned his seat in the Senate and died at Washington, June +29, 1852. Webster took the office of Secretary of State, received a few +votes in the Whig Convention and refused to support General Scott in the +election of 1852, and died broken-hearted October 24, 1852. + +The Compromise of 1850, as finally agreed on, provided that Utah and New +Mexico should be organized into territories without reference to +slavery; California to be admitted as a free State; $10,000,000.00 to be +paid Texas for her claim to New Mexico; a new Fugitive Slave Law; and +the slave trade to be abolished in the District of Columbia. The +compromise was viewed with great indignation by the North, and was in +many respects extremely unsatisfactory to the South, who was now certain +that her plan of extension of slave area was lost. The political leaders +of both parties now argued and pretended that the slavery question was +absolutely settled, inasmuch as there was no further territory to be +partitioned, and that Clay's Compromise had included all possible phases +of the subject. But it was apparent to those who looked beneath the +surface that the situation was not settled at all; nobody in the North, +however, looked for such a startling and rash course as was adopted by +the South in 1854, and which resulted, in that year, in the formation of +the Republican Party. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BIRTH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + + +"Resolved, That of all outrages hitherto perpetrated or attempted upon +the North and freedom by the slave leaders, and their natural allies, +not one compares in bold and impudent audacity, treachery and meanness +with this, the Nebraska Bill, as to the sum of all its villainies it +adds the repudiation of a solemn compact, held as sacred as the +Constitution itself for a period of thirty-four years." + +_Adopted at First Meeting, Ripon, Wis._, _February_ 28, 1854. + + +The new Fugitive Slave Law (passed as a part of the Compromise) was +unreasonable and extremely harsh in its terms, and did more than +anything else to continue the bitterness between the North and the +South. Opposition to it appeared in the North almost immediately after +its passage, and it was clear that, because of its terms, it would prove +to be more of a dead letter than the original law of 1793. The fact of +the matter was that the South forced its passage in the harshest terms +conceivable, with the sinister plan of compelling the North to violate +it so that bad faith could be charged; and the North did not hesitate to +violate a law so repugnant to constitutional and natural rights and +human sympathy. Personal Liberty Laws were passed in many Northern +States, practically nullifying the Act; and as a result of it, the +Underground Railroad, which had been organized about 1839 by the +Quakers, did its most effective work. This mysterious organization had a +chain of stations, leading from the slave across the free States into +Canada, to assist in the escape of fugitive slaves. Mrs. Stowe, moved by +the wrongs and sufferings of the fugitives, published "Uncle Tom's +Cabin" in the summer of 1852, and it had a telling effect in creating +and solidifying the anti-slavery sentiment in the North. + +The campaign of 1852 found the Democrats united; but the Whigs had no +promising candidate, and were sorely disorganized, with a stronger +anti-slavery element than ever before in its midst. The Democrats +nominated Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, for President, and their +platform contained the following emphatic promise: "The Democratic Party +will resist all attempts at renewing in Congress, or out of it, the +agitation of the slavery question in whatever shape or color the attempt +may be made." The Whig Party nominated General Winfield Scott, of +Virginia, for President, and their platform also contained a resolution +pledging the party to the Compromise Measures as a settlement in +principle and substance of the slavery question. The Free-Soil Party, +though it had received little support at the polls, still retained a +strong organization, and nominated John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, for +President, and George W. Julian, of Indiana, for Vice-President, and +denounced both the Whig and Democratic Parties as "hopelessly corrupt +and utterly unworthy of confidence." The electoral vote gave Pierce 254 +and Scott only 42, but the popular vote was much closer: Pierce, +1,601,474; Scott, 1,386,580; Hale, 156,667. + +President Pierce's first message went to Congress December 5, 1853, and +he congratulated the country on the settlement of the slavery question; +but in the following month, notwithstanding the express promises made in +both the party platforms of the preceding election, the event came that +stunned the North, and as the realization of its enormity grew, aroused +her to the wildest excitement and the most bitter denunciation, finally +resulting in direct and emphatic political action in the organization of +the Republican Party. + +On January 4, 1854, Senator Douglas introduced a Bill organizing the +Territory of Nebraska. Twelve days later Senator Dixon, of Kentucky, +gave notice that he would move an Amendment, repealing the Missouri +Compromise, thereby permitting slavery in the new Territory. Senator +Douglas then reported (January 23d) a new Bill, making two territories +out of the same territory of the first Bill, the southern part to be +called Kansas and the northern part to be called Nebraska, and the +Missouri Compromise, "being inconsistent with the principle of +non-intervention by Congress with slavery in the States and Territories, +as recognized by the legislation of 1850, commonly called Compromise +Measures, is hereby declared inoperative and void; it being the true +intent and meaning of the Act not to legislate slavery into any +Territory or State, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the people +thereof free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their +own way." The Bill passed the Senate March 3d, but the South was not +certain of its success in the House, and final action was postponed +until May 24th, and this iniquity became a law on May 30, 1854. While +setting forth the doctrine of non-intervention and popular sovereignty +the Bill was in effect the forcing of slavery into the Territories, and +that this was the plan became practically assured when it was discovered +that throughout the summer and fall of 1853 the people of western +Missouri had been deliberately planning to settle in the territory west +of them (now called Kansas) and to make it slave soil. The whole plot, +as revealed by the legislation to which Douglas gave his support, was to +force Kansas into the Union as a slave State, thereby counterbalancing +the admission of California, which had destroyed the equilibrium between +the two sections. + +A storm of indignation swept over the North in the opening months of +1854, gaining in intensity and fury as the baseness of the new scheme of +the Slave Power was fully realized. Thousands of letters poured in on +Congressmen protesting against the passage of the Act, and hundreds of +memorials and petitions were presented to the Senate and the House. The +newspapers all over the North, beginning late in January, contained +constant articles calling on the people to hold meetings and protest +against the Nebraska outrage, and hundreds of these meetings were held +in churches, schoolhouses and public halls, and the anti-Nebraska +sentiment dominated everything. Douglas received the brunt of all this +opprobrium, and was compared to Benedict Arnold. The foreign element was +the strongest in opposition to the Nebraska measure, and the German +newspapers and the Germans, North and South, were the most emphatic in +their denunciation, and the success which the new political party was to +have must be attributed largely to them. The Western States, Ohio, +Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, were the leaders in the +anti-Nebraska movement, and also in the organization of political +opposition. The election of 1852 had badly demoralized the Whig Party, +and now the Kansas-Nebraska measures swept it away almost entirely in +the Western States, but the Eastern States, while condemning the Douglas +Bill and adopting resolutions similar to the Republican platforms of the +West, were loath to give up their party organization, and the Whig Party +continued in several of them until after the election of 1856. During +the period between 1852 and 1854 it probably occurred to many in the +North, who watched and analyzed the popular sentiment and vote, that the +Whig Party would soon be swept away, and that the dissatisfied masses of +Abolitionists, Free-Soilers, Anti-Nebraska Whigs, Anti-Nebraska +Democrats and Know-Nothings must and would unite into a party under a +new name with a platform acceptable to the anti-slavery elements in +politics. The Douglas Bill demanded political action in the North, but +how was a new party to be formed? Who would lead it, and what would be +the success of the new movement? + +We come now to the organization and first meetings of the Republican +Party. Alvan E. Bovay was the founder of the Republican Party. Not only +were the name and early principles of the party clearly outlined and +decided on in his mind, and talked about by him long before any action +was taken by any other person, but he took the first practical steps +looking to the dissolution of existing parties, and with patience and +much difficult work brought about the first meeting and pointed out +clearly and unanswerably the course to be taken. + +[Illustration: Alvan E. Bovay, Founder of the Republican Party.] + +Mr. Bovay was born in July, 1818, at Adams, New York; graduated from +Norwich University, Vermont, and was Professor in several eastern +schools and colleges, and later was admitted to the New York bar. In +October, 1850, he went West with his family, and settled at Ripon, Fond +du Lac County, Wisconsin, and soon became the recognized leader of the +Whig Party. He studied the political situation carefully, and with his +liberal education and the principles of freedom taught by life in the +West, he imbibed a hatred for the institution of Slavery, and saw +clearly that, at least, its extension must be opposed to the utmost. He +remained with the Whig Party, "following its banners, fighting its +battles faithfully, at the same time praying for its death," as he +expressed it in later years. He was fortunate in numbering among his +close friends Horace Greeley, the editor of the _New York Tribune_, the +greatest exponent of the northern views of slavery. The _Tribune_ in +1854 had a circulation of about 150,000 per week, and therefore wielded +a vast influence on public sentiment in the North. In 1852, while the +Whig Convention was in session, Mr. Bovay dined with Mr. Greeley in New +York City, and the conversation turned to the prospects of General +Scott, the Whig nominee. Mr. Bovay predicted his overwhelming defeat, +and that the Whig Party would be utterly demoralized in the North, and +that it would become necessary to organize a new party out of the +debris. He there suggested to Greeley the name "Republican" for the new +party, but Greeley received the proposition with little enthusiasm +because he not only believed that Scott would be elected but that the +Whig Party should not be dissolved. Mr. Bovay says that he advocated the +name Republican because it expressed equality--representing the +principle of the good of all the people; that it would be attractive to +the strong foreign element in the country because of their familiarity +with the name in their native lands, and that in addition the name +possessed charm and magnetism. After the defeat of General Scott, Mr. +Bovay corresponded with Mr. Greeley often in regard to the political +situation. He was fully determined to do his utmost to organize a new +party and call it Republican, and he talked over the matter persistently +with all his neighbors in the little village of Ripon, and waited for +the time to act. That time came with the violent agitation caused by the +Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and Mr. Bovay achieved the result he had planned +so long. After talking over the matter with two friends, Jehdeiah Bowen, +a Free-Soil Democrat, and Amos Loper, a call was issued for a mass +meeting to be held in the Congregational church in Ripon, February 28, +1854, with the object of ascertaining the public sentiment. This little +frontier village had a small population, and the country around it was +sparsely settled, but so earnest was the political thought of the time +that the meeting was a great success, and the church was crowded with +men and women, and even some children, who were attracted by the +seriousness of their elders. Deacon William Dunham, of the church, acted +as Chairman of this meeting, and there was a full and free discussion of +the situation and the best action to be taken. Mr. Bovay pointed out +that the only hope of defeating the extension of slavery was to disband +the old parties and unite under a new name. Before the meeting had +progressed very far the sentiment was practically unanimous. Those who +hesitated were overcome by the enthusiasm and logical arguments of the +speakers. The name Republican was suggested at this meeting, but no +action was taken on it for the reason that this was looked upon as +merely a preliminary meeting to be followed by a later one. As the +Kansas-Nebraska Bill had not yet passed the Senate nothing further could +be done at this meeting, and after adopting the following well-worded +and prophetic resolutions, the meeting adjourned to await the action of +Congress: + +"WHEREAS, The Senate of the United States is entertaining, and from +present indications is likely to pass, Bills organizing governments for +the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, in which is embodied a clause +repealing the Missouri Compromise Act, and so admit into these +Territories the slave system with all its evils, and + +"WHEREAS, We deem that compact repealable as the Constitution itself; +therefore + +"_Resolved_, That of all outrages hitherto perpetrated or attempted upon +the North and freedom by the slave leaders and their natural allies, not +one compares in bold and impudent audacity, treachery and meanness with +this, the Nebraska Bill, as to the sum of all its other villainies it +adds the repudiation of a solemn compact, held as sacred as the +Constitution itself for a period of thirty-four years; + +"_Resolved_, That the northern man who can aid and abet in the +commission of so stupendous a crime is none too good to become an +accomplice in renewing the African slave trade, the services which, +doubtless, will next be required of him by his Southern masters, should +the Nebraska treason succeed; + +"_Resolved_, That the attempt to withdraw the Missouri Compromise, +whether successful or not, admonishes the North to adopt the maxim for +all time to come, 'No more Compromises with Slavery'; + +"_Resolved_, That the passage of this Bill, if pass it should, will be a +call to arms of a great Northern Party, such an one as the country has +not hitherto seen, composed of Whigs, Democrats and Free-Soilers, every +man with a heart in him united under the single banner cry of 'Repeal! +Repeal!' + +"_Resolved_, That the small but compact phalanx of true men who oppose +the mad scheme upon the broadest principle of humanity, as well as their +unflinching efforts to uphold the public faith, deserve not only our +applause but our profound esteem; + +"_Resolved_, That the heroic attitude of General Houston, amidst a host +of degenerate men in the United States Senate, is worthy of honor and +applause." + +The Senate, as we have already seen, passed the Kansas-Nebraska Bill on +March 3d. Mr. Bovay and his co-workers lost no time in signing and +publishing the following call for a second meeting: + +"A Bill expressly intended to extend and strengthen the institution of +Slavery has passed the Senate by a large majority, many Northern +Senators voting for it, and many more sitting in their seats and not +voting at all, and it is evidently destined to pass the House and become +a law unless its progress is arrested by a general uprising of the North +against it; + +"Therefore, we, the undersigned, believing the community to be nearly +unanimous in opposition to the nefarious scheme, would call a public +meeting of the citizens of all parties to be held in the schoolhouse at +Ripon, on Monday evening, March 20th, at 6:30 o'clock, to resolve, to +petition and to organize against it." + +Through the efforts of Mr. Bovay, the meeting on the night of March 20th +was largely attended, and the little schoolhouse on the prairie was +filled with men, all voters. "We went in," wrote Mr. Bovay, "Whigs, +Free-Soilers and Democrats; we came out Republicans, and we were the +first Republicans in the Union." It is true, however, that this meeting +did not formally adopt the name Republican, but it was discussed, as it +had been for months in the village, and was practically agreed upon, but +the meeting felt that it would be better not to use the name until a +more pretentious movement of a national character was made. The meeting +lasted well into the night, and the "cold March wind blew around the +little building and the tallow candles burned low" as these pioneers in +this frontier town made history. A motion was duly made and carried that +the Town Committees of Whigs, Free-Soilers and Democrats be dissolved +and a new Committee to represent the new party be appointed. The first +Republican Committee was composed of Alvan E. Bovay, Jehdeiah Bowen, +Amos A. Loper, Jacob Woodruff and Abraham Thomas, all courageous, +outspoken and fearless men of the West, whose very names seem towers of +strength, speaking the unalterable purpose of the new party. + +These preliminary meetings of the new party having been held and a plan +of action outlined, Mr. Bovay directed all his efforts toward having +some National recognition of the name of the party. Two days before the +first meeting at Ripon he wrote Mr. Greeley a strong letter, urging him +to publish an editorial and adopt the name. Mr. Greeley gave the matter +but little attention, and several months went by before he took any +notice of the suggestion, and then it was only taken up in a +half-hearted way, but what he said was enough to settle the matter. In +the _Tribune_ of June 24, 1854, appeared an article expressing +indifference as to what name should be chosen to represent the +Anti-Nebraska sentiment in the North, but the article concluded, "We +think some simple name like Republican would more fitly designate those +who have united to restore the Union to its true mission, the champion +and promulgator of liberty rather than the propagandist of slavery." + +Another event had occurred to strengthen the adoption of the name +Republican for the new party. On the morning after the final passage of +the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, a meeting of the Anti-Nebraska members of +Congress was held in Washington, and the general political situation and +its hopelessness was fully discussed. At this meeting the feasibility of +the new party was talked over, and the members present decided to lend +their aid to such a movement, and the name Republican was discussed and +adopted. + +In point of time, Michigan has the honor of being the first State to +hold a Convention and formally adopt a platform containing the +principles of the new party and using the name Republican. Late in May, +and throughout June, 1854, a call was published and copies circulated +for signing among the voters of Michigan, in which all citizens, +"without reference to former political association," were called to +assemble in Mass Convention on Thursday, July 6th, at 1 p. m., at +Jackson, Michigan, "there to take such measures as shall be thought best +to concentrate the popular sentiment in this State against the +aggressions of the Slave Power." The meeting was overflowing in numbers +and most enthusiastic and earnest in sentiment. A long and outspoken +platform was unanimously adopted, setting forth something of the history +of slavery, and denouncing it as a great moral, social and political +wrong. The platform condemned the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; +pledged the party to opposition to slavery extension; demanded the +repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, and demanded an Act to abolish slavery +in the District of Columbia; spoke words of cheer to those who might +settle in Kansas, and concluded: + +"_Resolved_, That, in view of the necessity of battling for the first +principles of Republican Government and against the schemes of +aristocracy, the most revolting and oppressive with which the earth was +ever cursed or man debased, we will co-operate and be known as +Republicans until the contest be terminated." + +The State Central Committee was chosen and the first Republican State +Ticket in the United States was nominated, headed by Kinsley S. Bingham +for Governor. One week later, on July 13th, chosen as the anniversary of +the day on which the Ordinance of 1787 was adopted, State Conventions of +the Anti-Nebraska members of all parties were held in Ohio, Wisconsin, +Indiana and Vermont. In Wisconsin and Vermont the name Republican was +distinctly adopted, and in these two States, as well as in the others +mentioned, platforms similar in sentiment to that of Michigan were +agreed on. In Massachusetts the Convention met on July 20th and adopted +the name Republican and an Anti-Nebraska platform, and nominated Henry +Wilson for Governor, but the peculiar political situation in this State +led to the election of the Know-Nothing candidates, but as far as +opposition to slavery was concerned, the Know-Nothings in Massachusetts +were Republican in sentiment, for they selected Henry Wilson for United +States Senator. + +Ohio was the first State to suggest a State Convention of the +Anti-Nebraska sentiment; a preliminary meeting was held at Columbus +March 22d, and was attended by Whigs, Free-Soilers and Democrats. The +political situation was thoroughly discussed, and afterwards, as the +passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill became assured, a call was issued +for a State Convention to be held on July 13th. At this Convention the +name Republican was not formally adopted, but throughout the State in +the Congressional Districts that name was common. In New York the Whigs +refused to give up their party organization, but an Anti-Nebraska +platform was adopted and the Whig candidate was elected on it. New York +joined the Republican party in 1855, and Mr. Seward took his place as a +leader of the party in that State. Maine was engrossed with local +issues, and did not adopt the Republican organization in 1854, but +returned Anti-Nebraska Congressmen. Pennsylvania also held to her old +organizations, but returned Anti-Nebraska Congressmen, and the same +situation occurred in Illinois. In Iowa the situation was peculiar, but +nevertheless emphatic for the new organization. The Whigs held their +Convention in that State on February 22d, before the Nebraska Bill had +passed the Senate, and before the sentiment in the North had reached an +acute stage. But before the election in August the Whig candidate, John +W. Grimes, declared himself in favor of the Republican platform and +name, and he was practically elected as a Republican Governor, the first +in the United States. The South, of course, was solid for the Democratic +Party, and no attempt at a Republican organization was made in the +Southern States. In the other Northern States not already mentioned the +sentiment gradually, but with some slowness, solidified in favor of the +new party. + +The presence of the American, or Know-Nothing Party, which had come into +politics in 1852 as a secret organization, with the prevailing principle +of "America for Americans," and which obtained its popular name of +"Know-Nothing" because of the invariable answer of its members that they +"knew nothing" of the organization, confused the political situation in +1854 and 1855, and makes it difficult to correctly analyze and state the +political situation. + +It is seen that the Republican Party was strong in the States which had +been organized out of the Northwest Territory, but that the East and New +England, while fully endorsing the platforms of the new party, entered +reluctantly into the movement to adopt its name and organization. In the +East there were four distinct parties, the Whigs, Democrats, +Know-Nothings and Republicans, but in the West there were but two, the +Democratic and Republican. There can be no question, however, that the +sentiment of the Know-Nothing Party, which controlled many of the +elections in the East during 1854 and 1855, was strongly Anti-Nebraska, +and the success of that party in the North may safely be counted as +expressing the sentiment of the new party. + +The close of 1855 found the Republican Party well organized in Michigan, +Ohio, Wisconsin, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Iowa, Maine, +Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and Indiana. In the several other +States not mentioned it was rapidly gaining strength, and the prospects +for the presidential campaign of 1856 looked fairly bright, and if the +remnants of the Whig Party would retire from the field, and if the +Anti-Nebraska Know-Nothings would vote with the new party, the chances +for victory were exceedingly good. The struggle in Kansas between the +free settlers from the North and the pro-slavery citizens from Missouri +was now growing in bitterness, and reports of violence and blood-shed, +which came from the scene of the conflict, set the North on fire with +indignation and tended materially to solidify sentiment in favor of the +Republican Party. + +[Illustration: Schoolhouse at Ripon, Wisconsin, where the Republican Party +was born.] + +The Thirty-fourth Congress, which had been elected the preceding year, +convened December 3, 1855, and the extent of the great political +revolution which had taken place in the North was seen more clearly. The +proud Democratic majority of 89 in the preceding House had been swept +away, and the Thirty-fourth Congress, as near as it could be classified, +which was indeed difficult, was made up of one hundred and seventeen +Anti-Nebraska members, seventy-nine Democrats, and thirty-seven +Pro-Slavery Whigs and Know-Nothings. After a contest of nine weeks, +Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts, was chosen Speaker over the +Southern candidate, and although during this first session of the +Thirty-fourth Congress the opponents of slavery were without a party +name or organization, the election of Banks was clearly a victory for +the young party. Altogether the progress of the party in a period of +less than two years had been most satisfactory, and if a strong +presidential candidate could be obtained, and if great party leaders +would appear, it was evident that the new party would stand an even +chance of succeeding in the presidential election of 1856, and early +preparations were made for the first great national political contest +over the slavery question; a contest certain to be exciting and bitter +in its events and portentous in results. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FIRST REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. + + +"Free Soil, Free Men, Free Speech, Fremont." + +_Republican Rallying Cry_, 1856. + + +The opening of 1856 found the country in a turmoil of political +excitement and anxiety. Late in January, President Pierce, in a special +message, recognized the pro-slavery Legislature of Kansas, and called +the attempt to establish a Free-state Government in that Territory an +act of rebellion. This continued subserviency of the Administration to +the Slave Power so aroused the North that two days later the +Anti-Nebraska members in the House forced through a resolution by a vote +of one hundred and one to one hundred, declaring that the Missouri +Compromise ought to be restored, but nothing further could be done with +the resolution. The House at this time was dead-locked over the election +of a Speaker, which was not settled, as we have seen, until February 2d. +The situation in Kansas was daily growing more acute, and had the +natural effect of creating great bitterness both in the North and the +South, and this general unsettled and threatening state of affairs and +public opinion confronted the political parties on the eve of another +presidential campaign. + +The Republican State leaders had decided on an attempt at a National +Organization and Convention, and on January 17, 1856, the following call +was issued: + + "_To the Republicans of the United States:_ + + "In accordance with what appears to be a general desire of the + Republican party, and at the suggestion of a large portion of the + Republican Press, the undersigned, Chairmen of the State Republican + Committees of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, + Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin, hereby invite the Republicans of + the Union to meet in informal Convention at Pittsburg on the 22d of + February, 1856, for the purpose of perfecting the National Organization, + and providing for a National Delegate Convention of the Republican Party + at some subsequent day, to nominate candidates for the Presidency and + Vice-Presidency, to be supported at the election in November, 1856. + + "A. P. STONE, of Ohio, + "J. Z. GOODRICH, of Massachusetts, + "DAVID WILMOT, of Pennsylvania, + "LAWRENCE BRAINARD, of Vermont, + "WILLIAM A. WHITE, of Wisconsin." + +Because of lack of time the names of the other State Chairmen mentioned +in the body of the call were not obtained, but they all approved it by +letter. The Pittsburg Convention was to be merely preliminary to the +National Convention, but it developed unexpected enthusiasm, and it was +seen by the friends of freedom that at last a great National Party was +in the field, determined to oppose slavery to the utmost, and to remain +until the victory should be won. + +Twenty-four States, sixteen free and eight slave, sent their +representatives to the Pittsburg meeting. Lawrence Brainard, of Vermont, +called the Convention to order, and the delegates chose John A. King, of +New York, for temporary Chairman. After a prayer by Owen Lovejoy, +brother of the murdered Abolitionist, the Committee on Permanent +Organization reported the venerable Francis P. Blair, of Maryland, for +President of the Convention, who accepted the honor and read an +elaborate paper on the situation, which was listened to with marked +attention. The names of eighteen prominent Republicans were presented +for Vice-Presidents and five for Secretaries. A Committee was appointed +to draft an address to the people of the country. Earnest, hopeful and +enthusiastic speeches were made by Horace Greeley, Zachariah Chandler, +Preston King, David Wilmot, Joshua R. Giddings, George W. Julian, and +others, and a strong Freedom letter was read from Cassius M. Clay. The +Committee on Resolutions reported a lengthy address to the people of the +United States, setting forth the crimes and continued aggressions of the +Slave Power, and closing with three Resolutions, demanding the repeal, +and pledging the party to labor for the repeal, of all laws which +allowed the introduction of slavery into territory once consecrated to +freedom, and declared its purpose to resist by all constitutional means +the existence of slavery in any of the Territories of the United States; +pledging the Republicans to the support, by every lawful means, of the +brethren in Kansas, and to use every political power to obtain the +immediate admission of Kansas as a free State; and denounced the +National Administration and pledged the party to oppose and overthrow +it. A National Committee, headed by Edwin D. Morgan, of New York, was +then chosen and the preliminary Convention adjourned on February 23d to +await the call of the National Committee. + +From Washington, on March 29, 1856, the National Committee issued this +call for the First National Convention: + +"The people of the United States, without regard to past political +differences or divisions, who are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri +Compromise, to the policy of the present Administration, to the +extension of slavery into the Territories, in favor of the admission of +Kansas as a free State, and restoring the action of the Federal +Government to the principles of Washington and Jefferson, are invited by +the National Committee, appointed by the Pittsburg Convention on the 22d +of February, 1856, to send from each State three delegates from every +Congressional District, and six delegates at large, to meet at +Philadelphia on the 17th day of June next, for the purpose of +recommending candidates to be supported for the offices of President and +Vice-President of the United States." + +Pursuant to this call, the first Republican National Convention convened +at Philadelphia, in the Musical Fund Hall, on June 17, 1856, the +anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill, and was called to order by +Edwin D. Morgan, Chairman of the National Committee. Every Northern +State, and also Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia, and the +Territories of Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and the District of +Columbia, were represented by full delegations, and there were probably +between eight hundred and one thousand delegates in attendance. Robert +Emmet, of New York, formerly a Democrat, was made temporary chairman, +and accepted the honor in an eloquent and stirring speech. After prayer, +Committees on Credentials, Resolutions and Permanent Organization were +then appointed. The latter committee reported Henry S. Lane, of Indiana, +as President of the Convention, and the names of twenty-four +Vice-Presidents and a number of Secretaries. The first National Platform +of the Republican Party was then reported by David Wilmot and was +adopted with thunders of applause and amid scenes of the highest +enthusiasm. + +REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM, 1856. + +This convention of delegates, assembled in pursuance of a call addressed +to the people of the United States, without regard to past political +differences or divisions, who are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri +Compromise, to the policy of the present administration, to the +extension of slavery into free territory; in favor of admitting Kansas +as a free State, of restoring the action of the Federal government to +the principles of Washington and Jefferson; and who purpose to unite in +presenting candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President, +do resolve as follows: + +_Resolved_, That the maintenance or the principles promulgated in the +Declaration of Independence and embodied in the Federal Constitution is +essential to the preservation of our Republican institutions, and that +the Federal Constitution, the rights of the States, and the union of the +States, shall be preserved. + +_Resolved_, That, with our Republican fathers, we hold it to be a +self-evident truth, that all men are endowed with the unalienable rights +of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that the primary +object and ulterior designs of our federal government were to secure +these rights to all persons within its exclusive jurisdiction; that, as +our Republican fathers, when they had abolished slavery in all our +national territory, ordained that no person should be deprived of life, +liberty or property without due process of law, it becomes our duty to +maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to +violate it for the purpose of establishing slavery in any Territory of +the United States, by positive legislation prohibiting its extension +therein; that we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial +legislature, of any individual or association of individuals, to give +legal existence to slavery in any territory of the United States while +the present Constitution shall be maintained. + +_Resolved_, That the Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power +over the territories of the United States for their government, and that +in the exercise of this power it is both the right and the duty of +Congress to prohibit in the territories those twin relics of barbarism-- +polygamy and slavery. + +_Resolved_, That while the Constitution of the United States was +ordained and established by the people in order to form a more perfect +union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the +common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of +liberty, and contains ample provisions for the protection of life, +liberty and property of every citizen, the dearest Constitutional rights +of the people of Kansas have been fraudulently and violently taken from +them; their territory has been invaded by an armed force; spurious and +pretended legislative, judicial and executive officers have been set +over them, by whose usurped authority, sustained by the military power +of the government, tyrannical and unconstitutional laws have been +enacted and enforced; the right of the people to keep and bear arms has +been infringed; test oaths of an extraordinary and entangling nature +have been imposed as a condition of exercising the right of suffrage and +holding office; the right of an accused person to a speedy and public +trial by an impartial jury has been denied; the right of the people to +be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against +unreasonable searches and seizures, has been violated; they have been +deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law; the +freedom of speech and of the press has been abridged; the right to +choose their representatives has been made of no effect; murders, +robberies and arsons have been instigated and encouraged, and the +offenders have been allowed to go unpunished; that all these things have +been done with the knowledge, sanction and procurement of the present +administration; and that for this high crime against the Constitution, +the Union and humanity, we arraign the administration, the President, +his advisers, agents, supporters, apologists and accessories, either +before or after the fact, before the country and before the world; and +that it is our fixed purpose to bring the actual perpetrators of these +atrocious outrages and their accomplices to a sure and condign +punishment hereafter. + +_Resolved_, That Kansas should immediately be admitted as a State of the +Union, with her present free constitution, as at once the most effectual +way of securing to her citizens the enjoyment of the rights and +privileges to which they are entitled, and of ending the civil strife +now raging in her territory. + +_Resolved_, That the highwayman's plea that "Might makes right," +embodied in the Ostend circular, was in every respect unworthy of +American diplomacy, and would bring shame and dishonor upon any +government or people that gave it their sanction. + +_Resolved_, That a railroad to the Pacific Ocean, by the most central +and practicable route, is imperatively demanded by the interests of the +whole country, and that the Federal government ought to render immediate +and efficient aid in its construction; and, as an auxiliary thereto, to +the immediate construction of an emigrant route on the line of the +railroad. + +_Resolved_, That appropriations by Congress for the improvement of +rivers and harbors of a national character, required for the +accommodation and security of our existing commerce, are authorized by +the Constitution and justified by the obligation of government to +protect the lives and property of its citizens. + +_Resolved_, That we invite the affiliation and co-operation of freemen +of all parties, however differing from us in other respects, in support +of the principles herein declared, and believing that the spirit of our +institutions, as well as the Constitution of our country, guarantees +liberty of conscience and equality of rights among citizens, we oppose +all legislation impairing their security. + +The time now came to ballot for a candidate for President, but he had +been practically decided on some time before the Convention met. The +merits of four men had been thoroughly discussed in connection with this +honor--Salmon P. Chase and Judge John McLean of Ohio, William H. +Seward, of New York, and John C. Fremont of California. Senator Chase +had been too open in his opposition to slavery to be available, and his +name was withdrawn; Mr. Seward, influenced by Thurlow Weed, did not wish +the nomination, and this fact became known several months before the +Convention. McLean, of the United States Supreme Court, was strongly +favored by many, because it was felt that he alone of the candidates +mentioned could carry Pennsylvania, which had already been figured as +the pivotal State. The candidate deemed most available was John C. +Fremont, whose political experience had been brief, a term from +California in the United States Senate, and he would therefore arouse no +bitter personal antagonism by reason of his political record. He had +been a Democrat, but was in accord with the principles of the Republican +Party; in addition, he had a good record in the Army, and was widely +known for his explorations in the Rockies. His wife was the daughter of +Senator Thomas C. Benton, of Missouri, and altogether he was an +attractive and, it appeared at the time, a shrewdly selected candidate. + +[Illustration: John C. Fremont, First Republican Candidate for President.] + +There were no formal nominating speeches, but the names of all who had +been discussed as candidates had been mentioned in the many enthusiastic +speeches which were made during the Convention. An informal ballot gave +Fremont 359; McLean 190; Sumner 2; Seward 1. A formal ballot was then +immediately taken and Fremont received the entire vote of the Convention +except 37 for McLean, 1 for Seward, and the Virginia vote, which was not +cast because its delegation was not organized; the nomination was then +made unanimous. The next day an informal ballot was taken for +Vice-President. William L. Dayton, of New Jersey, received 253 votes; +Abraham Lincoln, 110; N. P. Banks, 46; David Wilmot, 43; Charles Sumner, +35, and some votes each for Henry Wilson, Jacob Collamer, Joshua R. +Giddings, Cassius M. Clay, Henry C. Carey, John A. King, Thomas Ford, +Whitefield S. Johnson, Aaron S. Pennington and Samuel C. Pomeroy. Mr. +Lincoln was not a candidate for the office, and was named without his +knowledge, and he was greatly surprised, several days later, when he +learned of it. When his name was put in nomination--the second +mentioned--inquiries as to who he was came from all parts of the hall. +Mr. Lincoln's speech before the Bloomington Convention, in Illinois, had +turned the eyes of the Republican Party in that State to him as its +leader, and the Illinois Delegation to the National Convention knew well +enough who he was, but his time had not yet come. Mr. Dayton received +the nomination for Vice-President on the formal ballot and it was made +unanimous. After appointing a committee, headed by Henry S. Lane, of +Indiana, to notify the candidates of their nominations, and listening to +a number of enthusiastic speeches, the Convention adjourned on June +19th. In one of the speeches reference was made to "Free Speech, Free +Press, Free Soil, Free Kansas," when one of the delegates interrupted, +"and Fremont"; the utterance and its amendment, with some abridgment, +became one of the rallying cries of the campaign. + +The selection of Mr. Fremont had also been influenced by the fact that +he was looked upon with favor by those delegates who withdrew from the +American or Know-Nothing Convention. The Know-Nothings had held their +Convention on February 22d, and had nominated Millard Fillmore for +President and A. J. Donelson for Vice-President. The delegates from New +England, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Iowa, being unable to secure +an Anti-Slavery Extension Plank in the Platform, seceded and soon +afterwards nominated Fremont for President, and William F. Johnston, of +Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. + +On September 17th the remnant of the Whig Party met at Philadelphia and +adopted the nominees of the American Party, Fillmore and Donelson. This +Convention and their votes in the ensuing election marked the last +appearance of the Whig Party in politics. + +The Democrats held their Convention in Cincinnati on June 3d, before the +Republican Convention was held, and nominated James Buchanan, of +Pennsylvania, for President, and John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for +Vice-President. President Pierce and Senator Douglas were both +candidates for the presidential nomination, but were withdrawn on the +fifteenth and sixteenth ballots because the South had already selected a +candidate. Mr. Buchanan had been absent as Minister to England during +the turmoil over the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. In addition, he +came from a Northern State, and was therefore doubly attractive as a +candidate; for the South, with its 112 electoral votes, needed 37 more +votes to elect their candidate, and Pennsylvania, with 27 votes, was +looked on as the pivotal State. + +The Democratic Platform, as usual, denounced the Abolitionists, and +repeated its hollow promise of 1852, that the party would resist all +attempts at renewing the agitation of the slavery question. It denounced +the Republican Party as "sectional, and subsisting exclusively on +slavery agitation," and it contained the following remarkable and +artfully worded plank: + +"_Resolved_, That we recognize the right of the people of all the +Territories, including Kansas and Nebraska, acting through the legally +and fairly expressed will of a majority of actual residents, and +whenever the number of their inhabitants justifies it, to form a +Constitution, with or without domestic slavery, and be admitted into the +Union upon terms of perfect equality with other States." +The ambiguous part of this plank was the insertion of the right of the +inhabitants to form a Constitution with or without domestic slavery. Mr. +Douglas and the other Democratic speakers argued in the North that this +meant that the people of the Territory had the right to decide for or +against slavery, but the South looked upon it as fully protecting +slavery in any Territory until a Constitution could be formed. In the +North and South the plank obtained votes for the party, but the votes +were cast in the respective sections on diametrically opposed grounds. + +The political situation in this campaign was somewhat complicated at +first by the presentation of so many candidates, for, in addition to the +candidates already named, the Abolitionists presented a ticket, as did +also a number of Americans, who seceded from the second convention of +that party, but the situation gradually resolved itself into a contest +between Buchanan, Fremont and Fillmore. No electoral tickets were +presented for Fremont in the slave States, and the fact that Fillmore +could not carry any of the free States weakened him in the South, and it +was seen that Buchanan would receive the solid electoral vote of the +South, and that the contest would therefore be between Buchanan and +Fremont for the Northern electoral votes. + +The struggle in Kansas was inseparably connected with the campaign of +1856. That struggle was virtually the opening of the Civil War, and +while the North and South fought out the issue with bullets in Kansas, +in the other States of the two sections the contest was no less bitter, +although the means were less destructive. Before either of the great +political conventions were held, Lawrence, Kansas, was captured and +sacked by the Pro-Slavery Party, and on the following day (May 22d) +Charles Sumner was struck down in the Senate by Preston S. Brooks, of +South Carolina, because of his speech, "The Crime against Kansas." These +events picture the feeling between the North and South which existed +during this campaign. The South had probably already felt that if they +went into the campaign solely on their cause they would be defeated, +hence the nomination of a Northern Democrat from a necessary State, and +the artful construction of their platform. The enthusiasm of the +Republicans was probably more for their cause than for the candidate. +The Democrats in the North evaded the issue of slavery as much as +possible, and denounced the candidacy of Fremont as sectional, and that +his success would mean the dissolution of the Union, a weighty argument +with thousands of voters, especially those who were attached to the +South by financial and commercial bonds. The speeches of the Southern +leaders and the press of the South abounded in threats of disunion in +the event of Fremont's election. The Republicans, unhampered by a +southern wing and advocating the restriction of a great moral wrong, +went into the campaign with the earnestness and enthusiasm of a +religious crusade. They carried on a clean campaign of education, and +tons of political literature were scattered broadcast over the country. + +The young men of the North were especially attracted to the Republican +Cause, and it was recognized that their vote would be a great aid; and +the influence of the women of the country was distinctly with the new +party. The clergy, the religious press and most of the eminent +professors and educated men of the North also lent their potent forces +to the new party. + +The issues presented in the campaign of 1856, like those of 1860, were +the most remarkable in our political history, and a canvass attended by +such circumstances and so portentous in results could not but be +exciting in the highest degree, and the bitterness of the situation grew +in intensity as the days of the fall elections approached. All eyes now +turned with anxiety on the few State elections which were to be held in +the North prior to the presidential election in November, because they +would unquestionably foreshadow the final result. Iowa came first, and, +in August, went Republican, and was joined in September by Maine and +Vermont, both overwhelmingly Republican. These successes were to the +highest gratification of the members of the new party, and now came the +final test, the October elections in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio. The +first of these States, with its twenty-seven electoral votes, was the +most important. Thousands of dollars were poured into the campaign funds +of the State by both sides, the Democratic Committee having the greater +amount to spend and having the better organization. Several hundred +speakers, representing both sides, traversed the State in all +directions. The Democrats used the disunion argument with great effect, +and added to it the campaign cry of "Buck, Breck and Free Kansas," and +on October 14th Pennsylvania went Democratic by a very narrow majority. +Ohio, as was expected, went Republican, but Indiana was lost, and the +result of the presidential issue was thus practically known before the +election, on November 4th. Fremont received the electoral votes of +Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, +New York, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin, one hundred and fourteen +in all. Buchanan received the vote of all the slave States and +Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois and California, a total of +one hundred and seventy-four votes; the eight votes of Maryland going to +Fillmore, the only State won by the Know-Nothings. The popular vote gave +Buchanan 1,838,169; Fremont 1,341,264; Fillmore 874,534. The popular +vote of South Carolina is not included, as the electors in that State +were chosen by her Legislature. + +When the first wave of bitter disappointment passed away, the +Republicans saw the enormous headway that had been made and they +immediately began to prepare for the national contest four years hence. +The Democrats had lost ten States which they carried in 1852, and their +electoral vote of 254 in 1852 had shrunken to 174. The South elected +Buchanan, and he became the tool of the Slave Power, and, as subsequent +events developed, it was fortunate that the Republicans were not +successful in the campaign. + +[Illustration: William H. Seward.] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES. + + +"Can the people of a United States territory in any lawful way, against +the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its +limits prior to the formation of a State Constitution?" + +_Lincoln to Douglas_, _Freeport Debate_, _August_ 27, 1858. + + +The Buchanan Administration began on March 4, 1857, and the Slave Power, +through the Democratic Party, found itself in complete and absolute +control of every branch of the Government, legislative, executive and +judicial. Two days after the inauguration came the famous Dred Scott +decision. The arguments in this case had been heard before the election, +but the court adjourned until after the election. The decision, +delivered by Chief Justice Taney, fixed the legal status of the negro in +the United States, and declared that he could not claim any of the +rights and privileges of a citizen, and "had no rights which the white +man was bound to respect, and that the negro might justly and lawfully +be reduced to slavery for his benefit." Then, traveling out of the +record, the Court declared that the Missouri Compromise was unauthorized +by the Constitution, and was null and void, and that Congress had no +right to keep slavery out of any Territory. It was apparent at once that +this decision completely nullified Douglas' doctrine of popular +sovereignty, and the South lost no time in abandoning that doctrine, and +declaring that she would insist as a Constitutional right that slaves +taken into any Territory must be protected like any other property. The +North was stunned for the moment by this sweeping decision; the South +was jubilant beyond all bounds, and instantly prepared to take advantage +of the new dogma to the utmost. While under this decision the Slave +Power seemed all triumphant, it was, in fact, to produce its +destruction, and slavery was to lose its power by the very thing which +seemed to strengthen it. The Dred Scott decision was bound to produce a +split in the Democratic Party and the moment that occurred the success +of the Republican Party was assured. The South spread thousands of +copies of the decision throughout the country, and when the North +recovered from the shock and saw what a revolution the decision would +cause in the Democratic Party, it joined in giving it the utmost +publicity. + +The attempt to force Kansas into the Union as a slave State under the +infamous Lecompton Constitution now began. In that Territory the +Free-State settlers had rapidly been gaining in strength, and the Slave +Power, in desperate straits, resorted to trickery. Several attempts of +the Free-State Legislature to meet were prevented by the Federal troops, +but finally, in 1857, the Free-State men voted at the regular election +and obtained control of the Territorial Legislature; but before they +could act, a pro-slavery Convention, previously chosen, concluded its +work at Lecompton and submitted the Lecompton Constitution to the +people, not permitting them, however, to vote for or against the +Constitution, but "For the Constitution with Slavery," or "For the +Constitution without Slavery." The Free-State men refused to vote at +this election, and the Lecompton Constitution was adopted, with Slavery. + +When Congress assembled, on December 7, 1859, President Buchanan, in his +message, approved the Lecompton Constitution, and recommended the +admission of Kansas under it. It had been rumored for some time that +Senator Douglas would oppose the Administration in its attempt to force +the Lecompton Constitution upon the people of Kansas, and this, indeed, +proved to be true, when, on December 9th, Douglas announced his +opposition to the action of the Administration as contrary to his +doctrine of popular sovereignty. It is unnecessary to go into the +motives that actuated Senator Douglas, but it may be stated that his +re-election to the Senate was to depend on the election in Illinois in +1858, and unless he did something to counteract the feeling against him +he was almost certain of defeat. The apostasy of Douglas was as a +thunderbolt to the South, but the North received it with great delight, +and in the early months of 1858 Douglas was easily the most popular man +in the North. The new Legislature in Kansas met in December and ordered +another election at which the people of the Territory could vote for or +against the Lecompton Constitution, and on January 9, 1858, that +Constitution was rejected by ten thousand majority. Notwithstanding this +emphatic condemnation by the people of the Territory, the Administration +persisted in its course to force Kansas in under the Lecompton +Constitution. The Senate was for the admission of Kansas, but the House +opposed it, and in a joint conference the infamous English Bill was +agreed on, in which the people of Kansas were offered a bribe in the +form of large land grants if they would accept the Lecompton +Constitution. This they subsequently refused to do by a large majority, +and Kansas remained a Territory until 1861. The Dred Scott decision and +the attempt to force in Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution helped +the Republican Party greatly, and its prospects were brighter in 1858 +than they had been in 1857, in which year there was a reaction from the +enthusiasm created by the presidential campaign of the preceding year. + +A legislature was to be chosen in Illinois in 1858 which would select +the successor to Senator Douglas. Douglas' action in opposing the +Administration had aroused public interest in him in the North, and many +of the Republican leaders desired that he should have no opposition in +Illinois, but the Republicans of that State were not of that opinion. +The Democratic Convention in Illinois met in April and endorsed Douglas; +the Republican Convention, on June 16th, resolved "That Abraham Lincoln +is the first and only choice of the Republicans of Illinois for the +United States Senate, as the successor of Stephen A. Douglas." In his +speech that evening to the Convention Mr. Lincoln made the remarkable +and daring statement, "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I +believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half +free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved; I do not expect the +house to fall; but I expect it will cease to be divided. It will become +all one thing or all the other." + +Senator Douglas reached Chicago on July 9th, and, amid the plaudits of +his friends, delivered an elaborate speech, which was listened to with +great interest by Mr. Lincoln, who was present; on the next evening Mr. +Lincoln answered in the presence of a large and enthusiastic audience. +Senator Douglas then spoke at Bloomington, and was answered by Mr. +Lincoln at Springfield, and the public interest that had been aroused, +not only in Illinois but throughout the country, caused the Republican +leaders to induce Mr. Lincoln to challenge Senator Douglas to a series +of debates on the great question of the hour. Privately Senator Douglas +was averse to meeting Mr. Lincoln in this manner, but publicly he +promptly accepted the challenge and named seven places in different +Congressional Districts in which neither had spoken, as the places where +the debates were to be held. These great debates began at Ottawa on +August 21, 1858, and were followed by meetings at Freeport, Jonesboro, +Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and concluded on October 15th at Alton, +the entire State having been traversed. + +As they read and pondered on the arguments of Mr. Lincoln, it gradually +dawned upon the people of the North that a great leader had been found, +for it was early seen and felt that Senator Douglas was not holding his +own. No greater or clearer exposition of the Northern views of slavery +and the questions connected with it had ever been pronounced than Mr. +Lincoln's, and the great contest in Illinois was watched with eagerness +and interest by the entire North, and Mr. Lincoln, from a comparatively +unknown State leader, became a great national character. + +At Freeport, Mr. Lincoln, contrary to the advice of all his friends, +asked the question which forced Douglas into a labored attempt to +reconcile his doctrine of popular sovereignty with the Dred Scott +decision. It was plain that the question, "Can the people of a United +States Territory in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizen of +the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the +formation of a State Constitution?" could not be answered without +antagonizing either the North or the South. There was absolutely no +middle ground on which Senator Douglas could stand for any length of +time. + +Mr. Lincoln was willing to lose the Senatorial contest if Douglas could +be defeated for the Presidency, and he gained his point, although his +friends did not immediately see the strength of it. Senator Douglas, in +an artful reply to this searching question, put forward his doctrine of +Popular Sovereignty by asserting that the people could, by "unfriendly +legislation," effectually prevent the introduction of slavery into their +midst. When the South read this declaration, so contrary to the decision +of the Supreme Court, Douglas' fate was sealed as a presidential +candidate. Owing to a totally unfair apportionment of the Senatorial +Districts, which had been made by a Democratic Legislature, Mr. Lincoln +lost the contest with Senator Douglas, who had a majority of eight on +the joint ballot in the new Legislature, but the Republican Ticket won +in the popular vote by 4000. + +Mr. Lincoln was forty-nine years old and Senator Douglas forty-five when +they met in these memorable debates. They had been thrown together for +more than twenty years by a most remarkable combination of +circumstances. They had both wooed the same woman, Mary Todd, and +Lincoln won; both craved for success in politics, and as Douglas +belonged to the dominant party in Illinois, he met with early success, +and ran the gamut of political honors and was a great national figure +before Lincoln was known. Douglas had been Attorney-General, Secretary +of State and Judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois; in 1843 he was +elected to the National House of Representatives and served until 1847, +when he was sent to the Senate, where he served until 1861; his name had +been presented for the presidential nomination to the Democratic +Conventions of 1852 and 1856. Compared to this series of political +successes those of Lincoln were indeed meagre. He had served in the +Illinois Legislature; in 1847 was sent to Congress, but served only one +term, and from 1849 to 1854 he had devoted himself, with the exception +of some canvassing done for Scott in the Campaign of 1852, almost +exclusively to his law practice. It was Senator Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska +Bill that brought Lincoln again into politics, with emphatic protests +and strong arguments against the outrage. When Mr. Douglas returned to +Illinois in 1854, he attempted, with much difficulty, to justify his +action, and the debates between him and Mr. Lincoln really began in that +year. Lincoln met his arguments, and after a few speeches Mr. Douglas +was ready to quit, and made an agreement with Mr. Lincoln that neither +of them should speak again in the campaign. In 1854 Mr. Lincoln was the +choice for United States Senator, but yielded his place to Lyman +Trumbull. He took an active part in the formation of the Republican +Party in Illinois, and at the Bloomington Convention in 1856, which +chose delegates to the first Republican National Convention, he made a +strong speech that attracted the attention of the Republicans of +Illinois to him and made him the State leader. He labored earnestly in +Illinois for the success of Fremont and Dayton. Throughout 1857 he grew +stronger with the party, with the result that he was the unanimous and +only choice in 1858 as the successor to Douglas. + +Douglas secured the shadow of a victory, but Mr. Lincoln, and the +Republican Party throughout the North, had the substance, and the fall +elections in 1858 were decidedly in favor of the Republicans. The Autumn +campaigns of 1859 were of the utmost importance, and the Democrats made +great efforts in the North, especially in Ohio. Senator Douglas went +personally into that State, and at the earnest invitation of the +Republican Committee, Mr. Lincoln spoke at Columbus on September 16th +and at Cincinnati on September 17th. Mr. Dennison, the Republican +candidate in Ohio, was elected, and the Republicans were successful in +Pennsylvania and Iowa. + +A few days after the October elections the entire country was thrown +into a state of great excitement by John Brown's invasion of Virginia +and his capture of the United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry. He had +hoped for a general uprising of the slaves, but it did not occur, and +Brown was captured by Robert E. Lee, then a Colonel in the United States +Army, and after a trial on a charge of murder and treason against the +State of Virginia, was found guilty and hanged December 2, 1859. This +affair aroused the Slave Power to a frenzy of excitement, and they +immediately demanded an investigation, and strong attempts were made to +fix the conspiracy on members of the Republican Party, but it signally +failed. + +Three days after John Brown's execution, the Thirty-sixth Congress +assembled. In the Senate there were thirty-eight Democrats, twenty-five +Republicans, and two Americans; the Republicans had gained five +Senators. In the House there were one hundred and nine Republicans, +eighty-eight administration Democrats, thirteen anti-Lecompton +Democrats, and twenty-seven Americans, all of the latter, except four, +from the South. The contest for the Speakership developed the deep +animosity felt by the South, and threats of disunion and personal +violence abounded throughout the session. The Republicans generally +remained silent, only taking part in the debates when absolutely +necessary. On the first ballots the Republicans divided their votes +between Galusha A. Grow, of Pennsylvania, and John Sherman, of Ohio; Mr. +Grow having received the fewer number of votes, withdrew, under an +agreement, and the contest continued between Mr. Sherman and Mr. Bocock, +of Virginia. On January 4, 1860, Sherman was within three votes of an +election, but he finally withdrew in favor of William Pennington, a +Republican, of New Jersey, who was elected on February 1, 1860, and the +House secured a Republican organization. During the debate attendant +upon this election, Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, declared, "We will never +submit to the inauguration of a black Republican President," and this +remark, with others of a like nature, was often repeated. Many of the +members of Congress attended the session fully armed, and it often +appeared that the Civil War would probably begin in the House of +Representatives. + +In the decade between 1840 and 1850, the number of slaves in the South +increased 800,000; and in the decade between 1850 and 1860, 700,000. The +increase of white population in the South was very small compared to +that of the North. The census of 1850 showed the population of the +country to be 23,191,876, divided as follows: + + White. Free Black. Slave. + North ......... 13,269,149 196,262 262 + South ......... 6,283,965 238,187 3,204,051 + +The tremendous increase of slave population and the rapid gain of the +North over the South in free population is shown by a comparison of the +census of 1850 with that of 1860, when the total population was +31,443,322, divided between the two sections as follows: + + White. Free Black. Slave. + North ......... 18,791,159 225,967 64 + South ......... 8,182,684 262,003 3,953,696 + +Owing to the large crops in the South the demand for slaves exceeded the +supply, and the market price of negroes in the decade between 1850 and +1860 was very high. Three results followed the increased demand and the +high prices--the Domestic Slave Trade between the States was largely +increased; attempts to smuggle in slaves contrary to the Slave Trade +Laws were numerous and often successful, and the South began, in +Buchanan's administration, to consider the re-establishment of the +African slave trade. + +During the last years of Buchanan's administration politics were +dominated by virtually three parties: the Republicans with their +opposition to slavery extension--the leaders being Mr. Lincoln and Mr. +Seward; the Northern Democrats, led by Senator Douglas, with his idea of +Popular Sovereignty; and the Southern Democrats, with their purpose of +slavery extension and protection under the decision of the Supreme Court +and the Acts of Congress, their leader being Jefferson Davis, of +Mississippi. The schism in the Democratic Party was seen more clearly +late in February, 1859, when Senators Douglas and Davis, representing +the opposite principles advocated by the Democratic Party, engaged in a +bitter debate, which forecasted clearly a division in the Democratic +Party in 1860, and the probable election of a Republican President, but +who would he be, and what would be the course of the South on his +election? + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +LINCOLN. + + +"Since the November of 1860 his horizon has been black with storms. By +day and by night, he trod a way of danger and darkness. On his shoulders +rested a government dearer to him than his own life ... Even he who now +sleeps has, by this event, been clothed with new influence. Dead, he +speaks to men who now willingly hear what before they refused to listen +to ... Four years ago, O Illinois, we took from your midst an untried +man and from among the people. We return him to you a mighty conqueror. +Not thine any more, but the nation's; not ours, but the world's." + +_Henry Ward Beecher_, _April_ 16, 1865. + + +In 1860 the curtain rolled up on the beginning of the last act in the +great drama of the struggle between Freedom and Slavery. Because of the +events already narrated, a division in the Democratic Party was almost +certain if Douglas persisted in being a candidate, and that division +would mean the success of the Republican Party. A greater anxiety and +fear than perhaps ever before or since in the history of the country +pervaded the political situation in the early months of 1860. What would +transpire at the Conventions of the great parties? All eyes turned to +the first Convention, that of the Democratic Party, which assembled at +Charleston, S. C., April 23, 1860. Senator Douglas was a candidate. +There was almost an immediate disagreement on the slavery question, and +a group of extreme Southern Democrats, unable to agree with their +Northern brethren who adopted a Douglas platform, withdrew from the +Convention. This first group of seceders held a separate meeting, and +after adopting a Platform, adjourned to meet at Richmond, Va., on June +11th. In the main Convention opposition to Douglas was still strong, and +after fifty-seven ballots, without being able to nominate any candidate, +the main Convention adjourned to meet at Baltimore on June 18th. The +bolters from the Charleston Convention met in Richmond on June 11th, but +immediately adjourned again until June 28th, which was to be ten days +after the adjourned meeting of the main Convention. The main Convention +duly assembled at Baltimore on June 18th, and as it was apparent that +Douglas would be nominated, there was another withdrawal of Southern +Democrats accompanied by some of their Northern brethren. Those who +remained nominated Stephen A. Douglas for President and Benjamin +Fitzpatrick of Alabama for Vice-President. Mr. Fitzpatrick afterwards +declined, and the National Democratic Committee named Herschel V. +Johnson, of Georgia, for Vice-President. The second group of bolters +unanimously nominated John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for President, +and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President, and adopted the platform +which had been agreed upon by the bolters from the Charleston +Convention. The Charleston bolters, when they met again on June 28th, +ratified the nominations of Breckinridge and Lane. The Douglas +Democratic platform affirmed the Cincinnati platform of 1856, and stated +that the party would abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on +questions of Constitutional Law, and it denounced the Personal Liberty +Laws as revolutionary. The Breckinridge Democratic platform also adopted +the Cincinnati platform, but with explanatory resolutions to the effect +that neither Congress or any Territorial Legislature had a right to +interfere with slavery, pending the formation of a State Constitution, +and that it was the duty of the Federal Government to protect slavery at +all times. This platform also denounced the Personal Liberty Laws. The +Democratic Party had won in 1856 on an ambiguous plank in their +platform, relating to slavery in the Territories, that enabled them to +secure votes in the North and South by arguments irreconcilable with the +political thought of the two sections, and now, in 1860, they were +dissipating their strength by disagreeing on an explanation among +themselves of that ambiguous plank; it was a just political retribution. + +A temporary political party appeared in 1860, known as the +Constitutional Union Party; their convention was held at Baltimore on +May 9th, and John Bell, of Tennessee, was named for President, and +Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President. The Platform of +this party declared for "The Constitution of the country, the Union of +the States and the enforcement of the Laws." It was an attempt to divert +the voters from the geographical and sectional parties, and polled a +large popular vote. + +The second Republican National Convention convened at Chicago on +Wednesday, May 16, 1860, in the "Wigwam," a vast pine board structure +specially built for the occasion by the Chicago Republican Club. The +split in the Democratic Party, although the adjourned sessions of that +Party had not yet been held, gave increased hope of Republican success +this year, and it was felt by a great majority of the delegates and +spectators that the Convention would name the next President of the +United States. This strong probability added an importance and dignity, +not unmingled with awe, to the work of the Convention. Edwin D. Morgan, +of New York, called the Convention to order and faced an audience of +about ten thousand people, only four hundred and sixty-six of whom were +delegates. All of the free States were represented, as well as Delaware, +Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Texas and Virginia, and the Territories of +Kansas and Nebraska and the District of Columbia. Mr. Morgan named David +Wilmot for Temporary Chairman, and committees on Permanent Organization, +on Credentials, and on Rules were then severally appointed. George +Ashmun, of Massachusetts, was reported a Chairman of the Convention, and +one Vice-President and one Secretary from each State and Territory were +named. A Platform Committee was then appointed, after which the +Convention decided, after some debate over the admission of "delegates" +from the Slave States, some of whom had never seen their States, to +admit all delegates, and this included Horace Greeley, "of Oregon," who +had not desired and had not been sent with the New York delegation. A +virtual attempt to fasten the two-thirds nominating rule on the +Convention was defeated, and it was decided that a majority of the whole +number of votes should nominate. Judge William Jessup, of Pennsylvania, +reported the platform, and it was adopted with the utmost enthusiasm. +The platform on which Mr. Lincoln was elected should be read by every +Republican and every citizen interested in the history and development +of the nation. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1860. + +_Resolved_, That we, the delegated representatives of the Republican +electors of the United States, in convention assembled, in discharge +of the duty we owe to our constituents and our country, unite in the +following declarations: + +1. That the history of the nation during the last four years has fully +established the propriety and necessity of the organization and +perpetuation of the Republican party, and that the causes which called +it into existence are permanent in their nature, and now, more than ever +before, demand its peaceful and constitutional triumph. + +2. That the maintenance of the principles promulgated in the Declaration +of Independence and embodied in the Federal Constitution, "That all men +are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain +inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit +of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted +among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," +is essential to the preservation of our republican institutions; and +that the Federal Constitution, the rights of the states, and the union +of the states must and shall be preserved. + +3. That to the union of the states this nation owes its unprecedented +increase in population, its surprising development of material +resources, its rapid augmentation of wealth, its happiness at home and +its honor abroad; and we hold in abhorrence all schemes for disunion, +come from whatever source they may; and we congratulate the country that +no Republican member of Congress has uttered or countenanced the threats +of disunion so often made by Democratic members, without rebuke and with +applause from their political associates; and we denounce those threats +of disunion, in case of a popular overthrow of their ascendancy, as +denying the vital principles of free government, and as an avowal of +contemplated treason, which it is the imperative duty of an indignant +people sternly to rebuke and forever silence. + +4. That the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the states, and +especially the right of each state to order and control its own domestic +institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to +that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our +political fabric depends; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed +force of the soil of any state or territory, no matter under what +pretext, as among the gravest of crimes. + +5. That the present Democratic administration has far exceeded our worst +apprehensions, in its measureless subserviency to the exactions of a +sectional interest, as especially evinced in its desperate exertions to +force the infamous Lecompton constitution upon the protesting people of +Kansas; in construing the personal relations between master and servant +to involve an unqualified property in persons; in its attempted +enforcement everywhere, on land and sea, through the intervention of +Congress and of the federal courts, of the extreme pretensions of a +purely local interest; and in its general and unvarying abuse of the +power intrusted to it by a confiding people. + +6. That the people justly view with alarm the reckless extravagance +which pervades every department of the federal government; that a return +to rigid economy and accountability is indispensable to arrest the +systematic plunder of the public treasury by favored partisans, while +the recent startling developments of frauds and corruptions at the +federal metropolis show that an entire change of administration is +imperatively demanded. + +7. That the new dogma--that the Constitution, of its own force, carries +slavery into any or all of the territories of the United States--is a +dangerous political heresy, at variance with the explicit provisions of +that instrument itself, with contemporaneous exposition, and with +legislative and judicial precedent; is revolutionary in its tendency and +subversive of the peace and harmony of the country. + +8. That the normal condition of all the territory of the United States +is that of freedom; that, as our republican fathers, when they had +abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that "no +person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due +process of law," it becomes our duty, by legislation, whenever such +legislation is necessary, to maintain this provision of the Constitution +against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the authority of +Congress, of a territorial legislature, or of any individuals, to give +legal existence to slavery in any territory of the United States. + +9. That we brand the recent reopening of the African slave trade, under +the cover of our national flag, aided by perversions of judicial power, +as a crime against humanity and a burning shame to our country and age; +and we call upon Congress to take prompt and efficient measures for the +total and final suppression of that execrable traffic. + +10. That in the recent vetoes, by their federal governors, of the acts +of the legislatures of Kansas and Nebraska, prohibiting slavery in those +territories, we find a practical illustration of the boasted Democratic +principle of non-intervention and popular sovereignity, embodied in the +Kansas-Nebraska bill, and a demonstration of the deception and fraud +involved therein. + +11. That Kansas should of right be immediately admitted as a state under +the constitution recently formed and adopted by her people and accepted +by the House of Representatives. + +12. That, while providing revenue for the support of the general +government by duties upon imports, sound policy requires such an +adjustment of these imposts as to encourage the development of the +industrial interests of the whole country; and we commend that policy +of national exchanges which secures to the workingmen liberal wages, +to agriculture remunerative prices, to mechanics and manufacturers +an adequate reward for their skill, labor and enterprise, and to +the nation commercial prosperity and independence. + +13. That we protest against any sale or alienation to others of the +public lands held by actual settlers, and against any view of the +free-homestead policy which regards the settlers as paupers or +suppliants for public bounty; and we demand the passage by Congress +of the complete and satisfactory homestead measure which has already +passed the House. + +14. That the Republican party is opposed to any change in our +naturalization laws, or any state legislation by which the rights of +citizens hitherto accorded to immigrants from foreign lands shall be +abridged or impaired; and in favor of giving a full and efficient +protection to the rights of all classes of citizens, whether native or +naturalized, both at home and abroad. + +15. That appropriations by Congress for river and harbor improvements of +a national character, required for the accommodation and security of an +existing commerce, are authorized by the Constitution and justified by +the obligation of government to protect the lives and property of its +citizens. + +16. That a railroad to the Pacific Ocean is imperatively demanded by +the interests of the whole country; that the federal government ought +to render immediate and efficient aid in its construction; and that, +as preliminary thereto, a daily overland mail should be promptly +established. + +17. Finally having set forth our distinctive principles and views, we +invite the co-operation of all citizens, however differing on other +questions, who substantially agree with us in their affirmance and +support. + +An exciting incident occurred when Joshua R. Giddings moved to embrace +the principles of the Declaration of Independence in the platform, and, +when voted down, withdrew from the Convention; but what he proposed was +afterwards accomplished by George William Curtis, of New York, and +became the second plank of the platform, and Mr. Giddings returned to +the Convention. + +Two days were consumed in organizing and adopting the platform. The +second night of the Convention, that which intervened between Thursday +and Friday, was given up to remarkable exertions in behalf of the +several candidates. William H. Seward, of New York, was the most +prominent candidate before the Convention, and would probably have been +named had the nominations been made on the first or second day of the +Convention. The other candidates were Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois; +Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania; Salmon P. Chase and John McLean, of +Ohio; Edward Bates, of Missouri; William L. Dayton, of New Jersey, and +Jacob Collamer, of Vermont. There was a strong opposition to Mr. Seward, +based on the ground of his availability, as it was felt by Henry S. +Lane, of Indiana, and A. G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, who were the +candidates for Governor in their respective States, that Mr. Seward +could not carry those States. Mr. Greeley was also doing his utmost to +defeat Mr. Seward, but was advocating the nomination of Edward Bates, of +Missouri. The Illinois delegation had been instructed for Mr. Lincoln, +and soon added Indiana to his support, and they also obtained promises +of a majority vote of the New Hampshire, Virginia and Kentucky +delegations on the first ballot, with some scattering votes from other +States. Mr. Lincoln's candidacy was very promising, but not entirely +certain of success, as, to many, the strength of Mr. Seward appeared +invincible; but Mr. Lincoln's supporters were certain that if he could +obtain a good vote on the first ballot it would be largely increased on +the second ballot by votes from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Vermont. On the +third day of the Convention, Friday morning, May 18th, the nominations +were made. William M. Evarts presented the name of William H. Seward, +and was immediately followed by Norman B. Judd, of Illinois, who +nominated Mr. Lincoln. Others were named, and a number of seconding +speeches were made, Mr. Lincoln's name being seconded by Caleb B. Smith, +of Indiana, and Columbus Delano, of Ohio. The cheers and noisy +enthusiasm which attended the various speeches were terrifying in +volume, and it was apparent that the Lincoln shouters had the advantage +in volume of sound, and the influence of the vast assemblage and the +great pressure of environment unquestionably increased Mr. Lincoln's +chances for the nomination. The balloting began and proceeded amid +intense excitement; two hundred and thirty-three votes were necessary to +a choice, and three ballots were taken, with the following result: + + 1st 2d 3d + Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. + Seward ......... 173½ 184½ 180 + Lincoln ........ 102 181 231½ + Cameron ........ 50½ 2 + Chase .......... 49 42½ 24½ + Bates .......... 48 35 22 + Dayton ......... 14 10 + McLean ......... 12 8 5 + Collamer ....... 10 + +Scattering votes were also cast for Benjamin F. Wade, John M. Reed, +Charles Sumner, John C. Fremont, and Cassius M. Clay. + +At the completion of the third ballot, Mr. Lincoln lacked one and +one-half votes of the nomination. There was a momentary lull, and then +David K. Cartter, of Ohio, mounted his seat, caught the attention of the +Chairman, and, in the breathless excitement, announced that Ohio changed +four votes from Mr. Chase to Mr. Lincoln. There was a moment's silence +until it could all be appreciated, and then pandemonium for more than +twenty minutes. The immense crowd outside the "Wigwam" was soon apprised +of the result and the news spread like wildfire. Mr. Evarts moved the +nomination be made unanimous. + +There were two prominent candidates for Vice-President, Hannibal Hamlin, +of Maine, and Cassius M. Clay, of Kentucky. Others mentioned for this +honor were John Hickman and Andrew H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania, and +Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts. Two ballots were taken, and Mr. +Hamlin was nominated on the second: + + 1st Ballot. 2d Ballot. + Hamlin ..... 194 367 + Clay ....... 101½ 86 + Hickman .... 58 13 + Reeder ..... 51 + Banks ...... 38 + +Others who received complimentary votes on the first ballot were +Samuel Houston, William L. Dayton, Henry W. Davis, John M. Reed, +Andrew H. Reeder and John Hickman. + +During the entire Convention Mr. Lincoln remained at Springfield; there +he received the telegraphic news of his nomination, and thither went the +Notification Committee, composed of many brilliant men, most of whom had +never met him. On May 23d Mr. Lincoln wrote an admirable letter of +acceptance, and the campaign was on in earnest, notwithstanding that the +Democrats had not yet presented their ticket. In the Western States, +where his name and history appealed to the people, Mr. Lincoln's +nomination was received with the utmost delight; but in the Eastern +States the first feeling over the defeat of Mr. Seward was one of bitter +disappointment, but Mr. Seward and the other great leaders promptly and +manfully gave their whole support to Mr. Lincoln, and there was never +any question that the party would not be united in his support. The +Democratic press vented its snobbishness by constant articles calling +attention to Mr. Lincoln's poverty, and asserting that he was not a +gentleman, and had "never traveled and had no pedigree." + +The Republican Campaign of 1860 consisted of a liberal use of political +literature and of a systematic stumping of the country by the great men +of the party, prominent among whom were Seward, Schurz, Clay, Greeley, +Stevens, and many others, and hundreds of other Republican speakers of +less prominence who traversed the Northern States. Bands of +"Wide-Awakes" were organized everywhere in the North and participated in +the parades with torches and a simple uniform. There were many great +State rallies for the Republican ticket. In the North it was apparent +that the vote would be cast for either Lincoln, Douglas or Bell, and in +the slave States for Breckinridge. From the end of May to November the +work went on and the Republicans gained rapidly in strength, +notwithstanding the threats of the South to secede if the Federal +Government should ever pass into the "treacherous hands of the Black +Republican Party." Mr. Lincoln remained at Springfield during the entire +campaign, going about his usual affairs, and meeting the hundreds of +curious and otherwise who came to see him. He maintained a strict +silence on the great problem of the hour, but watched the campaign +closely, and often gave sound advice to the managers. On August 8th the +greatest State rally held in the North took place at Springfield, and it +was estimated that fully 75,000 people were present. + +After some desperate campaigning Senator Douglas gave up all hope of +success, and announced that he would go South to urge upon all the duty +of submitting to the result of the election, and he steadfastly asserted +his intention of standing by the Union. + +The only danger was that Mr. Lincoln might not receive a majority of the +electoral vote, which would throw the election into the House of +Representatives, but this was dispelled when Pennsylvania and Indiana +went Republican in October, and the result of the election on November +6th was conceded. Mr. Lincoln received the electoral votes of +California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, +Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, all Northern States, +and casting 180 out of 303 electoral votes. Breckinridge carried +Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, +Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, all slave States, +and casting seventy-two electoral votes. Bell carried Kentucky, +Tennessee and Virginia, thirty-nine votes; and Douglas only carried one +State, Missouri, with nine votes, but also received three of the seven +votes of New Jersey, the remainder going to Mr. Lincoln. The popular +vote was as follows: + + Lincoln ........... 1,866,352 Breckinridge ........ 847,514 + Douglas ........... 1,375,157 Bell ................ 587,830 + +This does not include the popular vote of South Carolina, where the +electors were chosen by the Legislature. + +[Illustration: Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861.] + +The Slave Power lost no time in carrying into effect its threats of +disunion. South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860, and by the end of +the year had seized the United States arsenals and other government +property in the State, but Fort Sumter was not molested. By February, +1861, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas had +also withdrawn. Virginia did not secede until April 17th. On February +4th a Confederate Congress met at Montgomery, Alabama, and on February +9th Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, became President, and Alexander H. +Stephens, of Georgia, became Vice-President of the Confederate States of +America. + +The breaking up of the Union did not go on without some attempts at +compromising the situation, but all such efforts failed. The House and +the Senate appointed special committees, who were either unable to agree +or whose conclusions were not adopted. On December 18th the Crittenden +Compromise Measures were introduced, and after long debate were rejected +March 2, 1861. Dramatic withdrawals from Congress were made by the +Southern Senators and Representatives, and this enabled Kansas to be +admitted, on January 29, 1861, as a free State. + +Far from attempting to stop this breaking up of the Union, Buchanan's +Administration did everything it could to aid it. Treason ran free in +Washington; the Navy was scattered and rendered unavailable; the Army +was demoralized, and thousands of stands of arms and other military +equipment were removed from the Northern arsenals and sent South; and +President Buchanan, through his Cabinet, announced the remarkable +doctrine that any State could strike at the Union, appropriate the arms +and property of the Government, and that nothing could be done to stop +it. It was not treason for South Carolina to act as she did, but it +would be treason to attempt to stop her course. + +Such was the situation when Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, +1861; seven States were out of the Union, a Southern Confederacy had +been established with an organized Government, and its President +inaugurated; the Army and Navy were crippled, the Treasury drained, and +treason and assassination threatened on all sides. From the east portico +of the Capitol, with Senator Douglas standing behind holding Mr. +Lincoln's hat, the President delivered his first Inaugural Speech. Calm, +clear, wise and firm were the words. It concluded, "I am loath to close. +We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion +may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic +cords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to +every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet +swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will +be, by the better angel of our nature." + +The bombardment of Ft. Sumter, which began on the morning of April 12, +1861, was the event that unified both the North and the South, and +henceforth the issue was to be decided solely by War. In the North, +party lines were forgotten, and the President received promises of +hearty support on all sides. On April 15th, the President declared the +South to be in a state of rebellion, and called for 75,000 troops to +recover the Government forts and property, and also called an +extraordinary session of Congress, to meet on July 4th. This history is +not directly concerned with the trying and bloody events of the Civil +War. The tremendous strain on President Lincoln during this period +perhaps will never be fully appreciated by the generations which follow +it; it was all a horrible nightmare through which the country safely +passed under the guidance of President Lincoln and the Republican Party. + +On April 16, 1862, Slavery was abolished in the District of Columbia, +and on June 19th was forever prohibited in the Territories. On September +22d President Lincoln issued his preliminary Proclamation of +Emancipation, declaring all slaves forever free in territory which might +still be in rebellion on January 1, 1863. This act, and what was +believed to be the failure of the Administration in conducting the War, +turned thousands of Democrats in the North away from the President, and +in the Fall elections of 1862 large Democratic gains were made. Ohio, +Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey and Wisconsin went +Democratic; New York elected a Democratic Governor, Horatio Seymour; but +New England, the Border States and the Western States not mentioned, +stood firm for the President, and the Administration was assured of a +good working majority in the House. + +Before passing to the presidential campaign of 1864, mention must be +made of several great legislative acts of the Republican Party during +the first few years of its control of the Government. The Morrill +Protective Tariff Bill was made a law on March 2, 1861, and became the +foundation of the Republican Tariff Bills of later years; the Legal +Tender Act of February 25, 1862, was a great turning point in the +financial history of the nation; the Homestead Act of May 20, 1862, +opened up the western country to actual settlers, and contributed +greatly to the development of the West; the Internal Revenue Act of July +1, 1862, and a National Banking system, established by the Act of +February 25, 1863, were most important, the latter removing the conflict +between the national currency and the currency of the state banks, and +marked the beginning of a sound and stable financial system, the +importance of which, in the remarkable physical development of the +country, cannot be too strongly asserted. + +Although throughout 1863 a strong radical element in the Republican +Party worked against the renomination of President Lincoln in 1864, on +the ground of his alleged timidity in handling the question of the Civil +War, this movement gradually dwindled in strength and had almost +disappeared with the opening of the presidential year of 1864, when an +election was to be held with a war in progress and the country divided. +Throughout the winter of 1863 and 1864 Mr. Chase made active efforts to +secure the presidential nomination, but the Ohio Legislature demanded +Mr. Lincoln's renomination, and Mr. Chase had to withdraw. State +Legislatures throughout the North now demanded the renomination of the +President, and they were joined in their resolutions by large numbers of +clubs and public meetings, and it was apparent to those in the party who +were antagonistic to the President that no other candidate would have +any chance. But the Copperhead element was still rampant, and the +Democrats denounced the President in unmeasured terms, declaring the war +to be a failure, and demanding peace. + +The radical element of the Republican Party held their Convention first, +at Cleveland, Ohio, on May 31, 1864, and nominated John C. Fremont for +President and John Cochrane for Vice-President, but these candidates +withdrew on September 2d, and no further notice of this meeting is +necessary. The regular Republican Convention, or National Union +Convention, as it was called, was held at Baltimore on June 7 and 8, +1864, in the Front Street Theater. The Convention was again called to +order by Edwin B. Morgan, of New York, who, after a short speech, +proposed the name of Robert J. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for temporary +Chairman. Mr. Breckinridge accepted the honor, and said that he did not +enter the deliberations of the Convention as a Republican, nor as a Whig +or Democrat, but as a Union man. There was some debate over the seating +of loyal delegates from the Confederate States, which was settled by +admitting them; thirty-one States, including eight of the slave States, +were represented. The usual committees on Credentials, Permanent +Organization and Resolutions were appointed. The Committee reported the +name of William Dennison, of Ohio, for permanent Chairman. The platform +was reported by Henry J. Raymond, of New York, and enthusiastically +adopted. The Republican Platform of 1864, framed while a great Civil War +was in progress, is a most interesting document. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1864. + +1. _Resolved_, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen to +maintain against all their enemies the integrity of the Union and the +paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States; +and that, laying aside all differences of political opinion, we pledge +ourselves as Union men, animated by a common sentiment and aiming at a +common object, to do everything in our power to aid the government in +quelling by force of arms the rebellion now raging against its +authority, and in bringing to the punishment due to their crimes the +rebels and traitors arrayed against it. + +2. _Resolved_, That we approve the determination of the government of +the United States not to compromise with rebels, or to offer them any +terms of peace except such as may be based upon an unconditional +surrender of their hostility and a return to their just allegiance to +the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that we call upon +the government to maintain this position and to prosecute the war with +the utmost possible vigor, to the complete suppression of the rebellion, +in full reliance upon the self-sacrificing patriotism, the heroic valor, +and the undying devotion of the American people to the country and its +free institutions. + +3. _Resolved_, That as slavery was the cause and now constitutes the +strength of this rebellion, and as it must be always and everywhere +hostile to the principles of republican government, justice and the +national safety demand its utter and complete extirpation from the soil +of the republic; and that while we uphold and maintain the acts and +proclamations by which the government, in its own defense, has aimed a +death-blow at this gigantic evil, we are in favor, furthermore, of such +an amendment to the Constitution, to be made by the people in conformity +with its provisions, as shall terminate and forever prohibit the +existence of slavery within the limits of the jurisdiction of the United +States. + +4. _Resolved_, That the thanks of the American people are due to the +soldiers and sailors of the army and navy who have periled their lives +in defense of the country and in vindication of the honor of its flag; +that the nation owes to them some permanent recognition of their +patriotism and their valor, and ample and permanent provision for those +of their survivors who have received disabling and honorable wounds in +the service of the country; and that the memories of those who have +fallen in its defense shall be held in grateful and everlasting +remembrance. + +5. _Resolved_, That we approve and applaud the practical wisdom, the +unselfish patriotism, and the unswerving fidelity to the Constitution +and the principles of American liberty with which Abraham Lincoln has +discharged, under circumstances of unparalleled difficulty, the great +duties and responsibilities of the presidential office; that we approve +and indorse, as demanded by the emergency and essential to the +preservation of the nation, and as within the provisions of the +Constitution, the measures and acts which he has adopted to defend the +nation against its open and secret foes; that we approve especially the +proclamation of emancipation and the employment as Union soldiers of men +heretofore held in slavery; and that we have full confidence in his +determination to carry these and all other constitutional measures +essential to the salvation of the country into full and complete effect. + +6. _Resolved_, That we deem it essential to the general welfare that +harmony should prevail in the national councils, and we regard as worthy +of public confidence and official trust those only who cordially indorse +the principles proclaimed in these resolutions, and which should +characterize the administration of the government. + +7. _Resolved_, That the government owes to all men employed in its +armies, without regard to distinction of color, the full protection of +the laws of war; and that any violation of these laws, or of the usages +of civilized nations in time of war, by the rebels now in arms, should +be made the subject of prompt and full redress. + +8. _Resolved_, That foreign immigration, which in the past has added so +much to the wealth, development of resources, and increase of power to +the nation--the asylum of the oppressed of all nations--should be +fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy. + +9. _Resolved_, That we are in favor of the speedy construction of the +railroad to the Pacific coast. + +10. _Resolved_, That the national faith, pledged for the redemption of +the public debt, must be kept inviolate, and that for this purpose we +recommend economy and rigid responsibility in the public expenditures, +and a vigorous and just system of taxation; and that it is the duty of +every loyal state to sustain the credit and promote the use of the +national currency. + +11. _Resolved_, That we approve the position taken by the government, +that the people of the United States can never regard with indifference +the attempt of any European power to overthrow by force, or to supplant +by fraud, the institutions of any republican government on the western +continent; and that they will view with extreme jealousy, as menacing to +the peace and independence of their own country the efforts of any such +power to obtain new footholds for monarchial governments, sustained by +foreign military force, in near proximity to the United States. + +After the adoption of the platform, Simon Cameron introduced a +resolution declaring for Lincoln and Hamlin as the unanimous choice of +the Convention for President and Vice-President; but this resolution was +divided so that the Convention could vote separately on the two offices. +On the first ballot Mr. Lincoln received the vote of every delegation +except Missouri, which voted for Ulysses S. Grant, but changed +immediately as soon as the ballot had been announced, and made Mr. +Lincoln's nomination unanimous. The interest of the delegation and the +spectators throughout the Convention had been centered on the nomination +for Vice-President. A number of names were mentioned, the most prominent +being Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, and +Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York. Mr. Johnson was a War Democrat. The +sentiment in the Convention was in favor of recognizing this element in +the party, and Mr. Johnson was nominated on the first ballot; the vote +as cast gave Johnson 200, Hamlin 150, Dickinson 108, and 61 scattering +votes, but before the final result was announced many changes were made, +and the final vote stood, Johnson 490, Dickinson 17, Hamlin 9. + +[Illustration: From New York Herald, Saturday, April 15, 1865.] + +The Democratic Convention did not meet until August 29th; George B. +McClellan, of New Jersey, was nominated for President, and George H. +Pendleton, of Ohio, for Vice-President. The platform called Mr. +Lincoln's Administration "four years of failure to restore the Union by +the experiment of war," and demanded immediate efforts for cessation of +hostilities and for peace. Gen. McClellan accepted the nomination, but +repudiated the platform, saying, "I could not look in the faces of my +gallant comrades of the Army and Navy and tell them that their labors +and the sacrifice of so many of our slain and wounded brethren had been +in vain." The candidate was nobler than the party. + +The President's homely expression, "It is not wise to swap horses while +crossing a stream," was the basis of the great trend of political +thought in the North, and there was little doubt of the result, although +an animated campaign was conducted. The great military victories of the +Union forces made the position of the President's opponents absurd. At +the election on November 8, 1864, Lincoln and Johnson carried twenty-two +States, receiving 212 of the total electoral vote of 233. McClellan and +Pendleton carried three States, Delaware, Kentucky and New Jersey. The +popular vote, including the Army vote (many States having made provision +for taking the vote of the soldiers in the field), was, Lincoln +2,330,552, McClellan 1,835,985. Eleven States did not vote at this +election. + +The Government was now making rapid strides for the complete abolition +of slavery. In June, 1864, the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was repealed; +in July the Coastwise Slave Trade was forever prohibited, and on January +31, 1865, the Joint Resolution proposing the Thirteenth Amendment to the +Constitution, abolishing slavery, passed the House. + +On March 4, 1865, President Lincoln was inaugurated for the second time. +The beautiful words closing his inaugural will live forever: "With +malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as +God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we +are in, to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have +borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may +achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with +all Nations." + +Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, +on April 9, 1865. On April 14th, the Stars and Stripes were again raised +over Ft. Sumter, and the glad news swept over the North that the war was +over. On the same evening the President was shot in Ford's Theater by +John Wilkes Booth, and died the next morning. "Now he belongs to the +ages," said Stanton, at the death-bed. The death of the President meant +that Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat, would be made President, and from +the overwhelming shock of Mr. Lincoln's death the Republicans turned +with misgiving and fear to the new Executive. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +RECONSTRUCTION AND THE NATIONAL DEBT. + +"By these recent successes, the reinauguration of the national +authority, the reconstruction of which has had a large share of +thought from the first, is pressed much more closely upon our +attention. It is fraught with great difficulty. Nor is it a small +additional embarrassment that we, the loyal people, differ among +ourselves as to the mode, manner and measure of reconstruction." + +_A. Lincoln_, _April_ 11, 1865. _From his last speech before death._ + + +Mr. Lincoln died at 7:22 o'clock a. m. on April 15, 1865; four hours +later Vice-President Johnson took the oath of office as President. +Before him were two gigantic problems, the solution of which was fraught +with the greatest difficulty. In what manner and under what restrictions +should the recently rebellious States--eleven in number--be allowed to +resume the exercise of their civil functions, and when should their +Senators and Representatives be seated in Congress? This was the first +problem--Reconstruction. And in what manner should the enormous war +debt be handled so that the credit of the Government would be thoroughly +re-established and maintained; and how should the enormous paper +currency (legal tenders) be managed so that the commercial interests of +the country would not be disturbed? These two problems--Reconstruction +and the National Debt--were ultimately to be worked out by the party +that saved the Union, though now a War Democrat was in charge of the +Executive Department, and friction and disagreement was almost certain. +It was most unfortunate that no definite plan of Reconstruction had been +agreed upon by the Legislative and Executive Departments before Mr. +Lincoln's death. Such an understanding would have avoided, probably, the +bitter conflict that shortly came on between President Johnson and +Congress; and the history of the few years following the Rebellion would +have presented a record of greater national progress, a quicker welding +of the Union, and a prompter re-establishment of national sentiment +between the two sections. + +While it is true that Mr. Lincoln's plan of Reconstruction did not meet +with the approval of Congress, yet it is almost certain that if he had +lived there would have been an agreement of some kind; either the party +would have followed Mr. Lincoln or Mr. Lincoln would have followed the +party. Ultimate harmony between a Republican President and a Republican +Congress was certain, although they might temporarily disagree; but +harmony between a Republican Congress and a Democratic President once +disturbed would scarcely be restored; neither would ever again +completely trust the other. + +Mr. Lincoln's work of Reconstruction began in 1863 when the Union army +had regained Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. His message to Congress +in December, 1863, was accompanied by a Proclamation of Amnesty to those +who had taken part in the Rebellion in these States, upon their taking +an oath to support the Constitution and all federal laws; and upon so +doing there was to be a restoration of property, except slaves. From +this pardon were excepted six enumerated classes of persons whose +treason had been most offensive. State Governments could be established +by those who took the oath, provided their numbers were one-tenth as +large as the total number of voters in the State at the presidential +election of 1860, and any Government so established would be recognized +by the President, but the right of Congress to admit or reject Senators +and Representatives was recognized. Louisiana was the first to make +preparations to re-enter into the possession of all its State powers +under this proclamation, and in the early months of 1864 a State +Government was duly completed and an anti-slavery Constitution adopted. +Arkansas followed the same course, but when her Senators and +Representatives applied to Congress for their seats, they were denied +admittance, and it was apparent that there was a distinct disagreement +between the President and Congress on the subject of Reconstruction. +Congress did not approve of the President's proceeding without asking +its advice, and did not approve of his plan, and a Bill was introduced +and passed embodying its views on the subject. In this Bill the +President was directed to appoint a Provisional Governor for each of the +rebellious States, and after military occupation had ceased, the +Governor was to enroll the white male citizens who would take an oath to +support the Constitution; after a majority had done so an election of +delegates to a Constitutional Convention was to follow, and the +Constitution was to contain prohibitory clauses on the subject of +slavery, the Confederate debt and the right of certain persons to vote. +If this Constitution was adopted by a majority of the popular vote, then +the President, with the consent of Congress, could recognize the State +Government, and it would be permitted to send its Representatives to +Congress. This Bill was passed July 2, 1864, on the last day of the +session, but it never became a law because the President did not sign +it, and did not return it before Congress adjourned. Several days after +the adjournment the President issued a Proclamation in which he laid the +Congressional plan before the people and declared that he was not in +favor of any one scheme of Reconstruction, and that he was also not +prepared to set aside the loyal governments which had been formed in +Louisiana and Arkansas. By the time Congress met again the President had +been re-elected, and it would seem that in some degree there was an +endorsement not only of his War Policy but of his plan of +Reconstruction. However, the matter was not pressed, and his message to +Congress in December, 1864, was silent on the subject. There was no +present occasion to bring forward the matter, but the President still +adhered to his original plan as far as Louisiana and Arkansas were +concerned, and so expressed himself in his last speech before his death. + +So the matter of Reconstruction stood when Andrew Johnson became +President. There was not much question about the general course he would +pursue, because, as War Governor of Tennessee, he had, early in 1865, +practically reconstructed that State under Mr. Lincoln's "ten percent" +plan. As Congress was not in session, and would not convene until +December, the President had the alternative of either calling an extra +session of Congress or proceeding in the matter of Reconstruction +according to his own ideas and the suggestions of his Cabinet, he having +retained the Cabinet left by Mr. Lincoln. The latter course was pursued, +and after some delay President Johnson began to act. An Executive Order +swept away all laws and decrees of the Confederacy, raised the blockade +and opened the southern ports to trade. + +On May 29, 1865, the President issued a Proclamation of Amnesty and +Pardon to all who had participated in the Rebellion upon their taking a +registered oath to support the Constitution and the Union, but the +Proclamation excepted a large number of persons of specified classes, +whose treason was deemed to be too great to allow them to again +participate in the Government. By the middle of July, Provisional +Governors had been appointed by the President in North Carolina, +Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Florida; the +authority of the United States had already been established in Virginia +early in May, and Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee had been +reconstructed under Mr. Lincoln's plan. The President's policy was that +as soon as these Governors took charge, any white person, except the +classes specified, could regain his citizenship by an oath to support +the Constitution and the Union. The taking of this oath by a sufficient +number was followed by Reconstruction Conventions, which were held in +the Southern States, and Legislators and Representatives to Congress +were chosen. The work of these Reconstruction Conventions and +Legislatures, although they repudiated the debts of the Confederacy and +recognized the Thirteenth Amendment, was highly displeasing to the +Republicans in the North, who were greatly interested in the fate of the +negroes, and who now saw them, by various laws passed by the Southern +Legislatures, deprived of all civil rights and reduced to a new form of +servitude. + +The first session of the Thirty-ninth Congress convened on December 4, +1865, with a large majority of Republicans in both House and Senate, and +both bodies in a very angry mood over the action of the President in +proceeding with the Reconstruction without their advice or consent, and +they were more enraged with the extreme and rash policies adopted by the +Southern Legislatures. To add to this bitter feeling came the +application of the Southern Senators and Representatives, many of whom +less than a year before had been engaged in active rebel-loin, to be +admitted to their seats. These applicants were refused admission by both +branches of Congress. The House and Senate appointed Reconstruction +Committees, and the debate immediately began on the great question. It +was seen at once that the Republican Party would totally ignore the +President's policy and all that had been done under it. The breach +widened between the President and Congress, when an Act to enlarge the +provisons of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill (passed March 3, 1865) came up. +The object of this Bill was to provide for the destitute and suffering +refugees and freedmen and their wives and children. The new Bill was +promptly passed, but on February 19, 1866, was vetoed by the President; +the Senate failed to pass the Bill over the veto, but later in the year +(July, 1866) the measure went through Congress in a slightly altered +form, was vetoed by the President and passed over his veto. The Civil +Rights Bill, to secure to the freed negroes in the South all of the +rights enjoyed by the white man, except suffrage, was also vetoed by the +President on March 27, 1866, and on April 9th was passed over his veto. + +[Illustration: Andrew Johnson.] + +The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, had been declared a part +of the Constitution on December 18, 1865, and the great work of the +Emancipation Proclamation was thus completed. The Reconstruction +Committee now reported the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, +fixing the status of citizens, the basis of representation, etc., and +also a Bill declaring that when the Amendment had become part of the +Constitution any of the late Confederate States, upon ratifying it, +would be allowed representation in Congress, to all of which the +President expressed his disapproval. The various presidential vetoes +completely broke off any possible chance of harmony between the +President and Congress, and in addition to them, the President indulged +in a number of rash speeches in which Congress was condemned in no very +elegant terms. On February 22, 1866, the President, in a speech at the +White House, denounced Congress bitterly for its opposition, and +referred in an abusive way to several prominent Republican leaders by +name, and he followed this up during the late Summer months by several +coarse speeches in Western cities while he was on his way to the +dedication of a monument to Stephen A. Douglas at Chicago. + +During the autumn of 1866 Congressional elections were to be held, and +there was naturally an absorbing interest in the result. These elections +were of the greatest importance, for if the President's course was +approved by the election of a Democratic Congress, almost the entire +result of the Civil War would have been undone, and the strife between +the North and South might have been renewed and continued in a more +serious form. By this time the South, encouraged by the President's +opposition, had rejected the Fourteenth Amendment, and were taking a +bold stand to maintain their policy. In October, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and +Pennsylvania went Republican, and in November were joined by New York, +which went overwhelmingly Republican, and the Republicans in the North +were everywhere victorious, and they were thus upheld in their +Reconstruction policy by the popular sentiment. + +The second session of the Thirty-ninth Congress convened on December 3, +1866. The South, during the recess of Congress, had refused to adopt the +Fourteenth Amendment, this having been made, as already stated, a +condition precedent to the enjoyment of the full privileges of +Statehood, and now nothing remained but for Congress to establish a +Government over the Southern States until they should see fit to comply +with the conditions laid down by Congress. The ten Southern States +(Tennessee had been readmitted by joint resolution July 24, 1866) were +divided into five Military Districts, under the supervision of Regular +Army Officers, who were to have control over all the people in their +Districts, for their peace and protection, until the States recognized +the Fourteenth Amendment. This Bill was passed March 2, 1867, over the +President's veto, and on the same day, over the President's veto, was +passed the Bill "To regulate the tenure of Civil offices." The object of +the latter Bill was to prevent the President from removing Republicans +from office. No person in civil office who had been appointed with the +consent of the Senate was to be removed until his successor was +appointed in a like manner. + +Efforts to impeach the President were first begun in the House on +January 7, 1867, and the Judiciary Committee, to which the matter was +referred, reported in March that it was unable to conclude its +investigations, and it recommended a continuance of the proceedings. +President Johnson now took the step that ultimately brought about his +impeachment. In August, 1867, he suspended Mr. Stanton, the Secretary of +War; the suspension was not approved by the Senate in January, 1868, but +the President, holding that the Tenure of Office Act was +unconstitutional, removed (February 21, 1868) Mr. Stanton from office +and appointed Adjutant-general Lorenzo Thomas. This act was declared +illegal by the Senate and a second impeachment was immediately reported +in the House and adopted February 24, 1868. The House selected John A. +Bingham, Geo. S. Boutwell, James F. Wilson, Benjamin F. Butler, Thomas +Williams, John A. Logan and Thaddeus Stevens, all Republicans, as +managers of the impeachment proceedings. The counsel for the President +were no less eminent: Henry Stanbery, Benjamin R. Curtis, William M. +Evarts and William S. Groesbeck. On May 11, 1868, the Senate voted +thirty-five "guilty" to nineteen "not guilty," and the impeachment +failed by one vote. Had the President been impeached, Benjamin F. Wade, +of Ohio, would have become President. The result was deeply +disappointing to the Republicans, and for many years there was +considerable feeling against the seven Republicans who voted with the +twelve Democrats against the impeachment, but lapse of time has brought +about a view that the interests of the country were best served by the +failure of the impeachment, not that President Johnson's policy and the +action of the South under it are to be adopted, but because it is +believed that the issues caused by the war were more speedily settled by +the failure to impeach. + +So bitter was the feeling of Congress against the President, and so +great was the distrust of him, that when the Thirty-ninth Congress +adjourned on March 4, 1867, the Fortieth Congress convened on the same +day, and a series of adjourned meetings were held during the months +until December, so that the President would not have undisputed sway +during the recess which usually came between March and December. + +The question of the National Debt, while not arousing the bitter +antagonism that marked the attempt to settle the Reconstruction +question, was nevertheless of equal, if not greater importance, because +it affected the prosperity and business of the entire country. The total +debt of the United States on October 31, 1865, was $2,808,549,437.55, of +which debt $454,218,038.00 was in United States notes (legal tenders or +greenbacks, as they were called) and fractional currency, in active +circulation with the National Bank currency. When the Thirty-ninth +Congress convened for the first session it had to consider the +disposition of this enormous debt, most of which had been incurred at a +high war rate of interest; and to decide what, if anything, should be +done with this vast volume of fiat currency, and to consider the matter +of reducing the Internal Revenue. The greenbacks were, of course, not on +a par with coin, as the action of the Government in declaring these +notes legal tender had destroyed our credit abroad and had driven all +coin out of circulation, and the value of these notes fluctuated almost +daily with the market value of coin. The plan of the Secretary of the +Treasury, Mr. McCulloch, was to contract the currency so as to lead to a +resumption of specie payment and again establish our credit abroad. The +situation was without precedent in financial history and there was some +excuse for what has since been deemed a wrong step in the beginning. +After considerable debate, in which some opposition was shown to the +policy of Contraction--this opposition being led by John Sherman, who +was, in fact, almost alone in his contention--a Bill was passed (April +12, 1866) allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to redeem a certain +amount of legal tenders with Bonds, a course which naturally increased +the bonded interest-bearing indebtedness and reduced the volume of +circulating medium. The people of the country speedily complained of the +contraction of the currency, and attributed the failure of business +enterprises and the lack of money to it. This sentiment resulted later +in the formation of a new but ephemeral political party, the Greenback +Party, which went so far as to advocate the unlimited issue of legal +tenders and the payment of all the indebtedness of the United States in +United States notes. The public disapproval of contraction showed itself +strongly, and this led to a Bill, passed on February 4, 1868, suspending +the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to reduce the currency. +The total amount of greenbacks had by this time been reduced to +$356,000,000. This practically settled the question of Currency +Contraction, although the Greenback Party, created by this agitation, +was in existence until the resumption of specie payments in 1879. + +As the requirements of the Treasury gradually became less, Congress +rapidly amended the Internal Revenue laws, and the Federal taxes on the +people, as a result of the war, gradually became less burdensome, and +notwithstanding the enormous reduction in the revenue of the Government, +the National Debt was reduced nearly three hundred million dollars in +the four years following the war. To add to the brightness of this +financial history, large sums were paid out toward the construction of +the Union and Central Pacific Railroads, and on July 27, 1868, Alaska +was purchased from the Russian Government for $7,200,000. + +The entire course of this financial history cannot be claimed to be +entirely satisfactory, yet the achievements of the Republican Party +during this period, acting in many instances without precedent, were +indeed remarkable. + +While the exciting scenes connected with the impeachment of the +President were going on during the early months of 1868, the South was +ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment, and by June, 1868, the long struggle +over the Reconstruction question was practically closed by the admission +of the Southern States, and in July the Fourteenth Amendment was +declared a part of the Constitution. Throughout this long contest the +Democrats, North and South, joined in vigorous support of the President +because the course of the Republicans was absolutely fatal to their +political prospects. The great contest had retarded the progress of the +South, and was unfortunate in continuing the bitterness between the two +sections of the country. Both sides hailed its conclusion with +thanksgiving, and the Republicans now looked forward to the presidential +election in the Fall of 1868, which would replace, probably with a +Republican, a President whose person and course were so obnoxious to the +party. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GRANT. + + +" ... I endorse their resolutions, and, if elected to the office of +President of the United States, it will be my endeavor to administer all +the laws in good faith, with economy, and with a view of giving peace, +quiet and protection everywhere... Peace, and universal prosperity, its +sequence, with economy of administration, will lighten the burden of +taxation, while it constantly reduces the national debt. Let us have +peace." + +_Ulysses S. Grant's Letter of Acceptance_, _May_ 29, 1868. + + +The impeachment of President Johnson had not been finally disposed of +in the Senate when the Fourth Republican National Convention assembled +in Crosby's Opera House, Chicago, on May 20, 1868, for the purpose of +nominating one whom, it was confidently believed, would succeed +President Johnson and thus end the long controversy between the +President and Congress, and between the North and the South. There was +absolutely no question as to who would be the presidential nominee, for +the overwhelming sentiment of the party had long since crystallized in +favor of a man whose wonderful career and talents had made him +pre-eminently the strongest candidate in the party. + +[Illustration: Ulysses S. Grant.] + +Ulysses S. Grant was born in Ohio in 1822, and had graduated from West +Point in 1843. He took part in the Mexican War, and was brevetted +Captain for gallant services. A few years after the close of that war he +resigned his commission and engaged in business until the call to arms +in 1861. His great success in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson +brought him the rank of Major General and made him at once one of the +most prominent and promising of the Union Generals. His subsequent +successes in Tennessee, the capture of Vicksburg and the opening of the +Mississippi caused him to be appointed to the revived rank of +Lieutenant-General, and taking personal command of the campaign against +Richmond, he had, by his dogged persistence, brought success and ended +the great conflict. He continued to remain at the head of the Army, and +in the bitter contest between the President and Congress during the +reconstruction period, though placed in a most trying position, he had +displayed rare qualities of tact and judgment, and had gained the +confidence of the entire party, and indeed of the American people. Such, +briefly, was the career of the man who was now called to accept a +presidential nomination. + +The assembling at Chicago of a great convention of soldiers and sailors +at the same time the Republican Convention met, made the latter even +more enthusiastic than the convention of 1860, and the number in +attendance was much larger. The Soldiers' Convention met before the +Republican Convention, and amid scenes of the wildest enthusiasm, +nominated Gen. Grant for the presidency, and condemned the seven +Republicans--"traitors" as they were then called--who had voted +against the impeachment of President Johnson. At noon, May 20th, the +Republican Convention was called to order by Governor Marcus L. Ward, of +New Jersey. He named Carl Schurz, of Wisconsin, as temporary Chairman. +The temporary Secretaries were B. R. Cowen, of Ohio, Luther Caldwell, of +New York, and Frank S. Richards, of Tennessee. Committees on +Credentials, Permanent Organization, Resolutions and Rules were then +appointed, each of the committees, with some few exceptions, having on +it a representative from each of the States. The name of Joseph R. +Hawley was reported for President of the Convention, and the names of +one representative from each State as Vice-President, and also +thirty-six secretaries. A delegation from the Soldiers' and Sailors' +Convention now presented a resolution nominating Gen. Grant for +President, and it caused great enthusiasm. Such a procedure was contrary +to the rules of the Convention, but the delegates were almost unanimous +in desiring the nomination to be made at once, but order was finally +restored. After some debate it was decided to give representation in the +Convention to the Territories, and to the States not yet reconstructed. +The Convention then adjourned until the following morning at ten +o'clock, at which time, on assembling, impatient attempts were again +made to nominate Gen. Grant contrary to the rules, but the Convention +finally quieted down and listened to speeches delivered by F. Hassaurek, +John M. Palmer and John W. Forney. The platform, reported by Richard W. +Thompson, of Indiana, was adopted with many cheers. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1868. + +The National Republican Party of the United States, assembled in +national convention in the City of Chicago on the 21st day of May, +1868, make the following declaration of principles: + +1. We congratulate the country on the assured success of the +reconstruction policy of Congress, as evinced by the adoption, in the +majority of the states lately in rebellion, of Constitutions securing +equal civil and political rights to all; and it is the duty of the +government to sustain those institutions and to prevent the people of +such states from being remitted to a state of anarchy. + +2. The guaranty by Congress of equal suffrage to all loyal men at +the South was demanded by every consideration of public safety, of +gratitude, and of justice, and must be maintained; while the question +of suffrage in all the loyal states properly belongs to the people of +those states. + +3. We denounce all forms of repudiation as a national crime; and the +national honor requires the payment of the public indebtedness in the +uttermost good faith to all creditors at home and abroad, not only +according to the letter, but the spirit of the laws under which it was +contracted. + +4. It is due to the labor of the nation that taxation should be +equalized, and reduced as rapidly as the national faith will permit. + +5. The national debt, contracted as it has been for the preservation of +the Union for all time to come, should be extended over a fair period +for redemption; and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of +interest thereon whenever it can be honestly done. + +6. That the best policy to diminish our burden of debt is to so improve +our credit that capitalists will seek to loan us money at lower rates of +interest than we now pay, and must continue to pay, so long as +repudiation, partial or total, open or covert, is threatened or +suspected. + +7. The government of the United States should be administered with the +strictest economy; and the corruptions which have been so shamefully +nursed and fostered by Andrew Johnson call loudly for radical reform. + +8. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic death of Abraham +Lincoln, and regret the accession of the Presidency of Andrew Johnson, +who has acted treacherously to the people who elected him and the cause +he was pledged to support; who has usurped high legislative and judicial +functions; who has refused to execute the laws; who has used his high +office to induce other officers to ignore and violate the laws; who has +employed his executive powers to render insecure the property, the +peace, the liberty and life of the citizen; who has abused the pardoning +power; who has denounced the national legislature as unconstitutional; +who has persistently and corruptly resisted, by every means in his +power, every proper attempt at the reconstruction of the states lately +in rebellion; who has perverted the public patronage into an engine of +wholesale corruption; and who has been justly impeached for high crimes +and misdemeanors, and properly pronounced guilty thereof by the vote of +thirty-five senators. + +9. The doctrine of Great Britain and other European powers, that because +a man is once a subject he is always so, must be resisted at every +hazard by the United States, as a relic of feudal times, not authorized +by the laws of nations, and at war with our national honor and +independence. Naturalized citizens are entitled to protection in all +their rights of citizenship as though they were native born; and no +citizen of the United States, native or naturalized, must be liable to +arrest and imprisonment by any foreign power for acts done or words +spoken in this country; and, if so arrested and imprisoned, it is the +duty of the government to interfere in his behalf. + +10. Of all who were faithful in the trials of the late war there were +none entitled to more especial honor than the brave soldiers and seamen +who endured the hardships of campaign and cruise, and imperilled their +lives in the service of the country; the bounties and pensions provided +by the laws for these brave defenders of the nation are obligations +never to be forgotten; the widows and orphans of the gallant dead are +the wards of the people--a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation's +protecting care. + +11. Foreign immigration, which in the past has added so much to the +wealth, development, and resources, and increase of power to this +republic--the asylum of the oppressed of all nations--should be +fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy. + +12. This convention declares itself in sympathy with all oppressed +people struggling for their rights. + +13. That we highly commend the spirit of magnanimity and forbearance +with which men who have served in the rebellion but who now frankly +and honestly co-operate with us in restoring the peace of the country +and reconstructing the Southern state governments upon the basis of +impartial justice and equal rights, are received back into the communion +of the loyal people; and we favor the removal of the disqualifications +and restrictions imposed upon the late rebels in the same measure as the +spirit of disloyalty will die out, and as may be consistent with the +safety of the loyal people. + +14. That we recognize the great principles laid down in the immortal +Declaration of Independence as the true foundation of democratic +government; and we hail with gladness every effort toward making these +principles a living reality on every inch of American soil. + +Nominations now being in order, John A. Logan, in a few words remarkable +for their force and beauty, nominated Ulysses S. Grant for President. +After the enthusiasm had abated the roll of the States was called, and +the unanimous vote of the delegates, 650 in number, was given to Gen. +Grant, and the audience went wild with delight. The great contest of the +Convention now came over the nomination for Vice-President. Henry +Wilson, Schuyler Colfax, Benjamin F. Wade, Reuben E. Fenton, James +Speed, Andrew G. Curtin, Hannibal Hamlin, James Harlan, S. C. Pomeroy, +J. A. J. Creswell and William D. Kelley were nominated. The leading +candidates were Benj. F. Wade, of Ohio, Mr. Colfax, of Indiana, Mr. +Curtin, of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Fenton, +of New York, all of whom had rendered the most conspicuous services to +the party. Five ballots were taken as follows: + + 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th + Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot + Wade .......... 147 170 178 206 38 + Wilson ........ 119 114 101 87 + Colfax ........ 115 145 165 186 541 + Fenton ........ 126 144 139 144 69 + Curtin ........ 51 45 40 + +Only the votes for the leading candidates are here given. Mr. Colfax was +therefore nominated on the fifth ballot, and it was felt that his name +added great strength to the ticket. He was then Speaker of the House, to +which he had been elected with the organization of the party in 1854, +and had served with great ability for six terms. + +The Democratic Convention met in New York in Tammany Hall on July 4, +1868. It was a gathering composed principally of Southern leaders and +Generals and Northern Copperheads. After a troubled session of six days +the Chairman of the Convention, Horatio Seymour, of New York, was +nominated for President on the twenty-second ballot, and Francis P. +Blair, Jr., of Missouri, was nominated for Vice-President. The platform +advocated the payment of the national debt in depreciated currency, the +overthrowing of all that had been done under the reconstruction policy +of Congress and the taxing of Government bonds. The platform practically +doomed the party to defeat before the campaign had really opened. The +canvass was exciting, but the October States practically decided the +contest, and the election on November 3d registered what had long been +conceded. Grant and Colfax received the 214 electoral votes of +twenty-six States; Seymour and Blair only carrying eight States, New +York among them, with their 80 electoral votes. The popular vote gave +Grant and Colfax 3,012,833, and Seymour and Blair 2,703,249. + +The third session of the Fortieth Congress assembled on December 7, +1868. One phase of the slavery question still remained unsettled, that +of giving the negro the right of suffrage. For several years a strong +sentiment had shown itself in the North in favor of granting this right, +and Congress had already recognized this sentiment by giving the negro +the right to vote in the District of Columbia, which act was passed over +President Johnson's veto. The great injustice of freeing the negro and +withholding from him the means of protecting his freedom by the right of +suffrage was not generally felt, and it remained now for a Republican +Congress to crown with a great act of justice the long labors of the +party, to remove all the evils of insufferable bondage, and to complete +the work of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth and +Fourteenth Amendments. + +On February 27, 1869, Congress proposed, through the Department of +State, the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution: + +"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied +or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on account of race, +color or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have power +to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." +This Amendment, after submission to the States, was proclaimed a part +of the Constitution in 1870. + +In his message to Congress in December, 1868, President Johnson said: + +"The holders of our securities have already received upon their bonds +a larger amount than their original investment, measured by the gold +standard. Upon this statement of facts it would seem but just and +equitable that the six percent interest now paid by the Government +should be applied to the reduction of the principal in semi-annual +installments, which in sixteen years and eight months would liquidate +the entire national debt." +The policy of repudiation advocated by the Democratic Party in the +campaign of 1868 and the repudiation now advocated by President Johnson, +were promptly rejected by the Republican Congress, and both branches +passed resolutions of condemnation. + +General Grant was inaugurated on March 4, 1869, and the Fortieth +Congress adjourned on the same day. The Forty-first Congress immediately +convened and elected James G. Blaine, of Maine, Speaker by 105 votes to +57 votes for Michael C. Kerr, of Indiana. Mr. Blaine was also elected +Speaker of the Forty-second Congress when it met on March 4, 1871. On +the 18th of March, 1869, Congress decided by the "Act to strengthen the +public credit," to remove as far as possible the damage done at home and +abroad by the repudiation platform of the Democratic Party, and the +repudiation message of President Johnson. This Act pledged the +Government at the earliest practicable moment to pay in coin or its +equivalent all obligations, notes and bonds except those where the law +authorizing their issue stipulated that payment might be made in lawful +money. + +May 10, 1869, witnessed the opening for traffic of the Union Pacific +Railroad, which had first been advocated by the Republican Party in its +platform in 1856, and which was now brought to a successful opening by +necessary subsidies of money and land given the railroad by Republican +Congresses. The war had resulted in a wonderful development of the +physical wealth of the North and West, and the railroad was opened at a +most opportune moment to connect the East and West, and make possible +the development of all the wonderful resources of the nation. It was +unfortunate, however, that unwise management of the bonds and credit of +the Western Railroads led to such a disastrous climax in the fall of +1873. + +In the decade between 1860 and 1870 the admission of four new States-- +Kansas in 1861, West Virginia in 1863, Nevada in 1864, and Nebraska in +1867--had raised the total number of States to thirty-seven. In +addition, six new Territories had been organized--Colorado and Dakota +in 1861, Idaho and Arizona in 1863, Montana in 1864, and Wyoming in +1868. The admission of these new States, the completing of the railroad, +the discovery of precious metals, and the general awakening of the North +caused a large increase in the population, especially in the West. The +total population of the country in 1870 was 38,558,371, of which +4,880,009 were negroes, about 4,400,000 of them living in the Southern +States. + +The second session of the Forty-first Congress met December 6, 1869. The +President in his message advocated the refunding of the National Debt, +and this was done by the Act of July 14, 1870, which authorized the +refunding of the debt at five, four and one-half and four percent, +payable in coin and exempt from taxation. + +The sentiment in favor of a general amnesty of all persons who had +engaged in the rebellion was now growing in the North, and in December, +1869, and March, 1870, Acts were passed removing legal and political +disabilities from a large class of persons in the South, but a full +pardon was not yet extended to all. The South at this time was most +bitter against negro suffrage, and the opposition was shown in a series +of most violent outrages and murders perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klans +and other similar organizations formed for the purpose of preventing the +negro from voting and the "carpet bagger" from living in the community. +The outrages and murders done by these organizations became so flagrant +that Congress passed a special Act on April 20, 1871 (the Ku Klux Act), +to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment. + +The other events of Gen. Grant's administration were chiefly of a +diplomatic nature, and it is not necessary to dwell upon them in these +pages. With the opening of 1872 came the year for another presidential +campaign, and the only serious issue was the threatened split in the +Republican Party over the question of the treatment of the South. The +Democrats were demoralized and had no candidate, and the situation was +the most peculiar and abnormal in the history of presidential campaigns. +A group of Republicans in Missouri were in favor of a more liberal +policy toward the South, and President Grant was roundly condemned for +his military rule. This movement became known as the Liberal Republican +movement, and a convention was called to meet in Cincinnati on May 1st. +This year also witnessed the organization for political action of the +Prohibition Party and the Labor Reform Party. The latter held the first +of the political conventions and met at Columbus, Ohio, February 22, +1872. Judge David Davis, of Illinois, was nominated for President, and +Judge Joel Parker, of New Jersey, for Vice-President; both subsequently +withdrew, and in August this party nominated Charles O'Conor for +President, who also declined. The platform of the Labor Reform Party +demanded lower interest on and taxation of government bonds; the repeal +of the law establishing the national banks and withdrawal of the +national bank notes; the issue of paper money based on the faith and +resources of the nation to be legal tender for all debts; exclusion of +the Chinese; no more land grants to corporations, and the organization +of a National Labor Reform party. The National Prohibition Convention +also met in Columbus, Ohio, on February 22d, and nominated James Black, +of Pennsylvania, for President, and Rev. John Russell, of Michigan, for +Vice-President. + +The National Liberal Republican Convention met at Cincinnati, Ohio, May +1, 1872. It was a mass convention, and Carl Schurz presided as Permanent +Chairman. The prominent candidates for the presidency were Judge David +Davis, Lyman Trumbull, Chas. Francis Adams, B. Gratz Brown and Horace +Greeley, whose name had not been seriously considered until the +Convention assembled, and who, on May 3d was nominated on the sixth +ballot for President, and B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri, was nominated for +Vice-President. The platform demanded universal amnesty and a liberal +policy, no more land grants to corporations, and denounced repudiation. +The Republicans met in their Fifth National Convention at Philadelphia, +June 5th, in the Academy of Music. There was no question but that +President Grant would be renominated, and the only contest was that +between Henry Wilson and Schuyler Colfax for the nomination for +Vice-President. William Claflin, of Massachusetts, called the meeting to +order and named Morton McMichael as temporary Chairman. The usual +committees were appointed, and while they were deliberating the +convention listened to a number of stirring speeches, several by colored +men, who appeared as representatives in a national convention for the +first time. Thomas Settle, of North Carolina, was reported as permanent +chairman. On the following day, after some preliminary business had been +disposed of, Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, nominated President Grant +for a second term, and the vote, 752, was made unanimous. Henry Wilson, +Schuyler Colfax, John F. Lewis, Edmund J. Davis, and Horace Maynard were +nominated for Vice-President. One ballot was cast and resulted in the +nomination of Henry Wilson, who received 364½ votes to 321½ for Colfax, +26 for Maynard, 16 for Davis, and one each for Jos. R. Hawley and E. F. +Noyes. The fifth Republican platform, which was now adopted, read as +follows: + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1872. + +The Republican Party of the United States, assembled in national +convention in the city of Philadelphia on the 5th and 6th days of +June, 1872, again declares its faith, appeals to its history, and +announces its position upon the questions before the country. + +1. During eleven years of supremacy it has accepted with grand courage +the solemn duties of the time. It suppressed a gigantic rebellion, +emancipated four millions of slaves, decreed the equal citizenship of +all, and established universal suffrage. Exhibiting unparalleled +magnanimity, it criminally punished no man for political offenses, and +warmly welcomed all who proved loyalty by obeying the laws and dealing +justly with their neighbors. It has steadily decreased with firm hand +the resultant disorders of a great war and initiated a wise and humane +policy toward the Indians. The Pacific Railroad and similar vast +enterprises have been generously aided and successfully conducted, the +public lands freely given to actual settlers, immigration protected and +encouraged, and a full acknowledgment of the naturalized citizens' +rights secured from European powers. A uniform national currency has +been provided, repudiation frowned down, the national credit sustained +under the most extraordinary burdens, and new bonds negotiated at lower +rates. The revenues have been carefully collected and honestly applied. +Despite annual large reductions in the rates of taxation, the public +debt has been reduced during General Grant's presidency at the rate of a +hundred millions a year; great financial crises have been avoided, and +peace and plenty prevail throughout the land. Menacing foreign +difficulties have been peacefully and honorably composed, and the honor +and power of the nation kept in high respect throughout the world. This +glorious record of the past is the party's best pledge for the future. +We believe the people will not intrust the government to any party or +combination of men composed chiefly of those who have resisted every +step of this beneficent progress. + +2. The recent amendments to the National Constitution should be +cordially sustained because they are right, not merely tolerated +because they are law, and should be carried out according to their +spirit by appropriate legislation, the enforcement of which can +safely be entrusted only to the party that secured those amendments. + +3. Complete liberty and exact equality in the enjoyment of all civil, +political and public rights should be established and effectually +maintained throughout the Union, by efficient and appropriate state and +federal legislation. Neither the law nor its administration should admit +any discrimination in respect of citizens by reason of race, creed, +color, or previous condition of servitude. + +4. The national government should seek to maintain honorable peace with +all nations, protecting its citizens everywhere, and sympathizing with +all people who strive for greater liberty. + +5. Any system of the civil service under which the subordinate positions +of the government are considered rewards for mere party zeal is fatally +demoralizing, and we therefore favor a reform of the system by laws +which shall abolish the evils of patronage and make honesty, efficiency +and fidelity the essential qualifications for public positions, without +practically creating a life-tenure of office. + +6. We are opposed to further grants of the public lands to corporations +and monopolies, and demand that the national domain be set apart for +free homes for the people. + +7. The annual revenue, after paying current expenditures, pensions, and +the interest on the public debt, should furnish a moderate balance for +the reduction of the principal, and that revenue, except so much as may +be derived from a tax on tobacco and liquors, should be raised by duties +upon importations, the details of which should be so adjusted as to aid +in securing remunerative wages to labor, and promote the industries, +prosperity, and growth of the whole country. + +8. We hold in undying honor the soldiers and sailors whose valor saved +the Union. Their pensions are a sacred debt of the nation, and the +widows and orphans of those who died for their country are entitled to +the care of a generous and grateful people. We favor such additional +legislation as will extend the bounty of the government to all our +soldiers and sailors who were honorably discharged, and who in the line +of duty became disabled, without regard to the length of service or the +cause of such discharge. + +9. The doctrine of Great Britain and other European powers concerning +allegiance--"Once a subject always a subject"--having at last, through +the efforts of the Republican party, been abandoned, and the American +idea of the individual's right to transfer allegiance having been +accepted by European nations, it is the duty of our government to guard +with jealous care the rights of adopted citizens against the assumption +of unauthorized claims by their former governments, and we urge +continued careful encouragement and protection of voluntary immigration. + +10. The franking privilege ought to be abolished and the way prepared +for a speedy reduction in the rates of postage. + +11. Among the questions which press the attention is that which concerns +the relations of capital and labor, and the Republican party recognizes +the duty of so shaping legislation as to secure full protection and the +amplest field for capital, and for labor, the creator of capital, the +largest opportunities and a just share of the mutual profits of these +two great servants of civilization. + +12. We hold that Congress and the President have only fulfilled an +imperative duty in their measures for suppression of violent and +treasonable organizations in certain lately rebellious regions, and +for the protection of the ballot-box; and therefore they are entitled +to the thanks of the nation. + +13. We denounce repudiation of the public debt, in any form or disguise, +as a national crime. We witness with pride the reduction of the +principal of the debt, and of the rates of interest upon the balance, +and confidently expect that our excellent national currency will be +perfected by a speedy resumption of specie payment. + +14. The Republican party is mindful of its obligations to the loyal +women of America for their noble devotion to the cause of freedom. Their +admission to wider fields of usefulness is viewed with satisfaction; and +the honest demand of any class of citizens for additional rights should +be treated with respectful consideration. + +15. We heartily approve the action of Congress in extending amnesty to +those lately in rebellion, and rejoice in the growth of peace and +fraternal feeling throughout the land. + +16. The Republican party proposes to respect the rights reserved by the +people to themselves as carefully as the powers delegated by them to the +state and to the federal government. It disapproves of the resort to +unconstitutional laws for the purpose of removing evils by interference +with rights not surrendered by the people to either the state or +national government. + +17. It is the duty of the general government to adopt such measures as +may tend to encourage and restore American commerce and ship-building. + +18. We believe that the modest patriotism, the earnest purpose, the +sound judgment, the practical wisdom, the incorruptible integrity, +and the illustrious services of Ulysses S. Grant have commended him +to the heart of the American people, and with him at our head we +start to-day upon a new march to victory. + +19. Henry Wilson, nominated for the Vice-Presidency, known to the whole +land from the early days of the great struggle for liberty as an +indefatigable laborer in all campaigns, an incorruptible legislator, and +representative man of American institutions, is worthy to associate with +our great leader and share the honors which we pledge our best efforts +to bestow upon them. + +It is important also to note that Grant and Wilson had already been +nominated by the Workingmen's National Convention in New York on May +23d. + +The Democratic National Convention met at Baltimore on July 9th and +endorsed the Liberal Republican nominees, Greeley and Brown, and the +Liberal Republican platform. A convention of "straight-out" Democrats +met at Louisville, Kentucky, September 3d to 5th, and repudiated the +Baltimore convention, nominating Charles O'Conor, of New York, for +President, and John Q. Adams, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President, who +both declined, but the convention, unable to secure other candidates, +left the ticket as named. A Colored Liberal Republican Convention at +Louisville on September 25th also nominated Greeley and Brown. In +addition to these various conventions, the Liberal Republican Revenue +Reformers' Convention met in New York June 25th, and nominated William +S. Groesbeck, of Ohio, for President, and F. L. Olmstead, of New York, +for Vice-President. + +The contest between Grant and Greeley was a remarkable one, and at its +opening there was considerable doubt as to the outcome; but as the +summer months went by it was seen that the coalition between the Liberal +Republicans and the Democrats was working out unsatisfactorily. The +October States went Republican, and indicated clearly what could be +expected in November. The election on November 5th was an overwhelming +victory for the Republicans; Grant and Wilson carried 29 States with +their 286 electoral votes out of a total electoral vote of 366, Arkansas +and Louisiana not being counted for either side. The popular vote gave +Grant 3,597,132, Greeley 2,834,125, O'Conor 29,489, Black 5,608. The +election was followed in a few weeks by the death of Mr. Greeley; +broken-hearted by the death of his wife a few days before the election, +and exhausted by the tremendous strains of the campaign, and +disappointed by the result, the great editor closed one of the most +remarkable careers in American history. + +The hostility of England to the North during the Civil War led to the +filing of the Alabama Claims, which were adjusted by the Geneva +Tribunal, and the United States, on September 14, 1872, was awarded +$15,500,000 in gold in full payment of these claims. + +The third session of the Forty-second Congress began December 2, 1872, +and immediately, on motion of Mr. Blaine, a committee was appointed to +investigate the Democratic charges made during the preceding +presidential campaign, that the Vice-President, the Secretary of the +Treasury, Speaker of the House, and other prominent Republicans, had +accepted, in return for political influence, stock in the Credit +Mobilier, a company originally engaged in the construction of the Union +Pacific. The result of this committee's investigation was the clearing +of the prominent men charged, but a vote of censure was passed on +Representatives Oakes Ames and James Brooks for connection with the +scandal. + +An Act went into effect on February 12, 1873, the provisions of which, +it was afterwards argued, caused the "demonetization" of silver. This +demonetization had already occurred in 1853, when nothing was said in +the Act of that year as to the silver dollar piece which had for some +years entirely disappeared from circulation. The Act of 1873 simply +recognized a condition which had been present for more than twenty years +when it provided for the coinage of ten, twenty-five and fifty-cent +silver pieces and omitted the dollar. The Act of 1873 was passed because +all coin had been driven out of circulation by the United States notes +and fractional currency issued during the War, and the Treasury +Department, deeming the time appropriate for the issuance of subsidiary +silver coins and revision of the coinage laws, suggested, after +consultation with experts, the Act of 1873. The Act was, in fact, an +important step toward specie resumption. This law also provided for a +trade dollar for use in trade with China and Japan. This dollar was to +weigh 420 grains, so as to give it the advantage over the Mexican dollar +of 416 grains. It was made legal tender for a limited amount only, and +several years afterwards was withdrawn from circulation. + +President Grant was reinaugurated on March 4, 1873, and the Republican +Party seemingly had a prospect of a long lease of power, for the +strength of all opposition seemed to have been dissipated by the +campaign of 1872; but before the year of the reinauguration had passed, +circumstances occurred absolutely beyond the control of the party, the +result of which caused a complete change of the political aspect of the +country. In September, 1873, while business affairs were in a good +condition and labor well employed, a sudden financial panic engulfed the +country and brought demoralization to almost all industries. The direct +cause of this panic was the abuse of credit in the enormous building of +railroads which had been going on for several years prior to 1873. The +market had been flooded with railroad bonds, and as the old portions of +the Western railroads did not earn enough to pay for new construction, +the railroads gradually began to default in the payment of interest on +their bonds, and the New York bankers became overburdened with them; the +natural result was that they were compelled to call in their loans, +money became tight, and the storm broke in September, 1873, when the +great financial house of Jay Cooke & Co. closed its doors. By the end of +October the panic was over, but the effects were felt long afterwards in +thousands of ruined enterprises. It gave new arguments to the champions +of fiat currency, and the whole situation told against the success of +the Republican Party. When the first session of the Forty-third Congress +opened on December 1, 1873 (James G. Blaine elected Speaker), arguments +for currency inflation were advanced on all sides, and resulted in the +passage of a bill on April 14, 1874, to inflate the currency +$44,000,000. President Grant wisely vetoed the measure and it failed of +passage over his veto. The Congressional elections in the fall of 1874 +showed the influence of the disastrous industrial conditions upon +politics, for the Democrats obtained control of the House for the first +time in fifteen years. That a great political revulsion was in progress +was apparent when Ohio in 1873 and New York in 1874 elected Democratic +Governors. When the Forty-fourth Congress convened on December 6, 1875, +Michael C. Kerr, Democrat, of Indiana, was chosen Speaker by 173 votes +over James G. Blaine, who received 106. This practically showed the +party strength in the House. + +The most important Act of President Grant's second term was the +Resumption of specie payment, which was provided for in the bill +reported to the Senate December 21, 1874, by John Sherman. By this Act +there was to be a coinage of ten, twenty-five and fifty-cent silver +pieces, which were to be exchanged for fractional currency until it was +all redeemed. There was to be an issue of bonds, and the surplus revenue +was to be used to buy coin. So much of the Act of 1870 which limited the +amount of national bank notes to $350,000,000 was repealed, and these +banks were now authorized to issue more bills; but for every $100.00 +issued the Secretary of the Treasury must call in $80.00 of the +greenbacks until but $300,000,000 of them remained. The total amount of +paper currency in the United States at this time was $780,000,000, +divided into $382,000,000 U. S. notes, $44,000,000 fractional currency +and $354,000,000 national bank notes, and each dollar of this paper +currency was worth about eighty-nine cents in coin. The Act further +provided that after January 1, 1879, the Secretary of the Treasury was +to redeem in coin all United States legal tender notes then outstanding, +on presentation. President Grant approved this bill January 14, 1875, +with a special message to Congress. + +The spring of 1876 witnessed the opening of the Centennial Exposition at +Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, by President Grant and Emperor Dom Pedro +II, of Brazil. In this year a successor was to be chosen to President +Grant, and for the first time in the history of the party since 1860 +there was to be a contest over the presidential nomination. The long +continuance in power of the party had its natural effect of creating +factions, and this, together with the recent Democratic successes, made +necessary a most careful selection of a candidate and of a platform for +this campaign. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HAYES. + + +" ... and to put forth my best efforts in behalf of a civil policy which +will forever wipe out in our political affairs the color line and the +distinction between North and South, to the end that we may have, not +merely a united North or a united South, but a united country." + +_Rutherford B. Hayes_, _Inaugural Address_, _March_ 5, 1877. + + +The Sixth Republican National Convention met at Cincinnati, Ohio, June +14, 1876, and, as already noted, for the first time since 1860 there was +to be a contest for the presidential nomination. James G. Blaine was +most prominently mentioned during the months preceding the Convention, +and was unquestionably the favorite of a majority of the delegates when +they met. His friends were united and enthusiastic, but there was a +factional opposition, led by Mr. Conkling, of New York, that united on +the seventh ballot and resulted in the nomination of a candidate who had +received comparatively little attention before the Convention met. The +next strongest candidates after Mr. Blaine seemed to be Oliver P. +Morton, of Indiana, and Benjamin H. Bristow, of Kentucky, both of whom +had rendered conspicuous services to the party and to the country. Other +candidates were Roscoe Conkling, of New York, Rutherford B. Hayes, of +Ohio, and John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania. The Convention was called +to order by Edwin D. Morgan, who named Theodore M. Pomeroy, of New York, +temporary Chairman. The usual committees were appointed and Edward +McPherson, of Pennsylvania, was reported as permanent Chairman. Gen. +Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut, reported the following platform: + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1876. + +When in the economy of Providence, this land was to be purged of human +slavery, and when the strength of government of the people, by the +people, and for the people was to be demonstrated, the Republican party +came into power. Its deeds have passed into history, and we look back to +them with pride. Incited by their memories to high aims for the good of +our country and mankind, and looking to the future with unfaltering +courage, hope and purpose, we, the representatives of the party, in +national convention assembled, make the following declaration of +principles: + +1. The United States of America is a nation, not a league. By the +combined workings of the national and state governments, under their +respective constitutions, the rights of every citizen are secured, at +home and abroad, and the common welfare promoted. + +2. The Republican party has preserved these governments to the hundredth +anniversary of the nation's birth, and they are now embodiments of the +great truth spoken at its cradle: "That all men are created equal; that +they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among +which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that for the +attainment of these ends governments have been instituted among men, +deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Until +these truths are cheerfuly obeyed, or, if need be, vigorously enforced, +the work of the Republican party is unfinished. + +3. The permanent pacification of the southern section of the Union and +the complete protection of all its citizens in the free enjoyment of all +their rights, is a duty to which the Republican party stands sacredly +pledged. The power to provide for the enforcement of the principles +embodied in the recent constitutional amendments is vested by those +amendments in the Congress of the United States, and we declare it to be +the solemn obligation of the legislative and executive departments of +the government to put into immediate and vigorous exercise all their +constitutional powers for removing any just causes of discontent on the +part of any class, and for securing to every American citizen complete +liberty and exact equality in the exercise of all civil, political, and +public rights. To this end we imperatively demand a Congress and a Chief +Executive whose courage and fidelity to these duties shall not falter +until these results are placed beyond dispute or recall. + +4. In the first act of Congress signed by President Grant the national +government assumed to remove any doubts of its purpose to discharge all +just obligations to the public creditors, and "solemnly pledged its +faith to make provisions, at the earliest practicable period, for the +redemption of the United States notes in coin." Commercial prosperity, +public morals, and the national credit demand that this promise be +fulfilled by a continuous and steady progress to specie payment. + +5. Under the Constitution the President and heads of departments are to +make nominations for office; the Senate is to advise and consent to +appointments, and the House of Representatives is to accuse and +prosecute faithless officers. The best interest of the public service +demands that these distinctions be respected; that Senators and +representatives who may be judges and accusers should not dictate +appointments to office. The invariable rule in appointments should have +reference to the honesty, fidelity and capacity of the appointees, +giving to the party in power those places where harmony and vigor of +administration require its policy to be represented, but permitting all +others to be filled by persons selected with sole reference to the +efficiency of the public service, and the right of all citizens to share +in the honor of rendering faithful service to the country. + +6. We rejoice in the quickening conscience of the people concerning +political affairs, and will hold all public officers to a rigid +responsibility, and engage that the prosecution and punishment of all +who betray official trusts shall be swift, thorough and unsparing. + +7. The public-school system of the several states is the bulwark of +the American Republic, and with a view to its security and permanence +we recommend an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, +forbidding the application of any public funds or property for the +benefit of any schools or institutions under sectarian control. + +8. The revenue necessary for current expenditures and the obligations of +the public debt must be largely derived from duties upon importations, +which, so far as possible, should be adjusted to promote interests of +American labor and advance the prosperity of the whole country. + +9. We reaffirm our opposition to further grants of the public lands to +corporations and monopolies, and demand that the national domain be +devoted to free homes for the people. + +10. It is the imperative duty of the government so to modify existing +treaties with European governments that the same protection shall be +afforded to the adopted American citizen that is given to the native +born; and that all necessary laws should be passed to protect +immigrants, in the absence of power in the states for that purpose. + +11. It is the immediate duty of Congress to fully investigate the effect +of the immigration and importation of Mongolians upon the moral and +material interests of the country. + +12. The Republican party recognizes with approval the substantial +advances recently made toward the establishment of equal rights for +women, by the many important amendments effected by Republican +legislatures, in the laws which concern the personal and property +relations of wives, mothers and widows, and by the appointment and +election of women to the superintendence of education, charities, and +other public trusts. The honest demands of this class of citizens for +additional rights, privileges, and immunities should be treated with +respectful consideration. + +13. The Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power over the +territories of the United States for their government, and in the +exercise of this power it is the right and duty of Congress to prohibit +and extirpate, in the territories, that relic of barbarism, polygamy; +and we demand such legislation as shall secure this end and the +supremacy of American institutions in all the territories. + +14. The pledges which the nation has given to her soldiers and sailors +must be fulfilled, and a grateful people will always hold those who +imperilled their lives for the country's preservation in the kindest +rememberance. + +15. We sincerely deprecate all sectional feeling and tendencies. We +therefore note with deep solicitude that the Democratic party counts, as +its chief hope of success, upon the electoral vote of a united South, +secured through the efforts of those who were recently arrayed against +the nation; and we invoke the earnest attention of the country to the +grave truth that a success thus achieved would reopen sectional strife +and imperil national honor and human rights. + +16. We charge the Democratic party with being the same in character and +spirit as when it sympathized with treason with making its control of +the House of Representatives the triumph and opportunity of the nation's +recent foes; with reasserting and applauding in the National Capitol the +sentiments of unrepentant rebellion; with sending Union soldiers to the +rear and promoting Confederate soldiers to the front; with deliberately +proposing to repudiate the plighted faith of the government; with being +equally false and imbecile upon the overshadowing financial question; +with thwarting the ends of justice by its partisan mismanagements and +obstruction; with proving itself, through the period of its ascendancy +in the Lower House of Congress utterly incompetent to administer the +government; and we warn the country against trusting a party thus alike +unworthy, recreant and incapable. + +17. The national administration merits commendation for its honorable +work in the management of domestic and foreign affairs, and President +Grant deserves the continued hearty gratitude of the American people +for his patriotism and his eminent services, in war and in peace. + +18. We present as our candidates for President and Vice-President of +the United States two distinguished statesmen, of eminent ability and +character, and conspicuously fitted for those high offices, and we +confidently appeal to the American people to intrust the administration +of their public affairs to Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler. + +On the second day the nominations were made of the above-named +candidates, with stirring speeches, the most remarkable of which were +the three delivered for Mr. Blaine. Robert G. Ingersoll, in presenting +Mr. Blaine's name, uttered the eloquent words which caused his +celebrated effort to become known as the "Plumed Knight Speech"; near +its conclusion he said, "Like an armed warrior, like a plumed knight, +James G. Blaine marched down the halls of the American Congress and +threw his shining lance full and fair against the brazen foreheads of +the defamers of his country and the maligners of his honor. For the +Republicans to desert this gallant leader now is as though an army +should desert their General upon the field of battle." This nomination +was seconded by Henry M. Turner, colored, and William P. Frye, of Maine. +Gov. Hayes was nominated by Edwin F. Noyes, seconded by Benjamin F. +Wade. The various nominating speeches concluded the second day's +business and the balloting began on the opening of the third day of the +Convention. The number of votes necessary for a choice was 378, and +seven ballots were taken, with the following result for the leading +candidates: + + 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. + Blaine ......... 285 290 293 292 286 308 351 + Morton ......... 125 120 113 108 95 85 + Bristow ........ 113 114 121 126 114 111 21 + Conkling ....... 99 93 90 84 82 81 + Hayes .......... 61 64 67 68 104 113 384 + Hartranft ...... 58 63 68 71 69 50 + +Scattering votes were also cast for Messrs. Wheeler, Jewell and +Washburne. At the close of the seventh ballot, Mr. Hayes' nomination was +made unanimous on motion of William P. Frye. During the sixth ballot the +unit rule was decided against and each delegate allowed to vote as he +pleased, and this became the rule of all subsequent conventions of the +party, although in the convention of 1880 the supporters of Gen. Grant +made a strong effort to fasten the unit rule on that convention. The +candidates for the vice-presidential nomination were Wm. A. Wheeler, +Marshall Jewell, Stewart L. Woodford, Jos. R. Hawley and F. T. +Frelinghuysen, but after the first ballot had proceeded as far as South +Carolina the nomination of Mr. Wheeler was made unanimous. + +The nomination of Mr. Hayes was a great surprise to the country and +consequently, at first, created little enthusiasm in the party, but it +was shortly seen that he was in fact a strong candidate, and the party +united solidly behind him and took up the canvass with considerable +enthusiasm. Rutherford B. Hayes was born at Delaware, Ohio, October 4, +1822, and graduated at Kenyon College in 1842. He studied law, and +practiced for a short time at Fremont, Ohio, afterwards moving to +Cincinnati, where he became the City Solicitor. He volunteered in the +Civil War, distinguished himself in many important engagements, and rose +from the rank of Major to brevet Major-General. The War over, he entered +Congress (1865), and at the close of his term was twice elected +Governor, serving from 1868 to 1872; was defeated for Congress in 1872, +but his election in 1875 to the Governorship, over the Democratic +Governor, William Allen, in a remarkable honest-money campaign, brought +him into greater national prominence, and now resulted in his nomination +for the Presidency. His nomination was a bitter disappointment to the +many friends of Mr. Blaine, but they promptly ratified it. + +The Republican Platform of 1876, already given, was strong in expression +and lofty in its sentiments, which were in keeping with those engendered +by the Centennial Year. + +The Democratic Convention assembled at St. Louis, Mo., June 27th. The +nomination of Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, was almost a foregone +conclusion before the Convention met, and he was nominated on the second +ballot. Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana, who was the strongest opponent +of Tilden for the presidential nomination, was named for Vice-President +by a unanimous vote. The Democratic platform of 1876 was a lengthy and +remarkable one, containing "the sustended arguments of a stump speech." +Its planks, with few exceptions, began with "we denounce" or "reform is +necessary," and it was a general arraignment of the entire course of the +Republican Party while in power, and stated near its conclusion, "reform +can only be had by peaceful, civic revolution. We demand a change of +system, a change of administration, and a change of parties, that we may +have a change of measures and men." + +The other political conventions of this year were the Prohibition +Convention held at Cleveland, Ohio, on May 17th, at which Green Clay +Smith, of Kentucky, was nominated for President, and G. T. Stewart, of +Ohio, for Vice-President. The Independent National or Greenback Party +met at Indianapolis May 18th, and nominated Peter Cooper, of New York, +for President, and U. S. Senator Newton Booth, of California, for +Vice-President, who declined and was replaced by Samuel F. Cary, of +Ohio. Its platform demanded the immediate repeal of the Specie +Resumption Act of January 14, 1875, and the issuance of United States +notes, convertible on demand into United States obligations, bearing a +rate of interest not exceeding one cent a day on each $100.00, and +exchangeable for United States notes at par, as being the best +circulating medium that could be devised. It insisted that bank paper +must be suppressed, and it protested against the further issuance of +gold bonds for sale in foreign markets, and against the sale of +government bonds for the purpose of purchasing silver to be used as a +substitute for fractional currency. At the election in November the +Greenback Party polled a total of 81,737 votes, not influencing the +electoral vote of any State, with the possible exception of Indiana, +which Tilden carried with 213,526 votes to 208,011 for Hayes, Cooper +receiving 17,233 in this State. The total Prohibition vote this year was +9,522. The Democrats, throughout the campaign, had high hopes of +success; the hard times which had followed the panic of 1873, the +factional disturbances in the Republican Party, charges of official +dishonesty, and dissatisfaction of some Republicans with the financial +policy of the party, and the success of the Democrats in several of the +Northern States all indicated an exceedingly close election. The +Republican campaign was largely in the hands of Zachariah Chandler, of +Michigan, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, as Mr. Hayes +took little part in the details or organization of the canvass. +Colorado, admitted in August of this year, raised the number of States +to thirty-eight, with a total electoral vote of 369, making 185 votes +necessary for an election. The October States did not indicate anything +decisive for either side; Ohio going Republican and Indiana Democratic +by small majorities. The election was held on Nevember 7th, and a few +hours after the polls were closed it was found that Tilden and Hendricks +had carried Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Indiana, and if they +had received the vote of the solid South it would give them 203 of the +electoral votes and consequently the election. But Mr. Chandler, on +information received, sent out a telegram from headquarters in +Washington saying that the Republicans had been successful in South +Carolina, Louisiana and Florida, and that Hayes and Wheeler were elected +by a majority of one. A general outline of the remarkable contest that +now followed, and its decision, must suffice for these pages. Each party +sent a number of its prominent members to the capitals of the disputed +States to witness the count. The legal canvassing boards in all of these +States decided in favor of Hayes and Wheeler. Then followed, as it was +afterwards discovered, many attempts to bribe an elector in the disputed +States to vote for Mr. Tilden, but when the electors met in the various +States on December 6th, the vote was 185 for Hayes and Wheeler and 184 +for Tilden and Hendricks. As hostile sets of electors were present in +four States--Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and Oregon--it was +therefore of the highest importance to know who would count the votes +when Congress jointly assembled for that purpose. The Senate and its +presiding officer were Republicans, the House was Democratic, and it was +apparent that with so much at stake neither would make any concession to +the other. This was a state of affairs unprovided for in the +Constitution or in any laws that had been passed, and the result was +that for four months after the election nobody knew who would be +inaugurated as President in March, 1877. The difficulty was temporarily +solved by the Electoral Commission Law, which became effective January +29, 1877. It provided that any electoral votes from any State from which +but one return had been received should not be rejected except by the +affirmative vote of the two Houses, but if more than one return was +received from any State it should be referred to a Commission, to be +composed of five members of the Senate, five members of the House and +five Supreme Court Justices, and the decision of a majority of this +Commission was to decide unless otherwise ordered by a concurrent vote +of both Houses. Senators Oliver P. Morton, George F. Edmunds, F. T. +Frelinghuysen, Republicans, and Allan G. Thurman and Thomas F. Bayard, +Democrats, were chosen to represent the Senate; Josiah G. Abbott, Eppa +Hunton and H. B. Payne, Democrats, and James A. Garfield and George F. +Hoar, Republicans, represented the House; four Justices of the Supreme +Court had been designated by the law to act, and these were Nathan +Clifford and Stephen J. Field, Democrats, and William Strong and Samuel +F. Miller, Republicans; they were to choose the fifth Justice, and +Joseph P. Bradley, Republican, was selected. By a strict party vote the +Commission decided, 8 to 7, all questions in favor of the Republicans. +These decisons, as already noted, could not be set aside without the +concurrent vote of both Houses, which manifestly could not be obtained, +and at 4:10 a. m. March 2, 1877, it was declared by Mr. Ferry, President +pro tem. of the Senate, that Hayes and Wheeler had been elected by 185 +votes to 184 for Tilden and Hendricks. The popular vote at the November +election was Tilden 4,285,992 and Hayes 4,033,768. + +[Illustration: Rutherford B. Hayes.] + +Before passing to the events of President Hayes' administration, it is +interesting to note that when the second session of the Forty-fourth +Congress met on December 4, 1876, an election was held to fill the +position of Speaker, left vacant by the death of Mr. Kerr. Samuel J. +Randall, Democrat, was elected by 162 votes to 82 votes for James A. +Garfield, and it is therefore seen that President Hayes would enter upon +his term with one branch of Congress Democratic. + +Mr. Hayes was publicly inaugurated March 5, 1877, the 4th falling upon +Sunday. The striking declaration of his inaugural address was the +paragraph setting forth the policy that he would pursue in the Southern +question, and this policy was exactly the reverse of that of his +predecessor. He withdrew the military protection to the colored voter +and entered upon a policy of pacification by putting the whites of the +South on their honor. This was practically turning over the entire South +to the Democrats, and they were not slow to seize the advantage, and +they immediately began to work for a "solid South," which became an +assured fact when the results of the election of 1880 were known. This +policy was extremely unsatisfactory to most of the members of the +Republican Party, and considerable antagonism to the President was +shown. Lapse of time, however, has vindicated President Hayes, and it is +now felt that while his administration was not brilliant, still it was +safe, progressive and satisfactory. The President also had his ideas on +the subject of Civil Service Reform, and on June 22, 1877, he issued an +order that no officer of the Government should be required or permitted +to take part in the management of political organizations or election +campaigns. + +The first session (extra) of the Forty-fifth Congress opened October 15, +1877. The most important business of this session, and indeed of +President Hayes' administration, was the legislation on the silver +question, which came up before the House suddenly on November 5, 1877, +on motion of Mr. Richard P. Bland, of Missouri, that the rules be +suspended so as to permit the introduction of a bill for the free +coinage of the standard silver dollar. The motion was carried, and had +the effect of cutting off all debate and amendment. The bill, as passed +in the House, provided for the coinage of the standard silver dollar +(412½ grains), to be legal tender at face value for all debts public and +private, and any owner of silver bullion might deposit it in any United +States mint and have it coined into dollars for his own benefit. The +Bland bill was thus a remonetization of silver on absolutely a free +coinage basis, and if passed by the Senate and approved by the President +in its original form it would unquestionably have had a serious effect +upon the credit of the Government. Its introduction and passage in the +House caused a flurry in the money market, and distinctly affected the +refunding of the public debt, but fortunately it was amended in the +Senate so as to deprive it largely of its destructive effect on the +national credit. Mr. Allison (Republican), of the Committee on Finance +in the Senate, reported an amendment, striking out the free coinage +provision, and providing that the Secretary of the Treasury should +purchase at the market price not less than $2,000,000 nor more than +$4,000,000 per month of silver bullion to be coined into dollars, any +gain to be for the benefit of the Treasury. The House accepted the +Allison amendment, but President Hayes vetoed the bill and it was passed +over his veto February 28, 1878. + +A strong but unsuccessful attempt had been made to repeal the specie +resumption act, but now, after seventeen years of suspension of specie +payment, which had seriously affected the public credit during all these +years, the time approached for resumption. John Sherman was Secretary of +the Treasury under President Hayes, and the great act of resumption took +place quietly under his direction on January 1, 1879. Mr. Sherman had +fought for resumption in both Houses of Congress, and was now permitted, +by his official position, to bring about the execution of the law. Its +effect on the public credit had been marked for several months before +the statutory time of resumption by a better feeling throughout the +country in financial circles. The manner in which the entire subject had +been treated reflected the greatest credit on the ability of Mr. +Sherman, and ranked him with Alexander Hamilton as a great financier. + +The Chinese Immigration question had been growing in prominence for +several years, and it resulted in a bill to restrict this immigration. +The bill passed the House and the Senate, but was vetoed by President +Hayes, and its supporters were unable to obtain the necessary vote to +pass it over the veto. As the Forty-fifth Congress had adjourned without +making the necessary appropriations for the legislative, executive and +judicial departments, President Hayes was forced to call an extra +session of the Forty-sixth Congress, which met March 18, 1879. In the +House Mr. Randall was re-elected Speaker by 143 votes to 125 for James +A. Garfield, and for the first time since 1857 the Democratic Party was +in complete control of both branches of Congress. + +As the time approached for another national campaign the merits of +several possible candidates were thoroughly discussed. President Hayes +was not a candidate, and the contest for the nomination was seemingly +between General Grant and James G. Blaine, with John Sherman as a +possible compromise candidate. Several interesting elements entered into +the situation and made it extremely doubtful who would be successful, +and the result was the most remarkable contest the party had had in any +of its previous conventions, and was solved by the selection, on the +thirty-sixth ballot, of one whose name had not even been placed in +nomination. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +GARFIELD AND ARTHUR. + + +"The doctrines announced by the Chicago Convention are not the temporary +devices of a party to attract votes and carry an election; they are +deliberate convictions, resulting from a careful study of the spirit of +our institutions, the events of our history, and the best impulses of +our people ... If elected, it will be my purpose to enforce strict +obedience to the Constitution and the laws, and to promote, as best I +may, the interest and honor of the whole country, relying for support +upon the wisdom of Congress, the intelligence and patriotism of the +people, and the favor of God." + +_James A. Garfield_, _Letter of Acceptance_. +_Mentor_, _Ohio_, _July_ 10, 1880. + + +General Grant arrived at San Francisco in December, 1879, from his +triumphal tour of the world, and his journey eastward was made the +occasion of a great popular welcome and ovation. This wide-spread +enthusiasm lent encouragement to those who were intent upon his +nomination for a third term, and they proceeded to strengthen his +prospects. Senators Conkling, of New York, Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and +Logan, of Illinois, formed a powerful combination in favor of General +Grant, and they were successful in their preliminary work of forcing the +adoption of the unit rule on the delegations of their States, but it +soon became apparent that many of the delegates would vote as they saw +fit, and would appeal, if necessary, to the convention to sustain them. +James G. Blaine was the next strongest candidate, and to his standard +rallied a strong host of supporters, many of whom were opposed to a +third term for any person. As near as the preliminary figuring could be +done it showed the strength of Grant and Blaine to be nearly the same, +and this gave hope to the friends of John Sherman that he might be +decided on as a compromise candidate, if it became impossible to +nominate either Grant or Blaine. + +The Seventh Republican National Convention met in the Exposition Hall at +Chicago, Ill., on Wednesday, June 2, 1880, and was called to order by +Senator J. Donald Cameron, of Pennsylvania, Chairman of the National +Committee. George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, was chosen temporary +Chairman, the various committees were then appointed, but owing to +contests among the delegates from several States, nothing further could +be done, and the convention adjourned early in the afternoon. On the +following morning Mr. Hoar was reported as permanent president, and the +usual number of vice-presidents and secretaries were also reported. +Owing to the delay in the report of the Committee on Credentials nothing +further of any moment was done on this day, and the convention adjourned +about 7:30 p. m., after an unsuccessful attempt, on motion of Mr. +Henderson, of Iowa, to force the Committee on Rules to report. In the +vote on a substitute to this motion a most important ruling was made-- +the vote of Alabama was reported in full for the substitute, but one of +the delegates protested and asked the right to cast his vote against it. +This was permitted by the president, and the ruling was allowed to stand +by the convention, and was thus a condemnation of the unit system of +voting. Upon the opening of the third day of the convention (Friday), +Mr. Conkling offered a resolution that as the sense of the convention +every member of it was bound in honor to support its nominee, no matter +who was nominated, and that no man should hold a seat who was not ready +to so agree. Out of a total of 719 votes, three (all from West Virginia) +were cast against the resolution, whereupon Mr. Conkling offered a +second resolution that these delegates did not deserve and had forfeited +their votes. The delegates explained that they did not wish it +understood that they would not support the nominee, but they simply +desired to register their disapproval of the expediency of the +resolution. This incident is of the greatest importance in the history +of this convention, because it brought Mr. Garfield to his feet in a +brief but weighty speech, in which he defended those who had voted in +the negative, and finally induced Mr. Conkling to withdraw his second +resolution. This speech attracted the attention of the entire +convention, and Mr. Garfield from that moment became one of the great +leaders in the convention. Mr. Garfield then reported the rules which +were adopted, with one amendment, after considerable debate. The great +contest of the convention next to the presidental nomination was the +report of the Committee on Credentials, in which it was attempted by the +friends of Gen. Grant to force the unit rule on the convention. The +majority report of this committee favored district representation, and +at last this was decided on after a long and remarkable debate extending +through Friday until 2 o'clock in the morning and all of the Saturday +session until 5 p. m. + +Edwards Pierrepont, of New York, reported the platform, which was +adopted after one amendment inserting a civil service reform plank. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1880. + +The Republican Party, in national convention assembled, at the end of +twenty years since the federal government was first committed to its +charge, submits to the people of the United States this brief report +of its administration: + +It suppressed a rebellion which had armed nearly a million of men to +subvert the national authority; it reconstructed the union of the states +with freedom instead of slavery as its corner stone; it transformed +4,000,000 human beings from the likeness of things to the rank of +citizens; it relieved Congress of the infamous work of hunting fugitive +slaves, and charged it to see that slavery does not exist. + +It has raised the value of our paper currency from thirty-eight per cent +to the par of gold; it has restored, upon a solid basis, payment in coin +of all national obligations, and has given us a currency absolutely good +and equal in every part of our extended country; it has lifted the +credit of the nation from the point of where six percent bonds sold at +eighty-six to that where a percent bonds are eagerly sought at a +premium. + +Under its administration railways have increased from 31,000 miles in +1860 to more than 82,000 miles in 1879. + +Our foreign trade increased from $700,000,000 to $1,150,000,000 in the +same time, and our exports, which were $20,000,000 less than our imports +in 1860, were $265,000,000 more than our imports in 1879. + +Without resorting to loans, it has, since the war closed, defrayed the +ordinary expenses of government, besides the accruing interest on the +public debt, and has disbursed annually more than $30,000,000 for +soldiers' and sailors' pensions. It has paid $880,000,000 of the public +debt, and, by refunding the balance at lower rates, has reduced the +annual interest charge from nearly $150,000,000 to less than +$89,000,000. + +All the industries of the country have revived, labor is in demand, +wages have increased, and throughout the entire country there is +evidence of a coming prosperity greater than we have ever enjoyed. + +Upon this record the Republican Party asks for the continued confidence +and support of the people, and the convention submits for their approval +the following statement of the principles and purposes which will +continue to guide and inspire its efforts. + +1. We affirm that the work of the Republican Party for the last twenty +years has been such as to commend it to the favor of the nation; that +the fruits of the costly victories which we have achieved through +immense difficulties should be preserved; that the peace regained should +be cherished; that the Union should be perpetuated, and that the liberty +secured to this generation should be transmitted undiminished to other +generations; that the order established and the credit acquired should +never be impaired; that the pensions promised should be paid; that the +debt, so much reduced, should be extinguished by the full payment of +every dollar thereof; that the reviving industries should be further +promoted, and that the commerce, already increasing, should be steadily +encouraged. + +2. The Constitution of the United States is a supreme law, and not a +mere contract. Out of confederated states it made a sovereign nation. +Some powers are denied to the nation, while others are denied to the +states; but the boundary between the powers delegated and those reserved +is to be determined by the national, and not by the state tribunal. + +3. The work of popular education is one left to the care of the several +states, but it is the duty of the national government to aid that work +to the extent of its constitutional ability. The intelligence of the +nation is but the aggregate of the intelligence in the several states, +and the destiny of the nation must be guided, not by the genius of any +one state, but by the average genius of all. + +4. The Constitution wisely forbids Congress to make any law respecting +the establishment of religion, but it is idle to hope that the nation +can be protected against the influence of secret sectarianism which each +state is exposed to its domination. We therefore recommend that the +Constitution be so amended as to lay the same prohibition upon the +legislature of each state, and to forbid the appropriation of public +funds for the support of sectarian schools. + +5. We reaffirm the belief avowed in 1876, that the duties levied for the +purpose of revenue should so discriminate as to favor American labor; +that no further grants of the public domain should be made to any +railway or other corporation; that slavery having perished in the +states, its twin barbarity--polygamy--must die in the territories; +that everywhere the protection accorded to a citizen of American birth +must be secured to citizens by American adoption; that we deem it the +duty of Congress to develop and improve our seacoast and harbors, but +insist that further subsidies to private persons or corporations must +cease; that the obligations of the Republic to the men who preserved its +integrity in the day of battle are undiminished by the lapse of fifteen +years since their final victory--to do them honor is and shall forever +be the grateful privilege and sacred duty of the American people. + +6. Since the authority to regulate immigration and intercourse between +the United States and foreign nations rests with the Congress of the +United States and the treaty-making power, the Republican Party, +regarding the unrestricted immigration of Chinese as a matter of grave +concernment under the exercise of both these powers, would limit and +restrict that immigration by the enactment of such just, humane and +reasonable laws and treaties as will produce that result. + +7. That the purity and patriotism which characterized the earlier career +of Rutherford B. Hayes in peace and war, and which guided the thoughts +of our immediate predecessors to him for a presidential candidate, have +continued to inspire him in his career as Chief Executive; and that +history will accord to his administration the honors which are due to an +efficient, just and courteous discharge of the public business, and will +honor his vetoes interposed between the people and attempted partisan +laws. + +8. We charge upon the Democratic Party the habitual sacrifice of +patriotism and justice to a supreme and insatiable lust for office and +patronage; that to obtain possession of the national government and +control of the place, they have obstructed all efforts to promote the +purity and to conserve the freedom of the sufferage, and have devised +fraudulent ballots and invented fraudulent certification of returns; +have labored to unseat lawfully elected members of Congress, to secure +at all hazards the vote of a majority of the states in the House of +Representatives; have endeavored to occupy by force and fraud the places +of trust given to others by the people of Maine, rescued by the courage +and action of Maine's patriotic sons; have, by methods vicious in +principle and tyrannical in practice, attached partisan legislation to +appropriation bills upon whose passage the very movement of the +government depended; have crushed the rights of the individual; have +advocated the principles and sought the favor of the rebellion against +the nation, and have endeavored to obliterate the sacred memories and to +overcome its inestimably valuable results of nationality, personal +freedom, and individual equality. + +The equal, steady, and complete enforcement of the laws and the +protection of all our citizens in the enjoyment of all the privileges +and immunities guaranteed by the Constitution, are the first duties of +the nation. + +The dangers of a "Solid South" can only be averted by a faithful +performance of every promise which the nation has made to the citizen. +The execution of the laws, and the punishment of all those who violate +them, are the only safe methods by which an enduring peace can be +secured and genuine prosperity established throughout the South. +Whatever promises the nation makes the nation must perform. A nation +cannot with safety relegate this duty to the states. The "Solid South" +must be divided by the peaceful agencies of the ballot, and all honest +opinions must there find free expression. To this end the honest voter +must be protected against terrorism, violence or fraud. + +And we affirm it to be the duty and the purpose of the Republican Party +to use all legitimate means to restore all the states of this Union to +the most perfect harmony which may be possible, and we submit to the +practical, sensible people of these United States to say whether it +would not be dangerous to the dearest interests of our country at this +time to surrender the administration of the national government to a +party which seeks to overthrow the existing policy under which we are +now so prosperous, and thus bring distrust and confusion where there is +now order, confidence and hope. + +9. The Republican Party, adhering to the principles affirmed by its last +national convention of respect for the constitutional rules governing +appointments to office, adopts the declaration of President Hayes that +the reform of the civil service should be thorough, radical and +complete. To this end it demands the co-operation of the legislative +with the executive departments of the government, and that Congress +shall so legislate that fitness, ascertained by proper practical tests, +shall admit to the public service. + +The opening words of the fifth plank became the deciding issue of the +campaign. The nominations for President were made at the evening session +Saturday. James G. Blaine was first placed in nomination by Thomas F. +Joy, and seconded by F. M. Pixley and Wm. P. Frye; Ulysses S. Grant was +nominated by Roscoe Conkling and seconded by Wm. O. Bradley; John +Sherman was nominated by James A. Garfield and seconded by F. C. Winkler +and R. B. Elliott; William Windom was nominated by E. F. Drake; George +F. Edmunds by Frederick Billings, and Elihu B. Washburn by J. E. +Cassady. The nominating speeches concluded near midnight, and aroused +the utmost enthusiasm among the 15,000 men and women who were packed in +the great hall. The convention adjourned at midnight to meet and begin +balloting on Monday morning. The first ballot on Monday morning resulted +as follows, 756 delegates being present: + + Grant ................ 304 Edmunds .............. 34 + Blaine ............... 284 Washburne ............ 30 + Sherman .............. 93 Windom ............... 10 + +Twenty-eight ballots were taken on Monday with very little material +change. Mr. Garfield received one vote on the second ballot, and +afterwards received not more than two votes on any ballot until the +thirty-fourth, taken on Tuesday, when Wisconsin broke and gave sixteen +votes for Garfield, and this was the beginning of the movement by the +Blaine and Sherman forces to combine and nominate Mr. Garfield, who was +named on the thirty-sixth ballot. The vote for General Grant was solid +until the end, never falling below that of the first ballot, 304. The +concluding ballots are here given: + + 34th 35th 36th + Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. + Grant ......... 312 313 306 + Blaine ........ 275 257 42 + Sherman ....... 107 99 3 + Edmunds ....... 11 11 + Washburne ..... 30 23 5 + Windom ........ 4 3 + Garfield ...... 17 50 399 + +Mr. Garfield was nominated, and the convention gave way to almost twenty +minutes of cheering and enthusiasm, at the conclusion of which Roscoe +Conkling moved that the nomination be made unanimous. As a concession to +the disappointed Grant forces, Chester A. Arthur, of New York, was +nominated for Vice-President on the first ballot over Elihu B. +Washburne, Marshall Jewell, Thomas Settle, Horace Maynard and Edmund J. +Davis, the ballot standing 468 for Arthur and 193 for Washburne, his +nearest competitor, with scattering votes for the rest. + +Although the nomination of Mr. Garfield, like that of Mr. Hayes, was +totally unexpected, he was not unknown, and had already, by his services +and career, earned for himself an enviable place in the nation's +history. Born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1831, he had risen from an +honorable poverty to the presidency of a College at the age of 26. He +served one term in the Ohio Senate, and at the opening of the Civil War +he was commissioned a Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers, and without any +military experience and with a small force he routed a large body of +Confederates at Middle Creek, Ky., in January, 1862, for which he +received the highest praise from his superiors and the rank of +Brigadier-General from President Lincoln. The rest of his military +career was equally satisfactory and prominent, and he reached the rank +of Major-General after Chickamauga. Resigning his commission, he took +his seat in the House of Representatives in December, 1863, and +immediately became a leader of the Republican forces, and his +legislative work had been most conspicuous. He served from the +Thirty-eighth to the Forty-Sixth Congresses inclusive, was on the +Electoral Commission of 1877, and at the time of his nomination had been +elected from Ohio to the United States Senate, but had not yet taken his +seat. + +The Greenback-Labor Convention met at Chicago, June 9th, and nominated +James B. Weaver, of Iowa, for President, and B. F. Chambers, of Texas, +for Vice-President, declaring in its platform that all money should be +issued and its volume controlled by the Government; that the public +domain should be kept for settlers, and that Congress should regulate +commerce between the States. The Prohibition Convention at Cleveland, +June 17th, nominated Neal Dow, of Maine, for President, and A. M. +Thompson, of Ohio, for Vice-President. The last of the great party +conventions, that of the Democrats, met at Cincinnati, June 22d, and +nominated General Winfield S. Hancock, of Pennsylvania, for President, +on the second ballot, and William H. English, of Indiana, for +Vice-President by acclamation. The Democratic platform was concise, and +in sharp contrast to the verbose platform of 1876; it demanded an honest +money of gold and silver, and paper convertible into coin on demand; +tariff for revenue only; and that the public land be given to none but +actual settlers. + +For the first time since 1844 there was no agitation in any of the party +platforms of the slave or southern questions, and all parties agreed on +the Chinese question. The campaign opened with defeat for the +Republicans in Maine, but this led to greater efforts in the West. Late +in the canvass the tariff issue became the most prominent one, and the +declaration of the Democratic party for a tariff for revenue only was +used against them with tremendous effect by the Republicans. Special +efforts were made to gain the October States, and the Republican cause +was greatly strengthened and perhaps won in them by several speeches +delivered by General Grant and Senator Conkling. In desperation the +Democrats, near the end of the canvass (October 20th), published +broadcast a letter purporting to come from Mr. Garfield and addressed to +"H. L. Morey." The letter stated opinions on the Chinese question which, +if true, would have cost many votes, but the letter was promptly shown +to be a contemptible forgery, and so plain was the evidence that the +letter was disavowed by most Democrats. The election on November 2d was +a victory for Garfield and Arthur, who received 214 electoral votes to +155 for Hancock and English. The popular vote was: + + Garfield ............ 4,454,416 Weaver .............. 308,578 + Hancock ............. 4,444,952 Dow ................. 10,305 + +An analysis of the popular and electoral vote disclosed the fact that +every former slave State was carried by the Democratic Party, and the +"Solid South" for the Democrats again became a factor in national +politics. + +Mr. Garfield was inaugurated March 4, 1881, and almost immediately was +involved in the controversy between the "Stalwart" and the "Half Breed" +Republicans in New York, the former being led by Senators Roscoe +Conkling and Thomas C. Platt, and the latter being those who were +opposed to the machine-like politics of the State. The "Stalwarts" had +gained great strength during Gen. Grant's administration, but had been +checked by President Hayes; they were the strongest advocates of Gen. +Grant for a third term, and were greatly disappointed over his defeat in +the convention, but had loyally supported the nominee, and had now made +up their minds to control the Federal patronage in New York. President +Garfield was drawn into the muddle by his appointment of William H. +Robertson, a "Half Breed," to the Collectorship of New York. This called +forth a protest signed by Postmaster-General James, Vice-President +Arthur and Senators Conkling and Platt, the Senators announcing that +they would oppose the confirmation in the Senate. This caused the +President to withdraw all New York appointments until the matter should +be settled, and as it was seen that the nomination would be confirmed, +Senators Conkling and Platt resigned (May 16th), and appealed to the New +York Legislature for re-election, but they were defeated, Elbridge C. +Lapham and Warren Miller being elected in their places. The controversy +excited the whole country, and it was believed by many to have +influenced the deplorable tragedy which took place July 2, 1881. About +9:30 a. m., on that day, the President and Mr. Blaine entered the +Baltimore & Potomac station in Washington to join a party which would +leave that morning for Long Branch, where the President was to join his +wife. The President and Mr. Blaine entered the Ladies' Waiting Room, and +shortly afterward two shots, fired by Charles Jules Guiteau, were heard, +and the President fell mortally wounded. He lingered in great suffering +until September 19th, when he died at Elberon, New Jersey, whither he +had been removed from Washington. + +[Illustration: Chester A. Arthur.] + +Vice-President Arthur was at his home in New York City at the time of +President Garfield's death, and there took the oath of office as +President in the early morning hours of September 20th, and took the +formal oath in Washington on September 22d. It is of interest to know +something of the man who was called, by these distressing circumstances, +to the presidential chair. + +President Arthur was born at Fairfield, Vermont, October 5, 1830; after +teaching school, he studied law and was admitted to practice in New York +City; he served honorably and notably during the Civil War, most of the +time as a staff officer, and at its conclusion became active in local +politics in New York City, and was Collector of the Port of New York +from 1871 to 1878, being removed in the latter year by President Hayes. +His nomination was made to satisfy the "Stalwarts," and he took an +active part in the controversy between President Garfield and the New +York Senators, and now came to the office of President, with the popular +mind, agitated by the murder of the President and the factional fight in +New York, greatly incensed and antagonized against any one connected +with the "Stalwarts." President Arthur soon gained the confidence of the +people by the conservatism and dignity of his administration, and his +term was a satisfactory and prosperous one. + +The Forty-seventh Congress opened its first session on December 5, 1881, +with David Davis presiding in the Senate; in the House, Joseph Warren +Keifer, Republican, of Ohio, was elected Speaker by 148 votes to 129 for +Samuel J. Randall, and the Republicans were again in control of both +branches of Congress. The legislation of this Congress was marked by the +redemption of the party pledges of the preceding campaign. The Edmunds +law (March, 1882) was directed at polygamy in Utah and the territories. +Immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States was suspended for +ten years (May 6, 1882), a previous bill making the time twenty years +having been vetoed by President Arthur. A bill was also approved (May +15, 1882) appointing a Tariff Commission. The Commission met in +Washington in July. It was constituted from both political parties, and +was composed of men of high standing. When the second session of the +Forty-seventh Congress convened on December 4, 1882, it listened to the +second annual message from President Arthur, in which the main subject +to receive attention was the rapid reduction of the national debt by the +large annual surplus revenue. The Tariff Commission at the same time +submitted an exhaustive report, containing a schedule of duties +recommended by it; after considerable debate and many changes in the +schedule, a tariff bill was passed and approved by the President, March +3, 1883, the Democrats steadily opposing it. + +Civil Service Reform was taken up and provided for in the Pendleton +Civil Service Reform bill (January, 1883), which provided for a +non-partisan commission and defined their duties; the effect of this +bill was to withdraw from politics the employes of the Government. + +The strong prejudices which accompanied Mr. Arthur into office never +fully disappeared; during 1882 and 1883 there was considerable public +unrest which had its natural influence on political action; it was +caused by dissatisfaction among the laboring classes against +combinations of capital, which were now resulting from the extraordinary +development of the nation's resources, and also because many producers +were dissatisfied with the provisions of the new tariff schedule. +Although the country was enjoying great prosperity and business +confidence, there was a feeling for a change of politics and men. These +various causes, and the fact that the strong slavery and sectional +issues had disappeared from politics, were demoralizing to the +Republican strength in many of the pivotal States, and portended an +exceedingly close election in the campaign of 1884. Ohio elected a +Democratic Secretary of State in 1882, and followed it the next year by +electing Mr. Hoadley, Democrat, over Mr. Foraker, Republican, for +Governor. Many other important Democratic victories were gained in 1882 +--Pennsylvania electing a Democratic Governor and New York electing +Grover Cleveland by the enormous majority of 192,000, a victory which +secured him the Democratic presidential nomination in 1884. President +Arthur was a candidate for the presidential nomination in 1884, and his +strength came mainly from the South, but the overwhelming Republican +sentiment in the northern and western States demanded the nomination of +one whose distinguished services and magnetic personality would +unquestionably, with a united party behind him, bring another victory to +the party in its eighth national contest. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BLAINE. + + +"We seek the conquests of peace. We desire to extend our commerce and +in a special degree with our friends and neighbors on this continent. +We have not improved our relations with Spanish America as wisely and +as persistently as we might have done. For more than a generation the +sympathy of these countries has been allowed to drift away from us. We +should now make every effort to gain their friendship." + +_James G. Blaine_, 1884. + + +When the eighth Republican National Convention assembled at Chicago on +Tuesday, June 3, 1884, it was to consider a situation that had never +before been presented to a Republican convention. A Republican +President, who had gained the office because of the assassination of his +predecessor, was before the convention asking for the strongest +endorsement of his administration. Only two Republican Presidents had up +to this time been candidates for a second term. In the convention of +1864 Mr. Lincoln had no opposition for his second term, and the same was +true of General Grant in the convention of 1872. Mr. Hayes was not a +candidate for re-election in 1880, and the result, as we have seen, was +the Garfield "miracle" in that convention, and now Mr. Garfield's +successor was before this convention with a strongly organized backing, +mainly from the South, seeking the nomination. But opposed to him was an +overwhelming sentiment in favor of Mr. Blaine, whose nomination had been +prevented in 1880 by the opposition of the Grant leaders. A dangerous +element in this convention was present in the Independent Republicans, +who had united on George F. Edmunds as their candidate for President. +The convention was called to order by Dwight M. Sabin, of Minnesota, +Chairman of the National Committee. Mr. Lodge moved to substitute John +R. Lynch, colored, of Mississippi, as temporary Chairman in place of +Powell Clayton, who had been selected by the National Committee, and +after considerable debate, in which Theodore Roosevelt, of New York, +spoke in favor of the motion to substitute, Mr. Lynch was elected +temporary Chairman by 431 votes to 387 for Mr. Clayton. The remainder of +the day was consumed in the appointment of vice-presidents and +secretaries and the various committees. Wednesday morning a resolution +was introduced similar to that of 1880, that every member of the +convention was bound in honor to support the nominee, but this +resolution was subsequently withdrawn. John B. Henderson, of Missouri, +was reported as permanent Chairman, miscellaneous business consumed some +time, and the convention adjourned to meet at 7:30 p. m. The Committee +on Credentials not being ready to report, the evening was given over to +speech making. On Thursday morning the convention heard the report of +the Committee on Credentials, and concurred in it, and also on the +report of the Committee on Rules. William McKinley, of Ohio, Chairman of +the Committee on Resolutions, reported the platform, and it was adopted +without amendment. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1884. + +The Republicans of the United States, in national convention assembled, +renew their allegiance to the principles upon which they have triumphed +in six successive presidential elections, and congratulate the American +people on the attainment of so many results in legislation and +administration, by which the Republican party has, after saving the +Union, done so much to render its institutions just, equal, and +beneficent, the safe-guard of liberty and the embodiment of the best +thought and highest purpose of our citizens. + +The Republican Party has gained its strength by quick and faithful +response to the demands of the people for the freedom and equality of +all men; for a united nation, assuring the rights of all citizens; for +the elevation of labor; for an honest currency; for purity in +legislation, and for integrity and accountability in all departments of +the government, and it accepts anew the duty of leading in the work of +progress and reform. + +We lament the death of President Garfield, whose sound statesmanship, +long conspicuous in Congress, gave promise of a strong and successful +administration--a promise fully realized during the short period of his +office as President of the United States. His distinguished services in +war and peace have endeared him to the hearts of the American people. + +In the administration of President Arthur we recognize a wise, +conservative, and patriotic policy, under which the country has been +blessed with remarkable prosperity, and we believe his eminent services +are entitled to and will receive the hearty approval of every citizen. + +It is the first duty of a good government to protect the rights and +promote the interests of its own people. + +The largest diversity of industry is most productive of general +prosperity, and of the comfort and independence of the people. + +We therefore demand that the imposition of duties on foreign imports +shall be made, "not for revenue only," but that in raising the requisite +revenues for the government such duties shall be so levied as to afford +security to our diversified industries and protection to the rights and +wages of the laborer, to the end that active and intelligent labor, as +well as capital, may have its just reward, and the laboring man his full +share in the national prosperity. + +Against the so-called economic system of the Democratic party, which +would degrade our labor to the foreign standard, we enter our earnest +protest. + +The Democratic Party has failed completely to relieve the people of the +burden of unnecessary taxation, by a wise reduction of the surplus. + +The Republican Party pledges itself to correct the inequalities of the +tariff and to reduce the surplus, not by the vicious and indiscriminate +process of horizontal reduction, but by such methods as will relieve the +tax-payer without injuring the laborer or the great productive interests +of the country. + +We recognize the importance of sheep husbandry in the United States, the +serious depression which it is now experiencing, and the danger +threatening its future prosperity; and we therefore respect the demands +of the representatives of this important agricultural interest for a +readjustment of duties upon foreign wool, in order that such industry +shall have full and adequate protection. + +We have always recommended the best money known to the civilized world; +and we urge that efforts should be made to unite all commercial nations +in the establishment of an international standard, which shall fix for +all the relative value of gold and silver coinage. + +The regulation of commerce with foreign nations and between the states +is one of the most important prerogatives of the general government; and +the Republican Party distinctly announces its purpose to support such +legislation as will fully and efficiently carry out the constitutional +power of Congress over interstate commerce. + +The principle of public regulation of railway corporations is a wise and +salutary one for the protection of all classes of the people; and we +favor legislation that shall prevent unjust discrimination and excessive +charges for transportation, and that shall secure to the people and the +railways alike the fair and equal protection of the laws. + +We favor the establishment of a national bureau of labor; the +enforcement of the eight-hour law; a wise and judicious system of +general legislation by adequate appropriation from the national +revenues, wherever the same is needed. We believe that everywhere the +protection to a citizen of American birth must be secured to citizens by +American adoption; and we favor the settlement of national differences +by international arbitration. + +[Illustration: James G. Blaine.] + +The Republican Party having its birth in a hatred of slave labor and a +desire that all men may be true and equal, is unalterably opposed to +placing our workingmen in competition with any form of servile labor, +whether at home or abroad. In this spirit spirit we denounce the +importation of contract labor, whether from Europe or Asia, as an +offense against the spirit of American institutions; and we pledge +ourselves to sustain the present law restricting Chinese immigration, +and to provide such further legislation as is necessary to carry out its +purposes. + +Reform of the civil service, auspiciously begun under Republican +administration, should be completed by the further extension of the +reform system, already established by law, to all the grades of the +service to which it is applicable. The spirit and purpose of the reform +should be observed in all executive appointments, and all laws at +variance with the objects of existing reform legislation should be +repealed, to the end that the dangers of free institutions which lurk in +the power of official patronage may be wisely and effectively avoided. + +The public lands are a heritage of the people of the United States, and +should be reserved as far as possible for small holdings by actual +settlers. We are opposed to the acquisition of large tracts of these +lands by corporations or individuals, especially where such holdings are +in the hands of non-residents or aliens, and we will endeavor to obtain +such legislation as will tend to correct this evil. We demand of +Congress the speedy forfeiture of all land grants which have lapsed by +reason of non-compliance with acts of incorporation, in all cases where +there has been no attempt in good faith to perform the conditions of +such grants. + +The grateful thanks of the American people are due to the Union soldiers +and sailors of the late war; and the Republican Party stands pledged to +suitable pensions for all who were disabled, and for the widows and +orphans of those who died in the war. The Republican Party also pledges +itself to the repeal of the limitations contained in the Arrears Act of +1879, so that all invalid soldiers shall share alike, and their pensions +begin with the date of disability or discharge, and not with the date of +application. + +The Republican Party favors a policy which shall keep us from entangling +alliances with foreign nations, and which gives us the right to expect +that foreign nations shall refrain from meddling in American affairs--a +policy which seeks peace and trade with all powers, but especially with +those of the Western Hemisphere. + +We demand the restoration of our navy to its old-time strength and +efficiency, that it may in any sea protect the rights of American +citizens and the interests of American commerce; and we call upon +Congress to remove the burdens under which American shipping has been +depressed; so that it may again be true that we have a commerce which +leaves no sea unexplored, and a navy which takes no law from superior +force. + +_Resolved_, That appointments by the President to offices in the +territories should be made from the bona fide citizens and residents of +the territories wherein they are to serve. + +_Resolved_, That it is the duty of Congress to enact such laws as shall +promptly and effectually suppress the system of polygamy within our +territories, and divorce the political from the ecclesiastical power of +the so-called Mormon Church; and that the laws so enacted should be +rigidly enforced by the civil authorities, if possible, and by the +military, if need be. + +The people of the United States, in their organized capacity, constitute +a nation, and not an American federacy of states. The national +government is supreme within the sphere of its national duties; but the +states have reserved rights which should be faithfully maintained. Each +should be guarded with jealous care, so that the harmony of our system +of government may be preserved and the Union kept inviolate. + +The perpetuity of our institutions rests upon the maintenance of a free +ballot, an honest count and correct returns. We denounce the fraud and +violence practiced by the Democracy in Southern States, by which the +will of a voter is defeated, as dangerous to the preservation of free +institutions; and we solemnly arraign the Democratic party as being the +guilty recipient of the fruits of such fraud and violence. + +We extend to the Republicans of the South, regardless of their former +party affiliations, our cordial sympathy, and pledge to them our most +earnest efforts to promote the passage of such legislation as will +secure to every citizen, of whatever race and color, the full and +complete recognition, possession, and exercise of all civil and +political rights. + +The candidates were presented on Thursday evening. A. H. Brandagee +presented Jos. R. Hawley, of Connecticut; Shelby M. Cullom presented the +name of John A. Logan, of Illinois; Judge Wm. H. West, the blind orator +of Ohio, nominated James G. Blaine amid scenes of great enthusiasm, and +the nomination was seconded by Cushman K. Davis, William C. Goodloe, +Thomas C. Platt and Galusha A. Grow; Martin I. Townsend placed Chester +A. Arthur in nomination and was seconded by H. H. Bingham, John R. +Lynch, Patrick H. Winston and P. B. S. Pinchback; J. B. Foraker +nominated John Sherman, of Ohio, and John D. Long presented the name of +George F. Edmunds, of Vermont. This closed the list of nominations. The +convention adjourned about two o'clock Friday morning. On assembling +about 11:30 a. m. the convention proceeded at once to balloting. Four +ballots were taken and Mr. Blaine gained steadily on each ballot. At the +end of the third ballot the opposition forces endeavored to secure an +adjournment without success, and then J. B. Foraker, of Ohio, moved to +suspend the rules and nominate Mr. Blaine by acclamation, but to save +time the motion was withdrawn and the balloting proceeded. Shelby M. +Cullom attempted to read a telegram from John A. Logan, withdrawing in +favor of Mr. Blaine, but was prevented by the administration party. The +ballots were as follows, with 820 delegates present: + + 1st 2d 3d 4th + Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. + Blaine ............ 334½ 349 375 541 + Arthur ............ 278 276 274 207 + Edmunds ........... 93 85 69 41 + Logan ............. 63½ 61 53 7 + Sherman ........... 30 28 25 + Hawley ............ 13 13 13 15 + Lincoln ........... 4 4 8 2 + W. T. Sherman ..... 2 2 2 + +After the tumult had subsided, H. G. Burleigh, of New York, moved, in +behalf of President Arthur, and at his request, that the nomination be +made unanimous, which was done with tremendous cheers. At the evening +session Preston B. Plumb, of Kansas, nominated John A. Logan for +Vice-President. An effort was made to make it unanimous, but as there +were a few dissenting voices to this, a ballot was taken, showing 779 +votes for Logan, six for Gresham, and six for Foraker. Blaine, "The +Plumed Knight" of Maine, and Logan, "The Black Eagle" of Illinois, made +a ticket well calculated to create tremendous enthusiasm throughout the +country. + +James G. Blaine was born at West Brownsville, Pa., January 31, 1830, and +after graduating from college became a teacher, and in 1854 settled at +Augusta, Maine, and took the editorship of a newspaper and soon became +prominent. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1858, and became +Chairman of the Republican State Committee; he entered Congress in 1863 +from Maine, made a brilliant reputation and became the party leader in +the House; was Speaker of the House three terms, from 1869 to 1875; +served in the United States Senate from 1876 to 1881. In 1876 he was a +prominent candidate for the nomination, as also in 1880. After the +election of Mr. Garfield he was Secretary of State, but resigned shortly +after President Arthur's accession. + +The National Anti-Monopoly Convention was held at Chicago on May 14th, +and nominated Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, for President, and +left the office of Vice-President to be filled by a committee, Gen. A. +M. West, of Mississippi, being subsequently chosen. The National +Greenback-Labor Convention at Indianapolis, on May 28th, endorsed the +nomination of Butler and West. The Democratic National Convention met at +Chicago on July 8, 1884, and nominated Grover Cleveland, of New York, +for President, on the second ballot, and Thomas A. Hendricks, of +Indiana, for Vice-President, by acclamation. These selections were made +to secure, if possible, the electoral vote of the two doubtful and +pivotal States. The Democratic platform demanded a change of parties; it +declared that the will of the people had been defeated by fraud in 1876; +that the Republican Party was extravagant, and had failed to keep its +pledges; denounced the existing tariff and pledged the party to its +regulation. The Prohibition National Convention at Pittsburg, on July +12th, named John P. St. John, of Kansas, for President, and William +Daniels, of Maryland, for Vice-President. + +The campaign of 1884 was one of the most remarkable ever fought by the +Republican Party. An unusual feature was that for the first time in its +history a strong wing of the Republican Party openly refused to support +the nominee. These Independent Republicans became known as "Mugwumps," +an Indian name meaning a great or wise person. It was first applied +derisively, but afterwards accepted by the Independents as a party name. +They were not strong in numbers, but as the campaign drew near its close +and it was seen that the election would be very close, the seriousness +of the Republican revolt was felt. The entire campaign was marked with +great personal bitterness, and charges of corruption and dishonesty were +made against both candidates; against Mr. Blaine because of his alleged +connection with the Little Rock Railroad matter in 1876. This accusation +was brought to the people by the publication of the Mulligan letters +September 16, 1884, but the charge was without foundation. The defection +of the Mugwumps and the bitter personal attacks had the effect of making +Mr. Blaine's friends more enthusiastic in their work for him, and he +probably would have won the contest had it not been for the unfortunate +utterance of Dr. Burchard in New York City, six days before the +election, at a reception by Mr. Blaine to a delegation of clergymen, in +which the Democratic Party was referred to as one whose antecedents have +been "Rum, Romanism and Rebellion." This remark was dishonestly +attributed to Mr. Blaine, and unquestionably lost thousands of votes, +because the accusation could not be refuted satisfactorily in the few +days remaining before the election. New York, with its thirty-six +electoral votes, was lost by the narrow margin of 1149 popular votes, +and the election went to the Democrats. A Democratic House was also +elected. The electoral vote gave Cleveland and Hendricks 219 and Blaine +and Logan 182. The popular vote was: Cleveland 4,874,986, Blaine +4,851,981, Butler 175,370, St. John 150,369. + +Mr. Cleveland was inaugurated March 4, 1885, and the country had a +Democratic President for the first time since Mr. Buchanan was +inaugurated in 1857, counting the administration of Mr. Johnson as +Republican. Mr. Cleveland's first term of office reached from March, +1885, to March, 1889, and was marked by no legislation or events +seriously affecting the condition of the great parties. There was a +liberal use of the veto power, and the Democratic Party was split into +two factions over the tariff question, one wing demanding free trade and +the other tariff for revenue only, with incidental protection. The first +session of the Forty-ninth Congress met December 7, 1885, and owing to +the death of Vice-President Hendricks, John Sherman was elected +President pro tem. of the Senate. John G. Carlisle, Democrat, was +elected Speaker of the House. Owing to the fact that the House and the +Senate were controlled by different parties there was no party +legislation during the sessions of the Forty-ninth Congress, and the +same may be said of the Fiftieth Congress, which opened its first +session on December 5, 1887. The third annual message of President +Cleveland, read at the opening of this Congress, declared for free +trade, and this became the slogan of the Democratic Party, the House +passing the Mills Tariff Bill, which was rejected by the Senate. As Mr. +Cleveland's term drew to a close it was announced that he would be a +candidate for re-nomination. In the Republican Party there was no +certainty as to who would receive the nomination. Mr. Blaine announced +that he would not be a candidate, and it was felt that the nomination +would probably go to John Sherman. The declaration of Mr. Cleveland in +favor of free trade afforded a direct issue in 1888, and the Republicans +accepted it promptly by declaring for a protective tariff. + +[Illustration: Benjamin Harrison.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +HARRISON. + + +"No other people have a government more worthy of their respect and +love, or a land so magnificent in extent, so pleasant to look upon, and +so full of generous suggestion to enterprise and labor. God has placed +upon our head a diadem, and has laid at our feet power and wealth beyond +definition or calculation. But we must not forget that we take these +gifts upon the condition that justice and mercy shall hold the reins of +power, and that the upward avenues of hope shall be free to all the +people." + +_Benjamin Harrison's Inaugural Address_, _March_ 4, 1889. + + +Three National Conventions met on May 15, 1888. The Union Labor +Convention at Cincnnati nominated Alson J. Streeter, of Illinois, for +President, and Samuel Evans, of Texas, for Vice-President; the United +Labor Convention, at the same place, nominated Robert H. Cowdrey, of +Illinois, and W. H. T. Wakefield, of Kansas; and the Equal Rights +Convention, at Des Moines, Iowa, nominated Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, of +the District of Columbia, for President, and Alfred H. Love, of +Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. The popular vote for these tickets in +the various States was small and did not influence the result. The +Prohibition Convention met at Indianapolis May 20, 1888, and nominated +Clinton B. Fisk, of New Jersey, and John A. Brooks, of Missouri; the +total Prohibition vote was 249,506, a gain of 100,000 over the total +vote of 1884. + +In this year, for the first time since 1860, the Democratic National +Convention was held before the Republican National Convention. The +Democrats assembled at St. Louis, Missouri, on June 5, 1888, and +nominated Grover Cleveland without any opposition, something which had +not occurred in a Democratic Convention for forty-eight years; Allen G. +Thurman, of Ohio, was nominated for Vice-President on the first ballot. +The Democratic platform of 1888 reaffirmed that of 1884, and endorsed +the "views expressed by President Cleveland in his last earnest message +to Congress as a correct interpretation of that platform upon the +question of tariff reduction;" it welcomed a scrutiny of its four years +of executive power; advocated homesteads for the people, and civil +service and tariff reform. When the Republicans met at Chicago it +appeared that John Sherman, of Ohio, was the strongest candidate, and +that he might receive the nomination on the third or fourth ballot, but +there was a large number of "favorite sons," and no one could exactly +determine what might happen before the balloting was concluded. Mr. +Blaine, in the closing months of 1887, was unquestionably the unanimous +choice of the party, and he would probably have been nominated by +acclamation had he not in a letter from Florence, Italy, dated January +25, 1888, declined absolutely to be a candidate. So earnest, however, +was the desire for his nomination, that many of his friends refused to +be silenced by his emphatic declaration, and it became necessary for him +to write a second letter from Paris on May 17th, in which he reiterated +his former declaration, and refused to allow his name to be considered, +but he predicted that the tariff question would be the issue, and that +an overwhelming success for the Republican Party would be the result of +the campaign. The confusion caused by his withdrawal led to the large +number of candidates, but gradually the sentiment of the party began to +look for a man who would not only be able to carry the States won by the +Republicans in 1884, but who would also make the best showing in the +doubtful States, principal among which were New York and Indiana. + +On Tuesday, June 19, 1888, at 12:30 p. m., the Republican National +Convention was called to order by Chairman B. F. Jones, of the National +Committee. After an eloquent prayer by Dr. Gunsaulus, of the Plymouth +Church, Chicago, the call for the convention was read by Secretary +Fessenden. The name of John M. Thurston, of Nebraska, for temporary +Chairman, was reported by the National Committee; the roll-call of +States was then made, at which the delegates announced the names of the +persons selected to serve on the Permanent Organization, Rules and Order +of Business, Credentials and Resolutions Committees. Considerable time +was consumed in a preliminary hearing of the factional fight in Virginia +between the Mahone and Wise Republicans. A notable feature of this +session of the convention was the speech by John C. Fremont, the first +candidate of the party for President. The convention adjourned at 3:30 +p. m. until the following day at noon. On convening, the Committee on +Permanent Organization reported the name of M. M. Estee, of California, +for permanent President, and also the usual number of vice-presidents +and honorary secretaries. The Committee on Rules and Order of Business +reported and the report was adopted. One important rule was that no +change of votes could be made after the vote had been announced, until +after the result of the ballot had been announced; this tended to +prevent a stampede, and added materially to the deliberateness of the +convention. The Committee on Credentials not being ready to report, the +convention adjourned at 2:15 p. m. to meet again at 8 p. m.; at the +opening of the evening session neither of the Committees on Credentials +or Resolutions were ready to report, and the convention listened to +stirring speeches by William O. Bradley, of Kentucky, and Governor J. B. +Foraker, of Ohio. The Committee on Credentials then reported, and on the +Virginia contest seated the Mahone delegates-at-large and the Wise +District delegates from all but one district. The convention adjourned +at 11:25 p. m. to meet at 10 a. m. Thursday. On Thursday morning, after +the roll had been called for names and members of the National +Committee, the platform was reported by William McKinley, of Ohio, who +received a remarkable ovation as he moved forward to take the stand. It +was adopted unanimously by a rising vote, and was the longest ever +presented by a Republican Convention. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1888. + +The Republicans of the United States, assembled by their delegates in +national convention, pause on the threshold of their proceedings to +honor the memory of their first great leader, the immortal champion of +liberty and the rights of the people--Abraham Lincoln; and to cover +also with wreaths of imperishable remembrance and gratitude the heroic +names of our later leaders, who have more recently been called away from +our councils--Grant, Garfield, Arthur, Logan, Conkling. May their +memories be faithfully cherished. We also recall, with our greetings and +with prayer for his recovery, the name of one of our living heroes, +whose memory will be treasured in the history both of Republicans and of +the Republic--the name of that noble soldier and favorite child of +victory, Phillip H. Sheridan. + +In the spirit of those great leaders, and of our own devotion to human +liberty, and with that hostility to all forms of despotism and +oppression which is the fundamental idea of the Republican Party, we +send fraternal congratulations to our fellow-Americans of Brazil upon +their great act of emancipation, which completed the abolition of +slavery throughout the two American continents. We earnestly hope that +we may soon congratulate our fellow-citizens of Irish birth upon the +peaceful recovery of home rule for Ireland. + +FREE SUFFRAGE. + +We reaffirm our unswerving devotion to the national Constitution and to +the indissoluble union of the states; to the autonomy reserved to the +states under the Constitution; to the personal rights and liberties of +citizens in all the states and territories in the Union, and especially +to the supreme and sovereign right of every lawful citizen, rich or +poor, native or foreign born, white or black, to cast one free ballot in +public elections and to have that ballot duly counted. We hold the free +and honest popular ballot and the just and equal representation of all +the people to be the foundation of our republican government, and demand +effective legislation to secure the integrity and purity of elections, +which are the foundations of all public authority. We charge that the +present administration and Democratic majority in Congress owe their +existence to the suppression of the ballot by a criminal nullification +of the Constitution and laws of the United States. + +PROTECTION TO AMERICAN INDUSTRIES. + +We are uncompromisingly in favor of the American system of protection; +we protest against its destruction as proposed by the President and his +party. They serve the interests of Europe; we will support the interests +of America. We accept the issue and confidently appeal to the people for +their judgment. The protective system must be maintained. Its +abandonment has always been followed by general disaster to all +interests, except those of the usurer and the sheriff. We denounce the +Mills bill as destructive to the general business, the labor, and the +farming interests of the country, and we heartily indorse the consistent +and patriotic action of the Republican representatives in Congress in +opposing its passage. + +DUTIES ON WOOL. + +We condemn the proposition of the Democratic Party to place wool on the +free list, and we insist that the duties thereon shall be adjusted and +maintained so as to furnish full and adequate protection to that +industry. + +THE INTERNAL REVENUE. + +The Republican Party would effect all needed reduction of the national +revenue by repealing the taxes upon tobacco, which are an annoyance and +burden to agriculture, and the tax upon spirits used in the arts and for +mechanical purposes, and by such revision of the tariff laws as will +tend to check imports of such articles as are produced by our people, +the production of which gives employment to our labor, and release from +import duties those articles of foreign production (except luxuries) the +like of which cannot be produced at home. If there shall still remain a +larger revenue than is requisite for the wants of the government, we +favor the entire repeal of internal taxes rather than the surrender of +any part of our protective system, at the joint behests of the whisky +trusts and the agents of foreign manufacturers. + +FOREIGN CONTRACT LABOR. + +We declare our hostility to the introduction into this country of +foreign contract labor and of Chinese labor, alien to our civilization +and our Constitution, and we demand the rigid enforcement of the +existing laws against it, and favor such immediate legislation as will +exclude such labor from our shores. + +COMBINATIONS OF CAPITAL. + +We declare our opposition to all combinations of capital, organized in +trusts or otherwise, to control arbitrarily the condition of trade among +our citizens; and we recommend to Congress and the state legislatures, +in their respective jurisdictions, such legislation as will prevent the +execution of all schemes to oppress the people by undue charges on their +supplies or by unjust rates for the transportation of their products to +market. We approve the legislation by Congress to prevent alike unjust +burdens and unfair discrimination between the states. + +HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE. + +We reaffirm the policy of appropriating the public lands of the United +States to be homesteads for American citizens and settlers, not aliens, +which the Republican Party established in 1862, against the persistent +opposition of the Democrats in Congress, and which has brought our great +Western domain into such magnificent development. The restoration of +unearned railroad land-grants to the public domain for the use of actual +settlers, which was begun under the administration of President Arthur, +should be continued. We deny that the Democratic Party has ever restored +one acre to the people, but declare that by the joint action of the +Republicans and Democrats about 50,000,000 acres of unearned lands +originally granted for the construction of railroads have been restored +to the public domain, in pursuance of the conditions inserted by the +Republican Party in the original grants. We charge the Democratic +administration with failure to execute the laws securing to settlers +title to their homesteads, and with using appropriations made for that +purpose to harass innocent settlers with spies and prosecutions, under +the false pretense of exposing frauds and vindicating the law. + +HOME RULE IN TERRITORIES. + +The government by Congress of the territories is based upon necessity +only, to the end that they may become states in the Union; therefore, +whenever the conditions of population, material resources, public +intelligence and morality are such as to insure a stable local +government therein, the people of such territories should be permitted, +as a right inherent in them, the right to form for themselves +constitutions and state governments, and be admitted to the Union. +Pending the preparation for statehood, all officers thereof should be +selected from the bona fide residents and citizens of the territory +wherein they are to serve. + +ADMITTANCE OF SOUTH DAKOTA. + +South Dakota should of right be immediately admitted as a state in the +Union, under the constitution framed and adopted by her people, and we +heartily indorse the action of the Republican Senate in twice passing +bills for her admission. The refusal of the Democratic House of +Representatives, for partisan purposes, to favorably consider these +bills, is a willful violation of the sacred American principle of local +self-government, and merits the condemnation of all just men. The +pending bills in the Senate for acts to enable the people of Washington, +North Dakota, and Montana Territories to form constitutions and +establish state governments should be passed without unnecessary delay. +The Republican Party pledges itself to do all in its power to facilitate +the admission of the Territories of New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho and +Arizona to the enjoyment of self-government as states--such of them as +are now qualified as soon as possible, and the others as soon as they +may become so. + +MORMONISM. + +The political power of the Mormon Church in the territories as exercised +in the past is a menace to free institutions, a danger no longer to be +suffered. Therefore we pledge the Republican Party to appropriate +legislation asserting the sovereignity of the nation in all territories +where the same is questioned, and in furtherance of that end to a place +upon the statute books legislation stringent enough to divorce the +political from the ecclesiastical power, and thus stamp out the +attendant wickedness of polygamy. + +[Illustration: John Sherman.] + +BIMETALISM. + +The Republican Party is in favor of the use of both gold and silver as +money, and condemns the policy of the Democratic administration in its +efforts to demonetize silver. + +REDUCTION OF LETTER POSTAGE. + +We demand the reduction of letter postage to one cent per ounce. + +FREE SCHOOLS. + +In a Republic like ours, where the citizen is the sovereign and the +official the servant, where no power is exercised except by the will of +the people, it is important that the sovereign--the people--should +possess intelligence. The free school is the promoter of that +intelligence which is to preserve us a free nation; therefore the state +or nation, or both combined, should support free institutions of +learning sufficient to afford to every child growing up in the land the +opportunity of a good common school education. + +ARMY AND NAVY FORTIFICATIONS. + +We earnestly recommend that prompt action be taken by Congress in the +enactment of such legislation as will best secure the rehabilitation of +our American merchant marine, and we protest against the passage by +Congress of a free-ship bill, as calculated to work injustice to labor +by lessening the wages of those engaged in preparing materials as well +as those directly employed in our shipyards. We demand appropriations +for the early rebuilding of our navy; for the construction of coast +fortifications and modern ordnance, and other approved modern means of +defense for the protection of our defenseless harbors and cities; for +the payment of just pensions to our soldiers; for the necessary works of +national importance in the improvement of harbors and the channels of +internal, coastwise, and foreign commerce; for the encouragement of the +shipping interests of the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific States, as well as +for the payment of the maturing public debt. This policy will give +employment to our labor, activity to our various industries, increase +the security of our country, promote trade, open new and direct markets +for our produce, and cheapen the cost of transportation. We affirm this +to be far better for our country than the Democratic policy of loaning +the government's money, without interest, to "pet banks." + +THE MONROE DOCTRINE. + +The conduct of foreign affairs by the present administration has been +distinguished by its inefficiency and its cowardice. Having withdrawn +from the Senate all pending treaties effected by Republican +administrations for the removal of foreign burdens and restrictions upon +our commerce and for its extension into better markets, it has neither +effected nor proposed any others in their stead. Professing adherence to +the Monroe doctrine, it has seen, with idle complacency, the extension +of foreign influence in Central America and of foreign trade everywhere +among our neighbors. It has refused to charter, sanction, or encourage +any American organization for constructing the Nicaraguan Canal, a work +of vital importance to the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine, and of +our national influence in Central and South America, and necessary for +the development of trade with our Pacific territory, with South America, +and with the islands and farther coasts of the Pacific Ocean. + +PROTECTION OF OUR FISHERIES. + +We arraign the Democratic administration for its weak and unpatriotic +treatment of the fisheries question, and its pusillanimous surrender of +the essential privileges to which our fishing vessels are entitled in +Canadian ports under the treaty of 1818, the reciprocal maritime +legislation of 1830, and the comity of nations, and which Canadian +vessels receive in the ports of the United States. We condemn the policy +of the present administration and the Democratic majority in Congress +toward our fisheries as unfriendly and conspicuously unpatriotic, and as +tending to destroy a valuable national industry and an indispensable +resource of defense against a foreign enemy. The name of American +applies alike to all citizens of the republic, and imposes upon all +alike the same obligation of obedience to the laws. At the same time +that citizenship is and must be the panoply and safeguard of him who +wears it, and protect him, whether high or low, rich or poor, in all his +civil rights. It should and must afford him protection at home and +follow and protect him abroad, in whatever land he may be, on a lawful +errand. + +CIVIL-SERVICE REFORM. + +The men who abandoned the Republican Party in 1884, and continue to +adhere to the Democratic Party have deserted not only the cause of +honest government, of sound finance, of freedom, of purity of the +ballot, but especially have deserted the cause of reform in the civil +service. We will not fail to keep our pledges because they have broken +theirs, or because their candidate has broken his. We therefore repeat +our declaration of 1884, to wit: "The reform of the civil service, +auspiciously begun under the Republican administration, should be +completed by the further extension of the reform system, already +established by law, to all the grades of the service to which it is +applicable. The spirit and purpose of the reform should be observed in +all executive appointments, and all laws at variance with the object of +existing reform legislation should be repealed, to the end that the +dangers to free institutions which lurk in the power of official +patronage may be wisely and effectively avoided. + +PENSIONS FOR THE SOLDIERS. + +The gratitude of the nation to the defenders of the Union cannot be +measured by laws. The legislation of Congress should conform to the +pledge made by a loyal people, and be so enlarged and extended as to +provide against the possibility that any man who honorably wore the +Federal uniform should become the inmate of an almshouse, or dependent +upon private charity. In the presence of an overflowing treasury, it +would be a public scandal to do less for those whose valorous service +preserved the government. We denounce the hostile spirit of President +Cleveland in his numerous vetoes of measures for pension relief, and the +action of the Democratic House of Representatives in refusing even a +consideration of general pension legislation. + +In support of the principles herewith enunciated, we invite the +co-operation of patriotic men of all parties, and especially of all +workingmen, whose prosperity is seriously threatened by the free-trade +policy of the present administration. + +Next in order of business was the presentation of candidates for +President. Mr. Warner presented the name of Jos. R. Hawley, of +Connecticut; Leonard Sweet nominated Walter Q. Gresham, of Illinois; +Albert G. Porter nominated Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, and at the +close of this speech the convention recessed until 3 p. m., at which +time Mr. Harrison's nomination was seconded by Mr. Terrill, of Texas, +and Mr. Gallinger, of New Hampshire; Mr. Hepburn, of Iowa, nominated Wm. +B. Allison; Robert E. Frazer nominated Russel A. Alger; Senator Hiscock +nominated Chauncey M. Depew; Daniel B. Hastings nominated John Sherman; +Mr. Smith nominated E. H. Fitler, and Governor Rush nominated Jeremiah +M. Rusk, and the convention adjourned at 7:26 p. m., until the morning, +when the balloting would begin. + +On Friday, June 22d, the convention met about 11 a. m., and, after +taking three ballots without any result or indication of the nomination +of any person, adjourned to meet at an evening session. At the evening +session Mr. Depew withdrew his name, and after some miscellaneous +business the session adjourned without taking a ballot. On Saturday, +June 23d, two ballots were taken without any final result, but they +showed a decided increase for Mr. Harrison and indicated his nomination. +A recess was taken until 4 p. m., and on meeting at that hour the +convention adjourned without taking any further ballots, until Monday +morning. On Monday, the sixth, seventh and eighth ballots were taken, +resulting in the nomination of Mr. Harrison on the eighth, the +nomination being made unanimous on motion of Governor Foraker, of Ohio. +The votes for the principal candidates on the different ballots were as +follows: + + 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th + Sherman ......... 229 249 244 235 224 244 231 118 + Gresham ......... 111 108 123 98 87 91 91 59 + Depew ........... 99 99 91 ... ... ... ... ... + Alger ........... 84 116 122 135 142 137 120 100 + Harrison ........ 80 91 94 217 213 231 278 544 + Allison ......... 72 75 88 88 99 73 76 ... + Blaine .......... 35 33 35 42 48 40 15 5 + +Others who received votes on the various ballots were John J. Ingalls, +Jeremiah M. Rusk, W. W. Phelps, E. H. Fitler, Joseph R. Hawley, Robert +T. Lincoln, William McKinley, Jr. (who received votes on every ballot, +two on the first ballot, his highest, sixteen, on the seventh), Samuel +F. Miller, Frederick Douglas, Joseph B. Foraker, Frederick D. Grant and +Creed Haymond. + +The man who was thus honored by the Republican Party over all of the +other eminent men before the convention was by no means an unknown +quantity. Mr. Harrison was born at North Bend, Ohio, August 20, 1833. +He was a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, and his +great-great-grandfather was one of the signers of the Declaration of +Independence. After graduating from college he was admitted to the bar +and practiced law in Indianapolis; he was elected Reporter of the +Indiana Supreme Court in 1860, and left the position to become a +volunteer in the Federal army in 1862, and was made Colonel of an +Indiana regiment; his army record was good, and he left the service with +the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. Resuming his law practice he +became very successful, and his public speaking made him prominent. In +1876 he was defeated by a small majority for Governor of Indiana, and in +1880 his name had been presented to the Republican National Convention. +He had served in the United States Senate from 1881 to 1887. + +Levi P. Morton, of New York, was nominated for Vice-President on the +first ballot, receiving 591 votes to 119 for Wm. W. Phelps and 103 for +Wm. O. Bradley, of Kentucky. Blanch K. Bruce, of Mississippi, and Walter +F. Thomas, of Texas, also received votes. + +The campaign of 1888 was fought with earnestness and vigor on both +sides. The tariff question overshadowed all others at this period and +was made the great issue of the canvass. Like those of 1880 and 1884, +this campaign was not without a striking incident that had its influence +on the vote. On October 25, 1888, occurred the publication of the +Murchison correspondence, in which the British Minister, Lord +Sackville-West, in a letter dated September 13th, indiscreetly answered +a letter purporting to come from one Charles F. Murchison, of Pomona, +Cal., a naturalized Englishman, asking advice how to vote. Lord +Sackville-West's reply, while not direct, was that a vote for the +Democratic Party would be more friendly to England than one for the +Republican Party, a declaration which was immediately seized upon by the +Republicans and made much of to influence the votes of those who were +undecided on the tariff issue. + +At the election on November 6th Harrison and Morton carried twenty +States, with their 233 electoral votes, and Cleveland and Thurman +carried eighteen States, with 123 electoral votes. The popular vote was: + + Harrison ............. 5,439,853 Cleveland ............ 5,540,329 + Fisk ................. 249,505 Streeter ............. 146,935 + +The Republicans also gained control of both branches of Congress. + +President Harrison's term, reaching from March, 1889, to March, 1893, +was one of political turmoil. The first session of the Fifty-first +Congress convened on December 2, 1889, and Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, was +elected Speaker of the House. The majority of the Republicans being so +small, he soon announced his intention of ignoring the usual rule of not +counting a member as present unless he voted, and stated a new rule, of +counting those who were present as present, even though they did not +vote. This and other rulings were adopted by a party vote, and Mr. Reed +was called the "Czar" by the Democrats. + +The most important work of this Congress and the great political event +of Harrison's administration was the enactment of the McKinley Tariff +Bill, which was reported to the House of Representatives on April 16, +1890, by William McKinley, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. +After considerable debate, it was passed by the House on May 21st, and +by the Senate in September, and became a law October 1, 1890. The +continued efforts of the Democrats brought the McKinley Tariff law into +much public disfavor, and resulted in overwhelming Democratic victories +in the Congressional elections in November, 1890, by which the Democrats +regained control of the House, and their minority of 18 in the +Fifty-first Congress was changed to a majority of 129 in the +Fifty-second. + +A new party, the People's Party, which will be considered later, +appeared in politics with success for the first time at the elections in +1890. Other important measures advocated and adopted by the Republicans +in the Fifty-first Congress were more liberal Pension Laws (June 27, +1890), and the Sherman Anti-Trust Bill (June 26, 1890). The so-called +Sherman Silver Act of July 14, 1890, was in reality a concession to the +strong silver element which was appearing in both the great parties at +this time, and which was to have so momentous an influence on political +history in later presidential campaigns. This Act provided for the +purchase of 4,500,000 ounces of silver bullion each month, to be paid +for in paper money called Treasury Notes, redeemable on demand in gold +or silver, and for the coinage of 2,000,000 ounces per month in dollars; +after July 1, 1891, the silver was not to be coined, but might be stored +in the Treasury and silver certificates issued. The purchasing clause of +the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 was repealed. + +As the time approached for the presidential campaign of 1892 the +political situation was peculiar. President Harrison was openly a +candidate for re-election, but he was unpopular with many of the strong +Republican leaders, who, as a matter of course, turned to Mr. Blaine, +then Secretary of State. Mr. Blaine, however, on February 6, 1892, wrote +Mr. Clarkson, Chairman of the National Republican Committee, declining +to be a candidate, but his friends, notwithstanding, persisted in +booming him. The country was astonished on June 4th, three days before +the Convention, to learn that Mr. Blaine had resigned from the Cabinet. +Did it mean that he was desirous of returning to private life, or of +withdrawing his declination and entering actively into the fight for the +nomination? Mr. Blaine did not explain, and the uncertainty was +perplexing as the day for the Convention approached. + +In the Democratic Party the situation at first was equally uncertain as +to who might be the nominee, but as the State Delegations were chosen, +it was seen that Mr. Cleveland would again be nominated in spite of the +opposition of Gov. Hill and the New York delegation. Public attention +centered, in June, 1892, on Minneapolis and Chicago, where the +Republican and Democratic Conventions were to be held. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CLEVELAND'S SECOND TERM. + + +"Cleveland's (second) election created the disturbances that followed +it. The fear of radical changes in the Tariff Law was the basis of them. +That law caused the falling of prices, the stagnation of some +industries, and the suspension of others. No doubt the fall in the value +of silver and the increased demand for gold largely precipitated and +added to the other evils." + +_John Sherman's Recollections._ + + +The delegates for the Tenth Republican National Convention assembled at +Minneapolis, Minn., in the opening days of June, 1892. The friends of +Mr. Blaine were booming his candidacy, although no direct expression had +come from him as to whether or not he actively desired the nomination. +His sudden and unexpected resignation from President Harrison's Cabinet +had created a situation difficult to analyze, but the general opinion +was that he had hurt his prospects by his action. The anti-Harrison +sentiment was strong, however, and there was much talk of the possible +nomination of a "dark horse," and the name of William McKinley, of Ohio, +"the Napoleon of Tariff," was most spoken of in this respect. As the day +of the Convention drew near both the Blaine and Harrison men expressed +the utmost confidence in their certain success, and the first occasion +in the Convention that would call for a test of strength was looked for +with great interest. + +About 12:24 p. m., Tuesday, June 7, 1892, Chairman James S. Clarkson, of +the Republican National Committee, called the Tenth Convention to order, +and announced the selection, by the National Committee, of J. Sloat +Fassett, of New York, as temporary Chairman. At the close of Mr. +Fassett's speech of acceptance the Convention called for Thomas B. Reed, +who reluctantly came forward and addressed the Convention briefly. The +roll-call of States for the selection of members of the various +committees consumed the time until almost two o'clock, when the +convention adjourned to meet the next morning. On reassembling the +Committee on Credentials was granted further time; the Committee on +Permanent Organization reported the name of William McKinley, of Ohio, +for Permanent President of the Convention, who took the gavel amid great +applause and enthusiasm, and delivered a short, pithy speech. The +Committee on Rules reported, and further time was granted the Committee +on Resolutions. After calling the roll of States for names of the new +National Committeemen, the Convention adjourned for the day. On Thursday +morning, June 9th, the Committee on Credentials was still not ready to +report, and as nothing could be done until they did report, the +Convention took a recess at 11:45 a. m. to 8 p. m. At the opening of the +evening session Mr. Depew, of New York, congratulated Col. Dick +Thompson, of Indiana, who had voted for every President of the United +States for the past sixty years, on reaching on that day his +eighty-third birthday, and the Convention listened to a short speech of +thanks from Col. Thompson. The Committee on Credentials now reported, +and the majority were in favor of the seating of enough administration +delegates to make a net gain of 12 votes for Harrison, and the first +contest of strength between the Blaine and the Harrison forces came on a +motion to substitute the minority report in favor of seating the Blaine +delegates. The vote on this motion was taken amid intense excitement, +and resulted in a victory for the Harrison forces by a close vote of +462½ to 423. Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, Chairman of the Committee on +Resolutions, now reported the platform, which was in the following +words: + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1892. + +The representatives of the Republicans of the United States, assembled +in general convention on the shores of the Mississippi River, the +everlasting bond of an indestructible republic, whose most glorious +chapter of history is the record of the Republican Party, congratulate +their countrymen on the majestic march of the nation under the banners +inscribed with the principles of our platform of 1888, vindicated by +victory at the polls and prosperity in our fields, workshops and mines, +and make the following declaration of principles: + +THE PRINCIPLE OF PROTECTION. + +We reaffirm the American doctrine of protection. We call attention to +its growth abroad. We maintain that the prosperous condition of our +country is largely due to the wise revenue legislation of the last +Republican Congress. We believe that all articles which cannot be +produced in the United States, except luxuries, should be admitted free +of duty, and that on all imports coming into competition with the +products of American labor there should be levied duties equal to the +difference between wages abroad and at home. + +We assert that the prices of manufactured articles of general +consumption have been reduced under the operations of the Tariff Act +of 1890. + +We denounce the efforts of the Democratic majority of the House of +Representatives to destroy our tariff laws piecemeal, as manifested by +their attacks upon wool, lead, and lead ores, the chief products of a +number of states, and we ask the people for their judgment thereon. + +TRIUMPH OF RECIPROCITY. + +We point to the success of the Republican policy of reciprocity, under +which our export trade has vastly increased and new and enlarged markets +have been opened for the products of our farms and workshops. We remind +the people of the bitter opposition of the Democratic Party to this +practical business measure, and claim that, executed by a Republican +administration, our present laws will eventually give us control of the +trade of the world. + +FREE AND SAFE COINAGE OF GOLD AND SILVER. + +The American people, from tradition and interest, favor bimetalism, and +the Republican party demands the use of both gold and silver as standard +money, with such restrictions and under such provisions, to be +determined by legislation, as will secure the maintenance of the parity +of values of the two metals, so that the purchasing and debt-paying +power of the dollar, whether of silver, gold, or paper, shall be at all +times equal. The interests of the producers of the country, its farmers +and its workingmen, demand that every dollar, paper, or coin, issued by +the government shall be as good as any other. We commend the wise and +patriotic steps already taken by our government to secure an +international conference to adopt such measures as will insure a parity +of value between gold and silver for use as money throughout the world. + +FREEDOM OF THE BALLOT. + +We demand that every citizen of the United States shall be allowed to +cast one free and unrestricted ballot in all public elections, and that +such ballot shall be counted and returned as cast; that such laws shall +be enacted and enforced as will secure to every citizen, be he rich or +poor, native or foreign born, white or black, this sovereign right, +guaranteed by the Constitution. The free and honest popular ballot, the +just and equal representation of all the people, as well as their just +and equal protection under the laws, are the foundation of our +republican institutions, and the party will never relax its efforts +until the integrity of the ballot and the purity of elections shall be +fully guaranteed and protected in every state. + +OUTRAGES IN THE SOUTH. + +We denounce the continued inhuman outrages perpetrated upon American +citizens for political reasons in certain Southern States of the Union. + +EXTENSION OF FOREIGN COMMERCE. + +We favor the extension of our foreign commerce, the restoration of our +mercantile marine by home-built ships, and the creation of a navy for +the protection of our national interests and the honor of our flag; the +maintenance of the most friendly relations with all foreign powers, +entangling alliance with none, and the protection of the rights of our +fishermen. + +MONROE DOCTRINE. + +We reaffirm our approval of the Monroe doctrine, and believe in the +achievement of the manifest destiny of the Republic in its broadest +sense. + +RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION. + +We favor the enactment of more stringent laws and regulations for the +restriction of criminal, pauper, and contract immigration. + +EMPLOYEES OF RAILROADS. + +We favor the efficient legislation by Congress to protect the life and +limbs of employees of transportation companies engaged in carrying on +interstate commerce, and recommend legislation by the respective states +that will protect employees engaged in state commerce, in mining and +manufacturing. + +CHAMPIONING THE OPPRESSED. + +The Republican Party has always been the champion of the oppressed and +recognizes the dignity of manhood, irrespective of faith, color or +nationality. It sympathizes with the cause of home rule in Ireland, and +protests against the persecution of the Jews in Russia. + +FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND SPEECH. + +The ultimate reliance of free popular government is the intelligence of +the people and the maintenance of freedom among all men. We therefore +declare anew our devotion to liberty of thought and conscience, of +speech and press, and approve all agencies and instrumentalities which +contribute to the education of the children of the land; but while +insisting upon the fullest measure of religious liberty, we are opposed +to any union of church and state. + +TRUSTS CONDEMNED. + +We reaffirm our opposition, declared in the Republican platform of 1888, +to all combinations of capital, organized in trusts or otherwise to +control arbitrarily the condition of trade among our citizens. We +heartily indorse the action already taken upon this subject, and ask for +such further legislation as may be required to remedy any defects in +existing laws and to render their enforcement more complete and +effective. + +FREE DELIVERY SERVICE. + +We approve the policy of extending to town, villages, and rural +communities the advantages of the free-delivery service now enjoyed by +the larger cities of the country, and reaffirm the declaration contained +in the Republican platform of 1888, pledging the reduction of letter +postage to one cent at the earliest possible moment consistent with the +maintenance of the Postoffice Department and the highest class of postal +service. + +SPIRIT OF CIVIL-SERVICE REFORM. + +We commend the spirit and evidence of reform in the civil service, and +the wise and consistent enforcement by the Republican Party of the laws +regulating the same. + +THE NICARAGUA CANAL. + +The construction of the Nicaragua Canal is of the highest importance to +the American people, both as a measure of defense and to build up and +maintain American commerce, and it should be controlled by the United +States Government. + +TERRITORIES. + +We favor the admission of the remaining territories at the earliest +practicable day, having due regard to the interests of the people of +the territories and of the United States. + +FEDERAL TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. + +All the federal officers appointed for the territories should be +selected from bona fide residents thereof, and the right of self +government should be accorded as far as practicable. + +ARID LANDS. + +We favor cession, subject to the homestead laws, of the arid public +lands to the states and territories in which they lie, under such +congressional restrictions as to disposition, reclamation, and +occupancy by settlers as will secure the maximum benefits to the +people. + +THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. + +The World's Columbian Exposition is a great national undertaking, and +Congress should promptly enact such reasonable legislation in aid +thereof as will insure a discharging of the expense and obligations +incident thereto and the attainment of results commensurate with the +dignity and progress of the nation. + +SYMPATHY FOR TEMPERANCE. + +We sympathize with all wise and legitimate efforts to lessen and prevent +the evils of intemperance and promote morality. + +PLEDGES TO THE VETERANS. + +Ever mindful of the services and sacrifices of the men who saved the +life of the nation, we pledge anew to the veteran soldiers of the +Republic a watchful care and a just recognition of their claims upon a +grateful people. + +HARRISON'S ADMINISTRATION COMMENDED. + +We commend the able, patriotic, and thoroughly American administration +of President Harrison. Under it the country has enjoyed remarkable +prosperity, and the dignity and honor of the nation, at home and abroad, +have been faithfully maintained, and we offer the record of pledges kept +as a guarantee of faithful performance in the future. + +After the adoption of the platform the Convention adjourned for the day. + +At the opening of the session on June 10th, Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, +Chairman of the Woman's Republican Association of the United States, was +heard, and next in order was the nomination of candidates for President. +Senator Wolcott nominated James G. Blaine in an eloquent speech; W. H. +Eustis seconded this nomination, and at the conclusion of his splendid +speech there was twenty-seven minutes of the wildest enthusiasm for +Blaine; W. E. Mollison and G. B. Boyd also seconded Mr. Blaine's +nomination. Richard W. Thompson, ex-Secretary of the Navy, nominated +Benjamin Harrison, and was seconded by Chauncey M. Depew, Warner Miller, +Senator Spooner and B. E. Finck. The total number of votes was 905, +making 453 necessary to a choice. Only one ballot was taken as follows: + + Benjamin Harrison ........ 535 1-6 Thomas B. Reed ........... 4 + James G. Blaine .......... 182 5-6 Robert T. Lincoln ........ 1 + William McKinley ......... 182 + +Mr. Harrison was thus nominated on the first ballot, and on motion of +Mr. McKinley the nomination was made unanimous. Whitelaw Reid of New +York was nominated for Vice-President by acclamation, and the Convention +adjourned. + +The Democratic National Convention assembled at Chicago, Ill., June 21, +1892. Grover Cleveland, of New York, was nominated for the third time by +a vote of 617 1-3 to 114 for David B. Hill, his nearest opponent. Adlai +E. Stevenson, of Illinois, was named for Vice-President. The Democratic +platform of 1892 denounced Republican protection as a fraud and a +robbery of the great majority of the American people for the benefit of +the few, and said that the McKinley Tariff Law was the "culminating +atrocity" of class legislation, and promised its repeal; the platform +declared for a tariff for purposes of revenue only, and advocated the +speedy repeal of the Sherman Act of 1890. + +The Prohibition Convention met at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 24, and +nominated John Bidwell, of California, and J. B. Cranfill, of Texas. A +new party had been organizing quietly for some time, and was destined to +exercise a momentous effect upon the campaign of this year and also of +1896. A Farmers' Alliance Convention had met at St. Louis in December, +1889, and formed a confederation with the Knights of Labor, Greenback +and Single Tax Parties. In December, 1890, they met at Ocala, Florida, +and adopted what is known as the "Ocala Platform," practically all of +the ideas of which were embodied in the platform of the first National +Convention of the People's Party, which met at Omaha, Neb., July 2, +1892. At this Convention James B. Weaver, of Iowa, was nominated for +President, and James G. Field, of Virginia, for Vice-President. The +platform of the People's Party in 1892 stated that corruption dominated +everything, and that the country generally was on the verge of "moral, +political and material ruin," and stated that in the last twenty-five +years' struggle of the two great parties "grievous wrongs have been +inflicted upon the suffering people;" and declared that the union of the +labor forces shall be permanent, and demanded the free and unlimited +coinage of silver and gold at 16 to 1; for an income tax; for Postal +Savings Bank; for Government ownership of railroads, telegraphs and +telephones. The Socialist-Labor Convention met at New York August 28, +1892, and nominated Simon Wing, of Massachusetts, and Charles H. +Matchett, of New York, and adopted a series of social and political +demands. + +The campaign of 1892 was somewhat uninteresting as compared to those of +previous years; the political land slide of 1890 was still felt by the +Republicans, but notwithstanding it, the situation seemed hopeful. The +main encouragement for the Republicans was that the disturbances in the +Democratic party in New York might result so seriously as to lose that +State for the Democrats, but the hope was futile, and at the election on +November 8, 1892, Cleveland and Stevenson received 277 electoral votes, +to 145 for Harrison and Morton, and 22 for the People's candidates, +Weaver and Field. The popular vote was: Cleveland, 5,556,928; Harrison, +5,176,106; Weaver, 1,041,021; Bidwell, 262,034; Wing, 21,164. + +The great surprise of this election, to the members of both of the old +parties, was the unexpected strength shown by the candidates of the +People's Party. By fusing with the Democrats they received the electoral +votes of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Kansas, and split the vote in North +Dakota and Oregon. This fusion of the People's Party and the Democrats +in the West portended serious effects on the destiny of the Democratic +Party in subsequent campaigns. + +President Cleveland was inaugurated March 4, 1893, and begun his second +term of four years, which was marked by the worst financial and +industrial disasters, affecting thousands upon thousands of the American +people, ever known in the history of the country. Before he was +inaugurated, a Treaty of Annexation of Hawaii had been signed (February +14, 1893), and was being considered by the Senate, but almost his first +act of importance was to withdraw the Treaty from the consideration of +the Senate on March 9, 1893. + +Fear of Democratic tinkering with the tariff began almost immediately +with Cleveland's inauguration, and manifested itself in a lack of +confidence and general business uncertainty; in addition, the currency +was in bad shape, and the business interests feared strongly that the +Silver Act of 1890 might result in the adoption of the silver standard +for the United States. The evils of the Greenback system were now felt +with full force; they could be redeemed in specie, but were not +cancelled, and were put in circulation again, thus causing a continuous +drain on the gold reserve of the country. The amount of greenbacks in +circulation was about $350,000,000, and the Treasury notes issued under +the Silver Act of 1890, exchangeable in gold, made a total gold +obligation close to $500,000,000. The threatening state of affairs now +resulted in a general withdrawal and hoarding of gold, and foreign +capital, beginning to lose its confidence in the stability of American +affairs, withdrew investments, resulting in a heavy drain on the gold +reserve, which now, for the first time, fell below $100,000,000 in +April, 1893. The general climax of all of these conditions reached its +height in the Summer and Fall of 1893, and a panic of fearful +proportions set in, resulting in the collapse of hundreds of banks and +involving and ruining business enterprises all over the country. Never +before had a panic reached so far or affected so many people as that of +this year. + +With the hope of benefiting the situation by the repeal of the Silver +Act of 1890, President Cleveland called an extraordinary session of the +Fifty-third Congress, which met August 7, 1893. In the Senate were 44 +Democrats and 38 Republicans, one Independent and two Farmers' Alliance; +the House was composed of 220 Democrats and 128 Republicans and eight +Populists, and organized by electing Chas. F. Crisp, of Georgia, +Speaker. On November 1, 1893, a Bill was passed repealing the Silver +purchase law of 1890, but in both branches of Congress there was a +majority in favor of free coinage, and this fact, notwithstanding that +nothing was or could be done in the way of legislation, on this subject, +although it was attempted several times, continued to disturb the +nation's financial and commercial interests. Business conditions +gradually continued to grow worse, and this situation confronted the +second session of the Fifty-third Congress, which met on December 3, +1893. The Democratic Party in the House immediately took up the +proposition of repealing the McKinley tariff law, and on December 19th, +Mr. Wm. L. Wilson, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, +presented the Wilson Tariff Bill to the House, and it was passed by that +body February 1, 1894. In the Senate it met with Democratic opposition, +which joined with the Republicans in amending the bill so as to protect +certain industries. A compromise was effected with the House, and the +mutilated and unsatisfactory bill became a law on August 27, 1894, +without President Cleveland's signature. + +One alarming feature of the panic of 1893 was that, as the industrial +conditions continued to grow worse, a lawless and frenzied element made +itself felt in alarming strikes in many parts of the country, in some +instances making necessary the calling out of the Regular Army. Another +manifestation of alarming and revolutionary tendency was the marching on +Washington of two armies of men to demand action from the Government, +relieving their distress; their number and character, however, did not +represent the best spirit of the American people, but that conditions +were so alarming as to cause such a movement is indeed a matter for +serious reflection. + +Two years of Democratic failure in the management of the affairs of the +country had its effect on the Congressional elections in 1894, and the +Democrats experienced an overwhelming and crushing defeat, and the +Fifty-fourth Congress to meet in December, 1895, would be composed of 39 +Democrats, 44 Republicans and six Alliance Senators; and 104 Democrats, +245 Republicans, one Silverite and seven Populists in the House. The +continued drain on the gold reserve made necessary the issuance of bonds +to obtain gold, and the bonded debt of the country was increased during +Cleveland's term $262,000,000. The Wilson tariff bill, it was felt, +would be insufficient to produce enough revenue to meet the expenditures +of the Government, and an attempt was made to meet the deficit by +imposing a tax of two percent on all incomes over $4,000, but this was +subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Only one +bright spot seems to appear in all this disastrous period, and it was +the vigorous policy of interference by the President in the dispute +between Great Britain and Venezuela. A bold and decided stand was taken +for the Monroe Doctrine, but even this had its evil effect, for the +business interests were agitated by the fear of war with Great Britain. + +Such was the disastrous story of four years of Democratic control of the +Government, and the Republicans, in the early months of 1896, looked +forward with the utmost confidence to the elections of their candidates, +who would be named in a convention to be held at St. Louis, Mo., in +June. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +M'KINLEY. + + +"We have been moving in untried paths, but our steps have been guided +by honor and duty. There will be no turning aside, no wavering, no +retreating. No blow has been struck except for liberty and humanity, +and none will be. We will perform without fear every national and +international obligation. The Republican Party was dedicated to freedom +forty-four years ago. It has been the party of liberty and emancipation +from that hour, not of profession, but of performance. It broke the +shackles of 4,000,000 of slaves and made them free, and to the party +of Lincoln has come another supreme opportunity which it has bravely +met in the liberation of 10,000,000 of the human family from the yoke +of imperialism." + +_William McKinley_, _Canton_, _Ohio_, _July_ 12, 1900. + + +[Illustration: Inauguration of William McKinley, March 4, 1897.] + +The opening months of 1896 were marked by a great struggle in both of +the old political parties; in the Democratic Party the struggle was one +of principle; in the Republican--of men. The silver question, which had +been a disturbing and unsettled factor in the politics of both of the +great parties for many years, dominated the Democratic Party in 1896 +entirely, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of the Cleveland +administration and the Eastern Democrats to have the party declare +against it. The instruction of the Democratic State delegations was +overwhelmingly in favor of the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 +to 1, and the matter was decided long before the Democratic Convention +met. But how would the Gold Democrats be treated in the Convention; and +what action would they take when it declared for silver? Who would carry +the banner of the Democratic Party under the new issue? In the +Republican Party there was little fear that the Convention would be +stampeded in favor of free silver, as the instructions of the Republican +delegates were as emphatic for a sound money platform as those of the +Democratic Party had been for free silver. When the sentiment of the +Republican Party became known there was very little discussion of the +silver question, notwithstanding that it was apparent that the silver +element of the party would assert itself in the Convention, and would +probably secede on the adoption of the gold plank in the platform. The +great contest in the Republican Party in 1896 was between the two +leading candidates for the presidential nomination. Wm. McKinley, of +Ohio, and Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, were these candidates, and by reason +of their great services to the party there was at first almost an equal +division of sentiment for their nomination. Joseph H. Manley was Mr. +Reed's campaign manager, and the political destinies of Mr. McKinley +were in the hands of Marcus A. Hanna, of Ohio, who proved himself in +this canvass to be the greatest political manager in the nation's +history. The months preceding the Convention were occupied by a great +struggle for the State delegations, and although the managers for Mr. +Reed did not give up the fight until a few days before the Convention, +it was early seen that the strong trend of favor was toward Mr. +McKinley, and the indications were that he would be nominated on the +first ballot. The excitement caused by the unusual contest in both +parties was intense as the time for the national conventions approached. + +The Eleventh Republican National Convention met at St. Louis, Mo., on +Tuesday, June 16, 1896, and was called to order about 12:20 p. m. by +Senator Thomas H. Carter, of Montana, Chairman of the National +Committee, and a pronounced advocate of free silver. After a prayer by +Rabbi Samuel Sale, Chairman Carter announced the selection by the +National Committee of Charles W. Fairbanks, of Indiana, as temporary +Chairman, who accepted the honor in an eloquent speech. After selecting +the various committees the Convention adjourned for the day. On +Wednesday morning, June 17th, the Committee on Permanent Organization +announced the name of John M. Thurston, of Nebraska, as President of the +Convention. He took the gavel and delivered a short, strong speech, +arousing the Convention to great enthusiasm. At the opening of the +afternoon session, Chairman J. Franklin Fort, of the Committee on +Credentials, reported, and, after a long debate concerning the contest +between rival delegations from Texas and Delaware, the majority report +was adopted, and after adopting the report of the Committee on Rules, +presented by Gen. Harry Bingham, the Convention adjourned. On the +morning of the third day of the convention the platform was reported by +Senator-elect Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1896. + +The Republicans of the United States, assembled by their representatives +in national convention, appealing for the popular and historical +justification of their claims to the matchless achievements of the +thirty years of Republican rule, earnestly and confidently address +themselves to the awakened intelligence, experience, and conscience of +their countrymen in the following declaration of facts and principles: + +For the first time since the civil war the people have witnessed the +calamitous consequences of full and unrestricted Democratic control of +the government. It has been a record of unparalleled incapacity, +dishonor, and disaster. In administrative management it has ruthlessly +sacrificed indispensable revenue, entailed an unceasing deficit, eked +out ordinary current expenses with borrowed money, piled up the public +debt by $262,000,000 in time of peace, forced an adverse balance of +trade, kept a perpetual menace hanging over the redemption fund, pawned +American credit to alien syndicates and reversed all the measures and +results of successful Republican rule. + +In the broad effect of its policy it has precipitated panic, blighted +industry and trade with prolonged depression, closed factories, reduced +work and wages, halted enterprise, and crippled American production +while stimulating foreign production for the American market. Every +consideration of public safety and individual interest demands that the +government shall be rescued from the hands of those who have shown +themselves incapable to conduct it without disaster at home and dishonor +abroad, and shall be restored to the party which for thirty years +administered it with unequaled success and prosperity, and in this +connection we heartily indorse the wisdom, the patriotism, and the +success of the administration of President Harrison. + +TARIFF. + +We renew and emphasize our allegiance to the policy of protection as +the bulwark of American industrial independence and the foundation of +American development and prosperity. This true American policy taxes +foreign products and encourages home industry; it puts the burden of +revenue on foreign goods; it secures the American market for the +American producer; it upholds the American standard of wages for the +American workingman; it puts the factory by the side of the farm, and +makes the American farmer less dependent on foreign demand and price; it +diffuses general thrift, and founds the strength of all on the strength +of each. In its reasonable application it is just, fair and impartial; +equally opposed to foreign control and domestic monopoly, to sectional +discrimination and individual favoritism. + +We denounce the present Democratic tariff as sectional, injurious to the +public credit, and destructive to business enterprise. We demand such an +equitable tariff on foreign imports which come into competition with +American products as will not only furnish adequate revenue for the +necessary expenses of the government, but will protect American labor +from degradation to the wage level of other lands. We are not pledged to +any particular schedules. The question of rates is a practical question +to be governed by the conditions of time and of production; the ruling +and uncompromising principle is the protection and development of +American labor and industry. The country demands a right settlement, and +then it wants rest. + +RECIPROCITY. + +We believe the repeal of the reciprocity arrangements negotiated by the +last Republican administration was a national calamity, and we demand +their renewal and extension on such terms as will equalize our trade +with other nations, remove the restrictions which now obstruct the sale +of American products in the ports of other countries, and secure +enlarged markets for the products of our farms, forests and factories. + +Protection and reciprocity are both twin measures of Republican policy +and go hand in hand. Democratic rule has recklessly struck down both, +and both must be re-established. Protection for what we produce; free +admission for the necessaries of life which we do not produce; +reciprocity agreements of mutual interests which gain open markets for +us in return for our open market to others. Protection builds up +domestic industry and trade, and secures our own market for ourselves; +reciprocity builds up foreign trade, and finds an outlet for our +surplus. + +SUGAR. + +We condemn the present administration for not keeping faith with the +sugar-producers of this country. The Republican party favors such +protection as will lead to the production on American soil of all the +sugar which the American people use, and for which they pay other +countries more than $100,000,000 annually. + +WOOL AND WOOLENS. + +To all our products--to those of the mine and the fields as well as to +those of the shop and the factory; to hemp, to wool, the product of the +great industry of sheep husbandry, as well as to the finished woolens of +the mills--we promise the most ample protection. + +MERCHANT MARINE. + +We favor restoring the American policy of discriminating duties for the +upbuilding of our merchant marine and the protection of our shipping in +the foreign carrying trade, so that American ships--the product of +American labor, employed in American shipyards, sailing under the Stars +and Stripes, and manned, officered, and owned by Americans--may regain +the carrying of our foreign commerce. + +FINANCE. + +The Republican Party is unreservedly for sound money. It caused the +enactment of the law providing for the resumption of specie payments in +1879; since then every dollar has been as good as gold. + +We are unalterably opposed to every measure calculated to debase our +currency or impair the credit of our country. We are, therefore, opposed +to the free coinage of silver except by international agreement with the +leading commercial nations of the world, which we pledge ourselves to +promote, and until such agreement can be obtained, the existing gold +standard must be preserved. All our silver and paper currency must be +maintained at parity with gold, and we favor all measures designed to +maintain inviolably the obligations of the United States and all our +money, whether coin or paper, at the present standard, the standard of +the most enlightened nations of the earth. + +PENSIONS. + +The veterans of the Union army deserve and should receive fair treatment +and generous recognition. Whenever practicable, they should be given the +preference in the matter of employment, and they are entitled to the +enactment of such laws as are best calculated to secure the fulfillment +of the pledges made them in the dark days of the country's peril. We +denounce the practice in the Pension Bureau, so recklessly and unjustly +carried on by the present administration, of reducing pensions and +arbitrarily dropping names from the rolls, as deserving the severest +condemnation of the American people. + +FOREIGN RELATIONS. + +Our foreign policy should be at all times firm, vigorous, and dignified, +and all our interests in the western hemisphere carefully watched and +guarded. The Hawaiian Islands should be controlled by the United States, +and no foreign power should be permitted to interfere with them; the +Nicaragua Canal should be built, owned, and operated by the United +States; and by the purchase of the Danish Islands we should secure a +proper and much needed naval station in the West Indies. + +ARMENIAN MASSACRES. + +The massacres in Armenia have aroused the deep sympathy and just +indignation of the American people, and we believe that the United +States should exercise all the influence it can properly exert to bring +these atrocities to an end. In Turkey, American residents have been +exposed to the gravest dangers and American property destroyed. There +and everywhere American citizens and American property must be +absolutely protected at all hazards and at any cost. + +MONROE DOCTRINE. + +We reassert the Monroe doctrine in its full extent, and we reaffirm the +right of the United States to give the doctrine effect by responding to +the appeal of any American State for friendly intervention in case of +European encroachment. We have not interfered and shall not interfere +with the existing possessions of any European power in this hemisphere, +but these possessions must not on any extent be extended. We hopefully +look forward to the eventual withdrawal of the European powers from this +hemisphere, and to the ultimate union of all English-speaking parts of +the continent by the free consent of its inhabitants. + +CUBA. + +From the hour of achieving their own independence, the people of the +United States have regarded with sympathy the struggles of other +American peoples to free themselves from European dominion. We watch +with deep and abiding interest the heroic battle of the Cuban patriots +against cruelty and oppression, and our best hopes go out for the full +success of their determined contest for liberty. + +The Government of Spain having lost control of Cuba and being unable to +protect the property or lives of resident American citizens or to comply +with its treaty obligations, we believe that the Government of the +United States should actively use its influence and good offices to +restore peace and give independence to the island. + +THE NAVY. + +The peace and security of the Republic and the maintenance of its +rightful influence among the nations of the earth demand a naval power +commensurate with its position and responsibility. We therefore favor +the continued enlargement of the navy and a complete system of harbor +and seacoast defenses. + +FOREIGN IMMIGRATION. + +For the protection of the quality of our American citizenship and of the +wages of our workingmen against the fatal competition of low priced +labor, we demand that the immigration laws be thoroughly enforced, and +so extended as to exclude from entrance to the United States those who +can neither read nor write. + +CIVIL SERVICE. + +The civil-service law was placed on the statute-book by the Republican +party, which has always sustained it, and we renew our repeated +declarations that it shall be thoroughly and honestly enforced, and +extended wherever practicable. + +FREE BALLOT. + +We demand that every citizen of the United States shall be allowed to +cast one free and unrestricted ballot, and that such ballot shall be +counted and returned as cast. + +LYNCHINGS. + +We proclaim our unqualified condemnation of the uncivilized and +barbarous practice well known as lynching or killing of human beings +suspected or charged with crime, without process of law. + +NATIONAL ARBITRATION. + +We favor the creation of a national board of arbitration to settle and +adjust differences which may arise between employers and employes +engaged in interstate commerce. + +HOMESTEADS. + +We believe in an immediate return to the free-homestead policy of the +Republican Party, and urge the passage by Congress of a satisfactory +free-homestead measure such as has already passed the House and is now +pending in the Senate. + +TERRITORIES. + +We favor the admission of the remaining territories at the earliest +practicable date, having due regard to the interests of the people of +the territories and of the United States. All the federal officers +appointed for the territories should be selected from bona fide +residents thereof, and the right of self-government should be accorded +as far as practicable. + +ALASKA. + +We believe the citizens of Alaska should have representation in the +Congress of the United States, to the end that needful legislation may +be intelligently enacted. + +[Illustration: Thomas B. Reed.] + +TEMPERANCE. + +We sympathize with all wise and legitimate efforts to lessen and prevent +the evils of intemperance and promote morality. + +RIGHTS OF WOMEN. + +The Republican Party is mindful of the rights and interests of women. +Protection of American industries includes equal opportunities, equal +pay for equal work, and protection to the home. We favor the admission +of women to wider spheres of usefulness, and welcome their co-operation +in rescuing the country from Democratic and Populist mismanagement and +misrule. + +Such are the principles and policies of the Republican Party. By these +principles we will abide and these policies we will put into execution. +We ask for them the considerate judgment of the American people. +Confident alike in the history of our great party and in the justice of +our cause, we present our platform and our candidates in the full +assurance that the election will bring victory to the Republican Party +and prosperity to the people of the United States. + +There had been a strong effort in the Committee on Resolutions by the +silver men urging the adoption of a free silver plank, and Senator Henry +M. Teller, of Colorado, had made an affecting appeal but without avail. + +At the conclusion of the reading of the platform by Senator Foraker, one +of the most dramatic incidents in any Republican convention took place, +when Senator Teller arose, and in behalf of the silver men submitted the +following substitute for the financial plank as read: + +"The Republican Party authorizes the use of both gold and silver as +equal standard money, and pledges its power to secure the free and +unlimited coinage of gold and silver at our mints at the ratio of +sixteen parts of silver to one of gold." + +After presenting this substitute Senator Teller delivered his farewell +address to the Convention, at the conclusion of which Senator Foraker +moved that the substitute be laid on the table, thus cutting off any +debate. On a roll-call of the States the motion was carried by a vote of +818½ to 105½. The financial plank was then voted on separately, and the +one reported was adopted by a vote of 812½ to 110½. The entire platform +was then adopted by an overwhelming viva voce vote. The crucial moment +of the Convention was at hand. Senator Cameron, of Utah, was now +permitted to read a statement which had been prepared by the silvermen +to be read in the event of the adoption of the gold plank. The silver +manifesto was signed by Senator Henry M. Teller, of Colorado, Senator F. +T. Dubois, of Idaho, Senator Frank J. Cameron, of Utah, Representative +Chas. S. Hartman, of Montana, and A. C. Cleveland, of Nevada, the +members of the Committee on Resolutions for their States. Senators +Cameron and Teller then shook hands with Messrs. Thurston and Foraker, +descended from the stage, and, passing slowly down the aisle, left the +hall, followed by about thirty-two other silver delegates. The scene was +most impressive, the remaining delegates and spectators standing on +their chairs, shouting and singing national airs. After listening to +explanations by the silver delegates who remained in the convention, the +roll-call of States was had for the National Committeemen. Marcus A. +Hanna, of Ohio, whose brilliant management of McKinley's interests had +made his name a household word, was selected unanimously as Chairman of +the National Committee. Candidates for the presidential nomination were +now presented. John M. Baldwin nominated Senator Wm. B. Allison, of +Iowa; Senator Henry Cabot Lodge presented the name of Thomas B. Reed in +a scholarly and masterful appeal; with his usual eloquence Chauncey M. +Depew nominated Levi P. Morton, of New York; then came the great +enthusiasm of the Convention when Senator Joseph B. Foraker stepped to +the stage and began his speech, a remarkable effort, naming William +McKinley, of Ohio. After he had spoken a short time he was interrupted +by fully twenty-eight minutes of the wildest enthusiasm when the name of +William McKinley was first mentioned by him. John M. Thurston seconded +the nomination of McKinley, as did J. Madison Vance. Senator Matthew S. +Quay was nominated by Governor Daniel H. Hastings, after which the +balloting commenced. There were 924 delegates, and only one ballot was +taken, with the following result: + + McKinley ........ 661½ Reed ............ 84½ + Morton .......... 58 Quay ............ 61½ + Allison ......... 35½ Cameron ......... 1 + +The nomination was then made unanimous, Messrs. Depew, Platt, Lodge, +Hastings and others joining in the motion. Nominations for +Vice-President being now in order, Samuel Fessenden named William G. +Bulkeley, of Connecticut; J. Franklin Fort nominated Garret A. Hobart, +of New Jersey; Wm. M. Randolph named H. Clay Evans, of Tennessee; S. W. +K. Allen nominated Chas. W. Lippitt, of Rhode Island, and D. F. Bailey +named James A. Walker, of Virginia. The nomination went to Mr. Hobart +on the first ballot. + + Hobart .......... 533½ Walker .......... 24 + Evans ........... 277½ Lippitt ......... 8 + Bulkeley ........ 39 + +A few scattering votes were also given for Thomas B. Reed, Chauncey M. +Depew, John M. Thurston, Frederick D. Grant, and Levi P. Morton. After +selecting the notification committees, the Convention adjourned _sine +die_. + +The Republican nominee in 1896, William McKinley, was born at Niles, +Ohio, in 1843, and was therefore only 18 years of age at the opening of +the Civil War, for which he enlisted in the ranks of a company of +volunteers. After the battle of Antietam he was promoted to Second +Lieutenant, and was subsequently advanced to Major, his commission being +signed by President Lincoln. The war over, Mr. McKinley studied law and +was admitted to the bar and practiced with much success, and soon became +prominent in Ohio politics. He was a member of the National House of +Representatives from 1877 to 1891, during which time he had steadily +increased in the esteem of his colleagues and the people. His framing of +the tariff law of 1890 had brought him into great prominence. He was +defeated for re-election in the political revolution of 1890, but was +elected Governor of Ohio in 1892, and served as such until January, +1896, a few months before the Convention. + +The Democratic National Convention met at Chicago, Ills., Tuesday, July +7, 1896, and the silver forces immediately took control of the +Convention by unseating David B. Hill, of New York, who had been chosen +by the National Committee as temporary Chairman, and substituting John +B. Daniel of Virginia. The Democratic platform of 1896, adopted on the +third day of the Convention, contained the following plank, which, with +the opposite declaration in the Republican platform, became the +controlling issue of the campaign: + +"We demand the free and unlimited coinage of both gold and silver at the +present legal ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for the aid or consent +of any nation." + +A minority report was presented by Senator David B. Hill, but was +rejected by a vote of 626 to 303. It was during the debate on the motion +to substitute this minority report that William J. Bryan delivered his +remarkable speech for free silver, an effort that created remarkable +scenes of enthusiasm in the Convention and made him immediately the idol +of the free silver forces. The speech concluded: + +"If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard +as a good thing, we will fight them to the uttermost. Having behind us +the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the +commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, +we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: 'You +shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you +shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."' + +This Democratic Convention nominated William J. Bryan for President on +the fifth ballot, and named Arthur Sewall, of Maine, for Vice-President +on the fifth ballot. + +The People's Party Convention met at St. Louis, Mo., July 22, 1896, and +ratified the nomination of William J. Bryan for President, but the +Middle-of-the-Road members named Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia, for +Vice-President, the Vice-President being named first in this Convention; +the money plank in the People's Party platform in 1896 was the same in +effect as that of the Democratic platform, and its other demands were in +general the same as those of 1892. The Silver Party Convention met on +the same day (July 22d) in St. Louis and endorsed Bryan and Sewall by +acclamation. There were a large number of Democrats in 1896 who were +unwilling to endorse the Chicago platform and the candidates, and at the +same time they were not willing to vote for the Republican nominees, so +they held a convention at Indianapolis September 2, 1896, and nominated +John M. Palmer, of Illinois, for President, and Simon B. Buckner, of +Kentucky, for Vice-President, and adopted a sound money platform and the +name of the "National Democratic Party." Three other conventions had +been held; the Prohibition Convention at Philadelphia on May 27, 1896, +which nominated Joshua Levering, of Maryland, and Hale Johnson, of +Illinois, but a contest had arisen in this convention over the silver +question, and it resulted in the secession of a number of delegates who +met on the next day and styled themselves "The National Party." They +nominated Rev. Chas. E. Bentley, of Nebraska, and James H. Southgate, of +North Carolina, and adopted a bi-metallic platform. The Socialist-Labor +Convention met at New York on July 6, 1896, and nominated Charles H. +Matchett, of New York, and Matthew Maguire of New Jersey. + +The campaign of 1896 was not only remarkable in its inception, but +continued throughout to be one of the most spectacular in our political +history. At first there was general shifting of the old party lines and +a "bolting" from all of the party candidates, but the Republican Party +suffered the least in this respect. Mr. Bryan conducted a remarkable +personal canvass of the entire country, and was greeted by large crowds +to see him and hear his arguments. Mr. McKinley remained throughout the +canvass at his home in Canton, Ohio, receiving hundreds of visiting +delegations and delivering a large number of earnest speeches which were +telegraphed over the country and carefully read. Monster street parades +were held in the large cities and thousands of badges and lithographs +adorned the persons and homes of the enthusiastic partisans, and, as the +campaign drew to a close, the people were wrought up to a high pitch of +excitement. One striking feature of the canvass was that the ruin and +disaster of the four years of Cleveland's second term which, late in +1895, indicated an easy victory for the Republicans, was largely +forgotten by the people in the new, exciting and novel issues raised and +argued by Mr. Bryan, but those who carefully analyzed the returns of the +States which voted in the elections held in August and September, and +the trend of public opinion, saw that a Republican victory was almost +certain, and this proved true on November 6, 1896, when the popular vote +in the several States secured to McKinley and Hobart 271 electoral votes +to 176 for Bryan and Sewall. The total popular vote at the election of +1896 was as follows: + + McKinley ......... 7,111,607 Bryan ............ 6,509,052 + Palmer ........... 134,645 Levering ......... 131,312 + Matchett ......... 36,373 Bentley .......... 13,968 + +William McKinley was inaugurated for his first term on March 4, 1897, +and immediately called a special session of Congress to take action on +the tariff. The Wilson Tariff Law, as already noted, had totally failed +to provide sufficient revenue to meet the expenses of the Government, +and the result was a steady and growing deficit in the Treasury. On +March 18, 1897, Nelson Dingley, Jr., of Maine, introduced his Tariff +Bill in the House, and it became a law with the President's signature on +July 24, 1897. + +[Illustration: Second inauguration of William McKinley, March 4, 1901.] + +The Cuban question now came to the front and occupied public attention +more seriously than ever before. The United States had always taken a +lively interest in Cuban affairs, and when the Cubans revolted in 1895 +for the sixth time against the cruel domination of the Spaniards there +was deep sympathy for them in this country, that continued to grow as +the months went by. In 1896 the Cubans were accorded the rights of +belligerents by the United States. Throughout the Summer of 1897 the +country was horrified by the reports from the "reconcentrado" camps +established by General Weyler, and sent aid and relief to the suffering +Cubans. The climax of hostility toward Spain came with the terrible news +on February 15, 1898, that the Battleship "Maine" had been blown up in +Havana Harbor and 260 American sailors killed. War was declared in +April, 1898, and the glorious achievements of American arms are too +fresh in memory to require an extended review of them in these pages. +Peace came with the Protocol signed at Washington, August 12, 1898, and +the formal Treaty of Peace was signed at Paris, December 10, 1898. Spain +released her title to Cuba, and the United States acquired Puerto Rico, +Guam and the Philippine Islands, paying Spain the sum of $20,000,000 for +the latter, and taking control of the islands for the suppression of +civil war and to avoid foreign complications. While the Spanish-American +war was in progress the country expanded territorially by the annexation +of Hawaii, which was accomplished by joint resolution, signed by the +President July 7, 1898. + +The Fifty-sixth Congress organized with the election of David B. +Henderson, of Iowa, as Speaker of the House, and the most important +legislation was the Gold Standard Act of 1900, which effectually settled +the money question, as far as the gold or silver standard was concerned, +by providing for the coinage of a dollar consisting of 25 8-10 grains of +gold, nine-tenths fine, as the standard of value, and that all forms of +money issued in coin were to be maintained at a parity of value with +this gold standard. The Act further provided that all United States +notes and Treasury notes shall be redeemed in gold coin, and a +redemption fund of $150,000,000 was established. President McKinley +signed this most important Act, and it became a law on March 14, 1900. +In March, 1900, President McKinley, taking up the question of governing +the Philippine Islands, appointed a Civil Commission composed of William +H. Taft, of Ohio, President; Prof. Dean C. Worcester, of Michigan; Luke +E. Wright, of Tennessee; Henry C. Ide, of Vermont, and Prof. Bernard +Moses, of California, to continue and perfect the work of organizing and +establishing civil government in the Philippines, which had already been +commenced by the military authorities. The Commission proceeded to the +Philippines in the following April, and their work was one of the most +remarkable in the history of the nation, bringing order out of chaos, to +the complete satisfaction not only of the people of this country but +also the Filipinos, with very few exceptions. Education and +enlightenment followed the broad-minded policy of this government, and +through the splendid work of Governor William H. Taft military control +was gradually made unnecessary and the Filipinos were rapidly prepared +for self-government. + +Great prosperity marked the business conditions of the country during +President McKinley's administration, and the balance in the U. S. +Treasury at the end of his term was nearly $495,000,000, which was a +strong contrast to the penury and borrowing during Cleveland's second +term. This splendid record, the successful conduct of the +Spanish-American war, the success in governing the new territories of +the United States, the courageous and dignified action in regard to +foreign affairs, and the complete and general satisfaction with his +entire administration, made President McKinley the logical and unanimous +choice of the party for the nomination in 1900, and the only question in +the convention would be as to who would have the honor of the second +place on the ticket. All of the minor parties held their conventions in +1900 before the conventions of the old parties. The Social Democrats +were first, with their convention at Indianapolis, March 6, 1900, at +which Eugene V. Debs was nominated for President. The People's Party met +at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, May 9-10, 1900, and nominated William J. +Bryan for President and Charles A. Towne for Vice-President. Their +platform denounced the gold standard Act of March 14, 1900, advocated +free silver, an income tax, and condemned the war policy of the +Republican Party. A faction of the People's Party opposed to fusion with +the Democrats had seceded in 1896, and became known as the +Middle-of-the-Road People's Party; they met in convention at Cincinnati +May 9-10, 1900, and nominated Wharton Barker, of Pennsylvania, and +Ignatius Donnelly, of Minnesota. The Socialist-Labor Party met at New +York June 2-8, 1900, and nominated Joseph F. Malloney, of Massachusetts, +and Valentine Remmel, of Pennsylvania. The Prohibition Convention was +held in Chicago, Illinois, June 27-28, and nominated John G. Woolley, of +Illinois, and Henry B. Metcalf, of Rhode Island. + +The Twelfth Republican National Convention began its session Tuesday, +June 19, 1900, at Philadelphia, in the National Export Exposition +Building. About 12:35 p. m. on that day, Senator Marcus A. Hanna, +Chairman of the National Committee, faced the vast assemblage of +delegates and spectators and called the Convention to order. After the +opening prayer by Rev. J. Gray Bolton, Chairman Hanna, in a short +speech, which was received with great applause, introduced Senator +Wolcott, of Colorado, as Temporary Chairman. Senator Wolcott accepted +the honor in a strong speech, and after the roll-call of States for the +naming of the various committees, a motion to adjourn was made, and then +Rev. Edgar M. Levy, who had uttered the invocation at the first +Republican National Convention, forty-four years since, delivered a +benediction, and about 3 p. m. the session was over for the day. At the +opening of the second day, Chairman Wolcott stated that fifteen +survivors of the preliminary Republican Convention at Pittsburg in 1856 +were present with the same old flag used in that convention, and as +these men came forward, with their tattered flag, they received a +remarkable and stirring ovation. Sereno E. Payne, of New York, reported +for the Committee on Credentials, and the report was adopted without +debate. Gen. Charles E. Grosvenor, of Ohio, Chairman of the Committee on +Permanent Organization, now reported the name of Senator Henry Cabot +Lodge, of Massachusetts, as Permanent President of the Convention, and +that the rest of the temporary officers be made permanent; the report +was adopted, and Senator Lodge delivered a scholarly and eloquent +speech, reviewing the history of the country for the past forty-four +years. Senator Chas. W. Fairbanks, of Indiana, Chairman of the Committee +on Resolutions, then read the platform, which was adopted with displays +of the utmost enthusiasm. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1900. + +The Republicans of the United States, through their chosen +representatives, met in national convention, looking back upon an +unsurpassed record of achievement and looking forward into a great field +of duty and opportunity, and appealing to the judgment of their +countrymen, make these declarations: + +EXPECTATIONS FULFILLED. + +The expectation in which the American people, turning from the +Democratic Party, intrusted power four years ago to a Republican Chief +Magistrate and Republican Congress, has been met and satisfied. When the +people then assembled at the polls, after a term of Democratic +legislation and administration, business was dead, industry paralyzed, +and the national credit disastrously impaired. The country's capital was +hidden away and its labor distressed and unemployed. The Democrats had +no other plan with which to improve the ruinous condition which they had +themselves produced than to coin silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. + +PROMISE OF PROSPERITY REDEEMED. + +The Republican Party, denouncing this plan as sure to produce conditions +even worse than those from which relief was sought, promised to restore +prosperity by means of two legislative measures: a protective tariff and +a law making gold the standard of value. The people by great majorities +issued to the Republican Party a commission to enact these laws. The +commission has been executed, and the Republican promise is redeemed. + +Prosperity more general and more abundant than we have ever known has +followed these enactments. There is no longer controversy as to the +value of any government obligations. Every American dollar is a gold +dollar or its assured equivalent, and American credit stands higher than +that of any nation. Capital is fully employed, and labor everywhere is +profitably occupied. + +GROWTH OF EXPORT TRADE. + +No single fact can more strikingly tell the story of what Republican +government means to the country than this, that while during the whole +period of one hundred and seven years, from 1790 to 1897, there was an +excess of exports over imports of only $383,028,497, there has been in +the short three years of the present Republican administration an excess +of exports over imports in the enormous sum of $1,483,537,094. + +THE WAR WITH SPAIN. + +And while the American people, sustained by this Republican legislation, +have been achieving these splendid triumphs in their business and +commerce, they have conducted and in victory concluded a war for liberty +and human rights. No thought of national aggrandizement tarnished the +high purpose with which American standards were unfurled. It was a war +unsought and patiently resisted, but when it came, the American +government was ready. Its fleets were cleared for action; its armies +were in the field, and the quick and signal triumph of its forces on +land and sea bore equal tribute to the courage of American soldiers and +sailors, and to the skill and foresight of Republican statesmanship. To +ten millions of the human race there was given "a new birth of freedom," +and to the American people a new and noble responsibility. + +McKINLEY'S ADMINISTRATION INDORSED. + +We indorse the administration of William McKinley. Its acts have been +established in wisdom and in patriotism, and at home and abroad it has +distinctly elevated and extended the influence of the American nation. +Walking untried paths and facing unforeseen responsibilities, President +McKinley has been in every situation the true American patriot and the +upright statesman, clear in vision, strong in judgment, firm in action, +always inspiring and deserving the confidence of his countrymen. + +DEMOCRATIC INCAPACITY A MENACE TO PROSPERITY. + +In asking the American people to indorse this Republican record, and +to renew their commission to the Republican Party, we remind them of +the fact that the menace to their prosperity has always resided in +Democratic principles, and no less in the general incapacity of the +Democratic Party to conduct public affairs. The prime essential of +business prosperity is public confidence in the good sense of the +government and in its ability to deal intelligently with each new +problem of administration and legislation. That confidence the +Democratic Party has never earned. It is hopelessly inadequate, and the +country's prosperity, when Democratic success at the polls is announced, +halts and ceases in mere anticipation of Democratic blunders and +failures. + +MONETARY LEGISLATION. + +We renew our allegiance to the principle of the gold standard and +declare our confidence in the wisdom of the legislation of the +Fifty-Sixth Congress, by which the parity of all our money and the +stability of our currency upon a gold basis has been secured. We +recognize that interest rates are a potent factor in production and +business activity, and for the purpose of further equalizing and of +further lowering the rates of interest, we favor such monetary +legislation as will enable the varying needs of the season and of all +sections to be promptly met, in order that trade may be evenly +sustained, labor steadily employed, and commerce enlarged. The volume of +money in circulation was never so great per capita as it is today. + +FREE COINAGE OF SILVER OPPOSED. + +We declare our steadfast opposition to the free and unlimited coinage of +silver. No measure to that end could be considered which was without the +support of the leading commercial countries of the world. However firmly +Republican legislation may seem to have secured the country against the +peril of base and discredited currency, the election of a Democratic +President could not fail to impair the country's credit and to bring +once more into question the intention of the American people to maintain +upon the gold standard the parity of their money circulation. The +Democratic Party must be convinced that the American people will never +tolerate the Chicago platform. + +TRUSTS. + +We recognize the necessity and propriety of the honest co-operation of +capital to meet new business conditions, and especially to extend our +rapidly increasing foreign trade; but we condemn all conspiracies and +combinations intended to restrict business, to create monopolies, to +limit production, or to control prices, and favor such legislation as +will effectively restrain and prevent all such abuses, protect and +promote competition, and secure the rights of producers, laborers, and +all who are engaged in industry and commerce. + +PROTECTION POLICY REAFFIRMED. + +We renew our faith in the policy of protection to American labor. In +that policy our industries have been established, diversified, and +maintained. By protecting the home market, competition has been +stimulated and production cheapened. Opportunity to the inventive genius +of our people has been secured and wages in every department of labor +maintained at high rates--higher now than ever before, and always +distinguishing our working people in their better conditions of life +from those of any competing country. Enjoying the blessings of the +American common school, secure in the right of self-government, and +protected in the occupancy of their own markets, their constantly +increasing knowledge and skill have enabled them to finally enter the +markets of the world. + +RECIPROCITY FAVORED. + +We favor the associated policy of reciprocity, so directed as to open +our markets on favorable terms for what we do not ourselves produce, +in return for free foreign markets. + +RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION, AND OTHER LABOR LEGISLATION. + +In the further interest of American workmen we favor a more effective +restriction of the immigration of cheap labor from foreign lands, the +extension of opportunities of education for working-children, the +raising of the age limit for child-labor, the protection of free labor +as against contract convict labor, and an effective system of labor +insurance. + +SHIPPING. + +Our present dependence upon foreign shipping for nine-tenths of our +foreign-carrying trade is a great loss to the industry of this country. +It is also a serious danger to our trade, for its sudden withdrawal in +the event of European war would seriously cripple our expanding foreign +commerce. The national defense and naval efficiency of this country, +moreover, supply a compelling reason for legislation which will enable +us to recover our former place among the trade carrying fleets of the +world. + +DEBT TO SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. + +The nation owes a debt of profound gratitude to the soldiers and sailors +who have fought its battles, and it is the government's duty to provide +for the survivors and for the widows and orphans of those who have +fallen in the country's wars. The pension laws, founded on this just +sentiment, should be liberally administered, and preference should be +given, wherever practicable, with respect to employment in the public +service, to soldiers and sailors and to their widows and orphans. + +THE CIVIL SERVICE. + +We commend the policy of the Republican Party in maintaining the +efficiency of the civil service. The administration has acted wisely in +its effort to secure for public service in Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii, and +the Philippine Islands, only those whose fitness has been determined by +training and experience. We believe that employment in the public +service in these territories should be confined, as far as practicable, +to their inhabitants. + +THE RACE QUESTION. + +It was the plain purpose of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution +to prevent discrimination on account of race or color in regulating the +elective franchise. Devices of state governments, whether by statutory +or constitutional enactment, to avoid the purpose of this amendment are +revolutionary and should be condemned. + +PUBLIC ROADS. + +Public movements looking to a permanent improvement of the roads and +highways of the country meet with our cordial approval, and we recommend +this subject to the earnest consideration of the people and of the +legislatures of the several states. + +RURAL FREE DELIVERY. + +We favor the extension of the rural free delivery service wherever its +extension may be justified. + +LAND LEGISLATION. + +In further pursuance of the constant policy of the Republican Party to +provide free homes on the public domain we recommend adequate national +legislation to reclaim the arid lands of the United States, reserving +control of the distribution of water for irrigation to the respective +states and territories. + +NEW STATES PROPOSED. + +We favor home-rule for, and the early admission to statehood of, the +territories of New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma. + +REDUCTION OF WAR TAXES. + +The Dingley Act, amended to provide sufficient revenue for the conduct +of the war, has so well performed its work that it has been possible to +reduce the war debt in the sum of $40,000,000. So ample are the +government's revenues and so great is the public confidence in the +integrity of its obligations, that its newly funded 2 per cent. bonds +sell at a premium. The country is now justified in expecting, and it +will be the policy of the Republican Party to bring about, a reduction +of the war taxes. + +ISTHMIAN CANAL AND NEW MARKETS. + +We favor the construction, ownership, control, and protection of an +isthmian canal by the government of the United States. New markets are +necessary for the increasing surplus of our farm products. Every effort +should be made to open and obtain new markets, especially in the Orient, +and the administration is to be warmly commended for its successful +efforts to commit all trading and colonizing nations to the policy of +the open door in China. + +DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. + +In the interest of our expanding commerce we recommend that Congress +create a Department of Commerce and Industries, in the charge of a +secretary with a seat in the cabinet. The United States consular system +should be reorganized under the supervision of this new department, upon +such a basis of appointment and tenure as will render it still more +servicable to the nation's increasing trade. + +PROTECTION OF CITIZENS. + +The American government must protect the person and property of every +citizen wherever they are wrongfully violated or placed in peril. + +SERVICES OF WOMEN. + +We congratulate the women of America upon their splendid record of +public service in the Volunteer Aid Association and as nurses in camp +and hospital during the recent campaigns of our armies in the East and +West Indies, and we appreciate their faithful co-operation in all works +of education and industry. + +FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAMOAN AND HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. + +President McKinley has conducted the foreign affairs of the United +States with distinguished credit to the American people. In releasing us +from vexatious conditions of a European alliance for the government of +Samoa, his course is especially to be commended. By securing to our +undivided control the most important island of the Samoan group and the +best harbor in the Southern Pacific, every American interest has been +safeguarded. + +We approve the annexation of the Hawaiian islands to the United States. + +THE HAGUE CONFERENCE, THE MONROE DOCTRINE, THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR. + +We commend the part taken by our government in the Peace Conference at +The Hague. We assert our steadfast adherence to the policy announced in +the Monroe doctrine. The provisions of The Hague convention was wisely +regarded when President McKinley tendered his friendly offices in the +interest of peace between Great Britain and the South African Republic. +While the American Government must continue the policy prescribed by +Washington, affirmed by every succeeding president, and imposed upon us +by The Hague Treaty, of non-intervention in European controversies, the +American people earnestly hope that a way may soon be found, honorable +alike to both contending parties, to terminate the strife between them. + +SOVEREIGNITY IN NEW POSSESSIONS. + +In accepting, by the Treaty of Paris, the just responsibility of our +victories in the Spanish War, the President and the Senate won the +undoubted approval of the American people. No other course was possible +than to destroy Spain's sovereignity throughout the West Indies and in +the Philippine Islands. That course created our responsibility before +the world and with the unorganized population whom our intervention had +freed from Spain, to provide for the maintenance of law and order, and +for the establishment of good government, and for the performance of +international obligations. + +Our authority could not be less than our responsibility, and wherever +sovereign rights were extended it became the high duty of the government +to maintain its authority, to put down armed insurrection, and to confer +the blessings of liberty and civilization upon all the rescued people. + +The largest measure of self-government consistent with their welfare and +our duties shall be secured to them by law. + +INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA. + +To Cuba, independence and self-government were assured in the same voice +by which war was declared, and to the letter this pledge shall be +performed. + +INVOKES THE JUDGMENT OF THE PEOPLE. + +The Republican Party, upon its history and upon this declaration of its +principles and policies, confidently invokes the considerate and +approving judgment of the American people. + +On the third day of the Convention, Thursday, June 21, 1900, Mr. Quay, +of Pennsylvania, withdrew a plan of representation which he had +presented the previous day, and the Convention proceeded to the +nominations for President and Vice-President. Alabama yielded to Ohio, +and Senator Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, who had the same great honor +four years previous, went to the platform and in a speech of great vigor +and eloquence nominated William McKinley, of Ohio, for President. The +nomination was seconded by Theodore Roosevelt, of New York, Senator John +M. Thurston, John W. Yerkes, of Kentucky, George Knight, of California, +and Governor James A. Mount, of Indiana. There were no further +nominations. The ballot showed that 930 votes had been cast, and that +William McKinley had received 930, and pandemonium broke loose. After it +had subsided, Col. Lafe Young, in a remarkable speech, withdrew the name +of Jonathan P. Dolliver for Vice-President and nominated Theodore +Roosevelt of New York. Butler Murray, of Massachusetts, and James A. +Ashton, of Washington, seconded the nomination, and in response to +demands for "Depew! Depew!" that gentleman came forward and with his +customary eloquence and wit also seconded the nomination. The balloting +then proceeded and Theodore Roosevelt received 929 votes, he having +refrained from voting for himself. Thus, in this Convention, for the +first time in the history of the party, the candidates for President and +Vice-President were practically nominated by acclamation. + +The Democratic National Convention met at Kansas City, Mo., July 4-6, +1900. There was a long wrangle in the Committee on Resolutions over the +silver plank in the platform, but it was finally adopted by a vote of 26 +to 24, and the Convention adopted the platform by acclamation. The +platform declared that while not taking a backward step from any +position of the party, Imperialism growing out of the Spanish war was +the paramount issue. The Kansas City platform is here given in full as +of great interest in the pending campaign. + +DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1900. + +We, the representatives of the Democratic Party of the United States, +assembled in national convention, on the anniversary of the adoption of +the declaration of independence, do reaffirm our faith in that immortal +proclamation of the inalienable rights of man, and our allegiance to the +constitution framed in harmony therewith by the fathers of the republic. +We hold with the United States Supreme Court that the declaration of +independence is the spirit of our government, of which the constitution +is the form and letter. + +We declare again that all governments instituted among men derive their +just powers from the consent of the governed; that any government not +based upon the consent of the governed is a tyranny, and that to impose +upon any people a government of force is to substitute the methods of +imperialism for those of a republic. We hold that the constitution +follows the flag, and denounce the doctrine that an executive or +Congress, deriving their existence and their powers from the +constitution, can exercise lawful authority beyond it, or in violation +of it. + +We assert that no nation can long endure half republic and half empire, +and we warn the American people that imperialism abroad will lead +quickly and inevitably to despotism at home. + +PORTO RICO LAW DENOUNCED. + +Believing in these fundamental principles, we denounce the Porto Rico +law, enacted by a Republican Congress against the protest and opposition +of the Democratic minority, as a bold and open violation of the nation's +organic law, and a flagrant breach of the national good faith. + +It imposes upon the people of Porto Rico a government without their +consent, and taxation without representation. It dishonors the American +people by repudiating a solemn pledge made in their behalf by the +commanding General of our army, which the Porto Ricans welcomed to a +peaceful and unresisted occupation of their land. It doomed to poverty +and distress a people whose helplessness appeals with peculiar force to +our justice and magnanimity. + +In this, the first act of its imperialistic programme, the Republican +party seeks to commit the United States to a colonial policy, +inconsistent with Republican institutions, and condemned by the Supreme +Court in numerous decisions. + +PLEDGES TO THE CUBANS. + +We demand the prompt and honest fulfillment of our pledge to the Cuban +people and the world that the United States has no disposition or +intention to exercise sovereignity, jurisdiction, or control over the +Island of Cuba, except for its pacification. The war ended nearly two +years ago, profound peace reigns over all the island, and still the +administration keeps the government of the island from its people, while +Republican carpet-bag officials plunder its revenues and exploit the +colonial theory, to the disgrace of the American people. + +THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION. + +We condemn and denounce the Philippine policy of the present +administration. It has involved the republic in unnecessary war, +sacrificed the lives of many of our noblest sons, and placed the United +States, previously known and applauded throughout the world as the +champion of freedom, in the false and un-American position of crushing +with military force the efforts of our former allies to achieve liberty +and self-government. The Filipinos cannot become citizens without +endangering our civilization; they cannot become subjects without +imperiling our form of government, and we are not willing to surrender +our civilization or to convert the republic into an empire; we favor an +immediate declaration of the nation's purpose to give to the Filipinos +first, a stable form of government; second, independence; and, third, +protection from outside interference such as has been given for nearly a +century to the republics of Central and South America. + +The greedy commercialism which dictated the Philippine policy of the +Republican administration attempts to justify it with the plea that it +will pay, but even this sordid and unworthy plea fails when brought to +the test of facts. The war of criminal aggression against the Filipinos, +entailing an annual expense of many millions, has already cost more than +any possible profit that could accrue from the entire Philippine trade +for years to come. Furthermore, when trade is extended at the expense of +liberty the price is always too high. + +We are not opposed to territorial expansion when it takes in desirable +territory which can be erected into states in the Union and whose people +are willing and fit to become American citizens. + +We favor trade expansion by every peaceful and legitimate means. But we +are unalterably opposed to the seizing or purchasing of distant islands +to be governed outside the constitution and whose people can never +become citizens. + +We are in favor of extending the republic's influence among the nations, +but believe that influence should be extended, not by force and +violence, but through the persuasive power of a high and honorable +example. + +The importance of other questions now pending before the American people +is in no wise diminished, and the Democratic party takes no backward +step from its position on them, but the burning issue of imperialism +growing out of the Spanish war involves the very existence of the +republic and the destruction of our free institutions. We regard it as +the paramount issue of the campaign. + +[Illustration: Marcus A. Hanna.] + +THE MONROE DOCTRINE. + +The declaration in the Republican platform adopted at the Philadelphia +convention, held in June, 1900, that the Republican party "steadfastly +adheres to the policy announced in the Monroe doctrine" is manifestly +insincere and deceptive. This profession is contradicted by the avowed +policy of that party in opposition to the spirit of the Monroe doctrine +to acquire and hold sovereignity over large areas of territory and large +numbers of people in the Eastern hemisphere. We insist on the strict +maintenance of the Monroe doctrine and in all its integrity, both in +letter and in spirit, as necessary to prevent the extension of European +authority on this continent and as essential to our supremacy in +American affairs. At the same time we declare that no American people +shall ever be held by force in unwilling subjection to European +authority. + +OPPOSITION TO MILITARISM. + +We oppose militarism. It means conquest abroad and intimidation and +oppression at home. It means the strong arm which has ever been fatal to +free institutions. It is what millions of our citizens have fled from in +Europe. It will impose upon our peace-loving people a large standing +army and unnecessary burden of taxation and a constant menace to their +liberties. + +A small standing army with a well-disciplined state militia are amply +sufficient in time of peace. This republic has no place for a vast +military service and conscription. + +When the nation is in danger the volunteer soldier is his country's best +defender. The national guard of the United States should ever be +cherished in the patriotic hearts of a free people. Such organizations +are ever an element of strength and safety. + +For the first time in our history and co-evil with the Philippine +conquest has there been a wholesale departure from our time-honored and +approved system of volunteer organization. We denounce it as +un-American, un-Democratic, and un-Republican, and as a subversion of +the ancient and fixed principles of a free people. + +TRUSTS DENOUNCED. + +Private monopolies are indefensible and intolerable. They destroy +competition, control the price of all material, and of the finished +product, thus robbing both producer and consumer. They lessen the +employment of labor and arbitrarily fix the terms and conditions +thereof, and deprive individual energy and small capital of their +opportunity for betterment. They are the most efficient means yet +devised for appropriating the fruits of industry to the benefit of the +few at the expense of the many, and unless their insatiate greed is +checked all wealth will be aggregated in a few hands and the republic +destroyed. + +The dishonest paltering with the trust evil by the Republican party in +state and national platforms is conclusive proof of the truth of the +charge that trusts are the legitimate product of Republican policies; +that they are fostered by Republican laws, and that they are protected +by the Republican administration in return for campaign subscriptions +and political support. + +We pledge the Democratic party to an increasing warfare in nation, +state, and city against private monopoly in every form. Existing laws +against trusts must be enforced and more stringent ones must be enacted +providing for publicity as to the affairs of corporations engaged in +interstate commerce and requiring all corporations to show, before doing +business outside the state of their origin, that they have no water in +their stock and that they have not attempted and are not attempting, to +monopolize any branch of business or the production of any articles of +merchandise, and the whole constitutional power of Congress over +interstate commerce, the mails, and all modes of interstate +communication shall be exercised by the enactment of comprehensive laws +upon the subject of trusts. + +Tariff laws should be amended by putting the products of trusts upon the +free list to prevent monopoly under the plea of protection. + +The failure of the present Republican administration, with an absolute +control over all the branches of the national government, to enact any +legislation designed to prevent or even curtail the absorbing power of +trusts and illegal combinations, or to enforce the anti-trust laws +already on the statute books, proves the insincerity of the +high-sounding phrases of the Republican platform. + +Corporations should be protected in all their rights and their +legitimate interests should be respected, but any attempt by +corporations to interfere with the public affairs of the people or to +control the sovereignity which creates them should be forbidden under +such penalties as will make such attempts impossible. + +We condemn the Dingley tariff law as a trust-breeding measure, +skillfully devised to give the few favors which they do not deserve and +to place upon the many burdens which they should not bear. + +INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW. + +We favor such an enlargement of the scope of the interstate commerce law +as will enable the commission to protect individuals and communities +from discriminations and the public from unjust and unfair +transportation rates. + +DECLARATION FOR 16 TO 1. + +We reaffirm and indorse the principles of the national Democratic +platform adopted at Chicago in 1896, and we reiterate the demand of that +platform for an American financial system, made by the American people +for themselves, which shall restore and maintain a bimetalic level, and +as part of such system the immediate restoration of the free and +unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to +1, without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation. + +CURRENCY LAW DENOUNCED. + +We denounce the currency bill enacted at the last session of Congress +as a step forward in the Republican policy which aims to discredit the +sovereign right of the national government to issue all money, whether +coin or paper, and to bestow upon national banks the power to issue and +control the volume of paper money for their own benefit. + +A permanent national bank currency, secured by government bonds, must +have a permanent debt to rest upon, and if the bank currency is to +increase with population and business the debt must also increase. The +Republican currency scheme is therefore a scheme for fastening upon +taxpayers a perpetual and growing debt for the benefit of the banks. + +We are opposed to this private corporation paper circulated as money, +but without legal-tender qualities, and demand the retirement of the +national bank notes as fast as government paper or silver certificates +can be substituted for them. + +SENATORS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. + +We favor an amendment to the Federal constitution providing for the +election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people, and +we favor direct legislation wherever practicable. + +GOVERNMENT BY INJUNCTION. + +We are opposed to government by injunction; we denounce the blacklist, +and favor arbitration as a means of settling disputes between +corporations and their employes. + +DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. + +In the interest of American labor and the uplifting of the workingmen, +as the cornerstone of the prosperity of our country, we recommend that +Congress create a department of labor, in charge of a secretary, with a +seat in the Cabinet, believing that the elevation of the American labor +will bring with it increased production and increased prosperity to our +country at home and to our commerce abroad. + +PENSIONS. + +We are proud of the courage and fidelity of the American soldier and +sailors in all our wars; we favor liberal pensions to them and their +dependents, and we reiterate the position taken in the Chicago platform +in 1896, that the fact of enlistment and service shall be deemed +conclusive evidence against disease and disability before enlistment. + +NICARAGUA CANAL. + +We favor the immediate construction, ownership, and control of the +Nicaraguan canal by the United States and we denounce the insincerity of +the plank in the national Republican platform for an Isthmian canal in +face of the failure of the Republican majority to pass the bill pending +in Congress. + +We condemn the Hay-Pauncefote treaty as a surrender of American rights +and interests, not to be tolerated by the American people. + +STATEHOOD FOR THE TERRITORIES. + +We denounce the failure of the Republican party to carry out its +pledges, to grant statehood to the territories of Arizona, New Mexico, +and Oklahoma, and we promise the people of those territories immediate +statehood and home rule during their condition as territories, and we +favor home rule and a territorial form of government for Alaska and +Porto Rico. + +ARID LANDS. + +We favor an intelligent system of improving the arid lands of the West, +storing the waters for purposes of irrigation, and the holding of such +lands for actual settlers. + +CHINESE EXCLUSION LAW. + +We favor the continuance and strict enforcement of the Chinese exclusion +law and its application to the same classes of all Asiatic races. + +ALLIANCE WITH ENGLAND. + +Jefferson said: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all +nations; entangling alliances with none." + +We approve this wholesome doctrine and earnestly protest against the +Republican departure which has involved us in so-called politics, +including the diplomacy of Europe and the intrigue and land-grabbing of +Asia, and we especially condemn the ill-concealed Republican alliance +with England, which must mean discrimination against other friendly +nations, and which has already stifled the nation's voice while liberty +is being strangled in Africa. + +SYMPATHY FOR THE BOERS. + +Believing in the principles of self-government, and rejecting, as did +our forefathers, the claim of monarchy, we view with indignation the +purpose of England to overwhelm with force the South African republics. +Speaking, as we do, for the entire American nation except its Republican +officeholders, and for all free men everywhere, we extend our sympathy +to the heroic burghers in their unequal struggle to maintain their +liberty and independence. + +REPUBLICAN APPROPRIATIONS. + +We denounce the lavish appropriations of recent Republican Congresses, +which have kept taxes high, and which threaten the perpetuation of the +oppressive war levies. + +SHIP SUBSIDY BILL. + +We oppose the accumulation of a surplus to be squandered in such +bare-faced frauds upon the taxpayers as the shipping subsidy bill, which +under the false pretense of prospering American ship-building, would put +unearned millions into the pockets of favorite contributors to the +Republican campaign fund. + +REPEAL OF THE WAR TAXES. + +We favor the reduction and speedy repeal of the war taxes, and a return +to the time-honored Democratic policy of strict economy in governmental +expenditures. + +CONCLUDING PLEA TO THE PEOPLE. + +Believing that our most cherished institutions are in great peril, that +the very existence of our constitutional republic is at stake, and that +the decision now to be rendered will determine whether or not our +children are to enjoy those blessed privileges of free government which +have made the United States great, prosperous, and honored, we earnestly +ask for the foregoing declaration of principles the hearty support of +the liberty-loving American people, regardless of previous party +affiliations. + +William J. Bryan, of Nebraska, was again nominated for President, and +Adlai E. Stevenson, of Illinois, for Vice-President, both on the first +ballots. While the Democratic Convention was in session, the Silver +Republicans met in Convention in the same city. The Chairman _pro tem._ +was Henry M. Teller, who had withdrawn from the Republican Convention in +1896. This Convention nominated William J. Bryan for President, and the +National Committee was authorized to name the Vice-President, which they +did on July 7th, by endorsing Adlai E. Stevenson. + +The campaign of 1900 was as animated throughout as was that of 1896. +Imperialism was the issue raised by the Democrats, and the result in +November was an overwhelming victory for the Republican candidates, +McKinley and Roosevelt, who carried enough States to assure them of 292 +electoral votes to 155 for Bryan and Stevenson. The popular vote for the +leading candidates was as follows: McKinley (Rep.), 7,207,923; Bryan +(Dem.), 6,358,133; Woolley (Prohib.), 208,914; Debs (Soc. Dem.), 87,814; +Barker (M. R. Peop.), 50,373; Malloney (Soc. L.), 39,739. + +William McKinley was inaugurated for his second term on March 4, 1901. +On September 6, 1901, the almost unbelievable news was telegraphed over +the country that President McKinley, while in the Temple of Music at the +Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, had been shot twice by an assassin, +an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz. But it proved only too true, and for a +week the people of the country watched the bulletins and prayed for the +President, who fought bravely against death. The wound in the stomach +was fatal, and William McKinley, the third martyred President of the +Republican Party, passed away on September 14, 1901, at the home of John +G. Milburn in Buffalo. The great purity and simplicity of his life, his +devotion to his wife, his courageous struggle for the great economical +principles which had brought the country to the highest degree of +prosperity ever known, and the splendid record of his administration +made his loss deeply felt by the nation, and he was enshrined beside +Lincoln in American history. The last words of William McKinley +exhibited the Christian character of a great life: "It is God's way; His +will be done." + +[Illustration: By special permission of C. M. Bell Photo Co., Washington D. C. +Theodore Roosevelt.] + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ROOSEVELT. + + +"I feel that we have a right to appeal not merely to Republicans, but to +all good citizens, no matter what may have been their party affiliations +in the past, and to ask them, on the strength of the record ... to stand +shoulder to shoulder with us, perpetuating the conditions under which we +have reached a degree of prosperity never before attained in the +Nation's history and under which, abroad, we have put the American Flag +on a level which it never before in the history of the country has been +placed." + +_Theodore Roosevelt_, _to the Notification Committee_, +_Sagamore Hill_, _L. I._, _July_, 1900. + + +Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office as President at Buffalo, New +York, on September 14, 1901, and became the twenty-sixth President of +the United States, and the third to succeed a martyred Republican +President. He was born in New York City, October 27, 1858. He graduated +from Harvard and spent some years in traveling; served in the New York +Legislature in 1882, 1883 and 1884, and was prominent as a champion of +Civil Service Reform. Was Chairman of the New York delegation to the +Convention in 1884, and ran for Mayor of New York in 1886, as the +Independent candidate, endorsed by the Republicans, but was defeated; +was appointed Civil Service Commissioner in May, 1889, by President +Harrison, and served till 1895, exhibiting great energy and establishing +Civil Service principles in all Executive Departments, acquiring a +splendid reputation throughout the country for fearlessness and honesty. +He resigned from the Civil Service Commission to accept the appointment +of Police Commissioner of New York City in May, 1895, and displayed his +usual energy in the suppression of corruption and in the establishment +of law and order in New York City. He was appointed Assistant Secretary +of the Navy by President McKinley, and worked with great vigor to place +the Navy on a proper footing, and the success of the Navy in the +Spanish-American war was due in no small degree to his preliminary work. +When the war broke out in April, 1898, he resigned his position in the +Navy Department and organized a volunteer cavalry regiment, recruited +mainly from the Western plains, the members of which were called the +"Rough Riders." They were commanded at first by Col. Leonard Wood, and +Mr. Roosevelt was made Lieutenant-Colonel. His previous military +experience had been several years' service in the New York National +Guard. For his gallant conduct at San Juan Hill and in the Cuban +campaign he was commissioned Colonel July 11, 1898, though many of the +officers at Washington were opposed to him. He was elected Governor of +New York in the Fall of 1898. In all of these positions he devoted +himself to his work with energy and enthusiasm amazing to all. His +published works on American History rank him as one of the great +historians of the country, and his interests in out-door sports and his +delightful home life have endeared him to the people as a typical +American. The nomination for Vice-President came to him unsought and +undesired, but in response to the demands of the people he fell in line +promptly. Coming to the Presidential Chair under trying circumstances he +immediately displayed the highest ability and tact in taking charge of +the administration of the national affairs. The policies of President +McKinley were pursued without deviation, and President Roosevelt +conducted the domestic and foreign affairs in a way that has marked him +as a great statesman, and the country and its new possessions are +eminently in a condition of prosperity and satisfaction. + +On May 20, 1902, the United States partially redeemed its pledge in +regard to Cuba by hauling down its flag at the Government Palace, +Havana, after which the flag of the new Republic of Cuba was raised. +This pledge fulfilled, the Republican Party rounded it out with the +approval of the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, ratified in the Senate March +19, 1903. + +The long continued agitation for the construction of a canal, by the +United States, connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, +resulted in the Isthmian Canal Act, approved June 28, 1902, in which the +President was authorized to acquire the rights of the new Panama Canal +Company of France, and if the title proved satisfactory, and a treaty +could be obtained from the Republic of Colombia for the necessary +territory, the President was authorized to pay the Canal Company +$40,000,000 for this property, but if this could not be done within a +reasonable time then the Nicaraguan route was to be considered. An +Isthmian Canal Commission was created. Attorney General P. C. Knox +reported to the President (October 26, 1902) that the title to the canal +was valid, and on January 22, 1903, a treaty between the United States +and Colombia for the construction of the canal was signed at Washington +and was ratified by the United States Senate March 17, 1903, but was +rejected by the Colombian Senate September 14, 1903, who suggested the +negotiation of a new treaty. But early in November, 1903, Panama +declared its independence, and was recognized as a Republic by the +United States on November 6th. A new Canal Treaty was signed at +Washington by Secretary of State John Hay, representing the United +States, and Philippe Bunau-Varilla representing Panama, and the treaty +was ratified by the Government of Panama on December 2, 1903, and is now +under consideration in the United States Senate. These various events, +all justified by the laws of nations, brought Colombia to terms, and +late in November, 1903, she offered the United States a free canal +concession if the latter would permit the subjugation of Panama, but the +matter had gone too far, and it is now probable that the Panama Canal +will be built by this Government, acting with the new Republic of +Panama. + +The legislation and the course of events in the Philippines has been +equally satisfactory. On July 1, 1902, Congress provided for the +termination of military rule in these islands and the establishment of +civil government. William H. Taft, of Ohio, who had been President of +the Commission, was appointed Governor, and in that capacity continued +the splendid work which had been begun by the Commission. In December, +1903, Governor Taft was appointed Secretary of War by President +Roosevelt, taking the place of Elihu Root, resigned, and his successor +in the Philippines is Luke E. Wright, of Tennessee. On July 4, 1902, the +insurrection in the Philippines against the authority of the United +States having ended in all parts of the Islands except in the part +inhabited by the Moro Tribes, President Roosevelt issued a Proclamation +of pardon and amnesty to all political offenders on their taking the +oath of allegiance to the United States. + +The great combinations of capital called Trusts, in so far as they +concentrate the industries of the country in the hands of a few, +stifling competiton and dictating wages and prices, have received the +emphatic condemnation of the Republican Party, and President Roosevelt +and Attorney General Knox have done their utmost, under the existing +laws, to suppress these combinations when unlawful. The Republican Party +has done more than any other party to curb the evils of the Trusts, and +it is probable that the question can only be adequately handled by an +amendment to the United States Constitution giving Congress direct +supervision over their organization. The settlement of the coal strike +in the United States by President Roosevelt is remembered gratefully, +and was to the satisfaction of both sides, and was in keeping with his +record of direct and fearless action in emergencies. His administration +saw the dedication of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition buildings at St. +Louis on April 30, 1903, and on July 4, 1903, the completion of the +Pacific Cable, the first message having been sent by the President to +Governor Taft. The report of the Alaskan Boundary Commission on October +7, 1903, gave to the United States all points, except one, in dispute. +This called attention to the work of the Department of State, but we are +too close to the splendid diplomacy of John Hay to fully appreciate its +far-reaching effect for the advancement of the interests of this +country. + +Such is a brief record of recent events that will close this history of +the splendid achievements of the Republican Party. The history of the +administrations of the eight Republican Presidents, Lincoln, Grant, +Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, McKinley and Roosevelt, may be read +at least with interest by every citizen of the United States, regardless +of his party affiliations, and assuredly with pride and satisfaction by +those who count themselves as members of the Grand Old Party. + + + +APPENDIX + + +THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE. + +The Republican National Committee is composed of one member from each +State and Territory. The Committee is chosen by the several State +delegations at the National Conventions of the party. + +The Committee is the national executive head of the Republican Party. +It decides the time and place, and issues the calls for the National +Conventions. The call states the number of delegates to be chosen for +each district, and sometimes prescribes the manner of their selection. +The National Committee also selects the temporary officers of the +convention, subject to its ratification, and after the nominations have +been made takes general charge of the campaign. The Chairmen of the +Republican National Committee have been as follows: + +1856. Edwin D. Morgan, New York. +1860. Edwin D. Morgan, New York. +1864. Marcus L. Ward, New Jersey. +1868. William Claflin, Massachusetts. +1872. Edwin D. Morgan, New York. +1876. { Zachariah Chandler, Michigan. + { J. Donald Cameron, Pennsylvania. +1880. { M. Jewell, Connecticut. + { Dwight M. Sabin, Minnesota. +1884. B. F. Jones, Pennsylvania. +1888. M. S. Quay, Pennsylvania. +1892. Thomas H. Carter, Montana. +1896. Marcus A. Hanna, Ohio. +1900. Marcus A. Hanna, Ohio. + + +THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN LEAGUE. + +The National Republican League, an organization of the greatest help to +the party in National and State Campaigns, was organized in Chickering +Hall, New York City, December 15-17, 1887. It is made up of the active +Republican Clubs of the country, which are first organized into a State +League, and then joined in the National League. It now has a membership +of fully 500,000. The first President of the League was Jas. P. Foster, +of New York, who was most active in the founding of the organization. +National Conventions of the League have been held as follows: Baltimore, +1889; Nashville, 1890; Cincinnati, 1891; Buffalo, 1892; Louisville, +1893; Denver, 1894; Cleveland, 1895; Milwaukee, 1896; Detroit, 1897; +Omaha, 1898; St. Paul, 1900; Chicago, 1902. The Conventions have been +held biennially since 1898. The 1904 Convention will be held at +Indianapolis. The following have served as Presidents of the National +Republican League: + +1889-1890. Jas. P. Foster, New York. +1890-1892. John M. Thurston, Nebraska. +1892-1893. John S. Clarkson, Iowa. +1893-1895. W. W. Tracy, Illinois. +1895-1896. E. A. McAlpin, New York. +1896-1897. D. D. Woodmansee, Ohio. +1897-1898. L. J. Crawford, Kentucky. +1898-1900. Wm. Stone, California. +1900-1902. I. N. Hamilton, Illinois. +1902. J. Hampton Moore, Pennsylvania. + + +REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS. + + TIME. PLACE. NOMINEES. +June 17-18, 1856. Philadelphia, Pa. { John C. Fremont, Cal. + { Wm. L. Dayton, N. J. +May 16-18, 1860. Chicago, Ill. { Abraham Lincoln, Ill. + { Hannibal Hamlin, Me. +June 7-8, 1864. Baltimore, Md. { Abraham Lincoln, Ill. + { Andrew Johnson, Tenn. +May 20-22, 1868. Chicago, Ill. { Ulysses S. Grant, Ill. + { Schuyler Colfax, Ind. +June 5-6, 1872. Philadelphia, Pa. { Ulysses S. Grant, Ill. + { Henry Wilson, Mass. +June 14-16, 1876. Cincinnati, O. { Rutherford B. Hayes, Ohio. + { Wm. A. Wheeler, N. Y. +June 2-8, 1880. Chicago, Ill. { Jas. A. Garfield, Ohio. + { Chester A. Arthur, N. Y. +June 3-6, 1884. Chicago, Ill. { James G. Blaine, Me. + { John A. Logan, Ill. +June 19-25, 1888. Chicago, Ill. { Benj. Harrison, Ind. + { Levi P. Morton, N. Y. +June 7-11, 1892. Minneapolis, Minn. { Benj. Harrison, Ind. + { Whitelaw Reid, N. Y. +June 16-18, 1896. St. Louis, Mo. { Wm. McKinley, Ohio. + { Garret A. Hobart, N. J. +June 19-21, 1900. Philadelphia, Pa. { Wm. McKinley, Ohio. + { Theodore Roosevelt, N. Y. +June 21, 1904. Chicago, Ill. + + +PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. + +The Constitution requires each State to appoint, in such manner as the +Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole +number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be +entitled in Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or person +holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be +appointed an elector. + +The original clause in the Constitution provided that after the electors +had been chosen they should elect the President as follows: The electors +shall meet in their respective States and vote by ballot for two +persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same +State with themselves. A list of the votes shall then be sent to the +President of the Senate; the person having the greatest number of votes +shall be President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of +electors appointed; but in the event of no person having a majority, or +in case of a tie vote, the House of Representatives shall immediately +choose the President. In every case, after the choice of President, the +person having the greatest number of votes shall be Vice-President. But, +if there should remain two or more having equal votes, then the Senate +shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-President. + +Under this clause in the original Constitution there were four +elections: Washington (two terms), John Adams and Jefferson. The last +election (Jefferson) brought on a contest that resulted in the Twelfth +Amendment of the Constitution. It will be noticed that the original +clause did not require the electors to name the person they voted for as +President and the person voted for as Vice-President; they were simply +to vote for two persons. On counting the electoral votes as a result of +the election of 1800, it was found that Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, +and Aaron Burr, of New York, had an equal electoral vote--73. This +threw the election into the House, and a bitter contest followed, which +resulted in the victory of Jefferson, making Burr Vice-President; and +the curious situation was present of an aspirant to the presidency +occupying the subordinate position of Vice-President. + +To correct this evil, the Twelfth Amendment was proposed, ratified by a +sufficient number of States, and went into effect in 1804, and has +governed the presidential elections to this day. This amendment provides +that the electors, instead of voting for two candidates for President, +shall distinctly name in their ballots the person voted for as President +and the person voted for as Vice-President. The certificates of the +ballots are opened by the President of the Senate in the presence of the +Senate and the House. If no person have a majority, then the House +chooses the President, each State having one vote. The person having the +greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall be Vice-President. But +if no person has a majority, then the Senate chooses the Vice-President. +But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President is +eligible to the vice-presidency. + +Since the Jefferson-Burr contest there has been but one election by the +House of Representatives, that of 1824, when none of the candidates +having received a majority of the electoral vote, the House, between +Andrew Jackson, John Q. Adams and William H. Crawford, selected John Q. +Adams as President. John Q. Adams was a son of John Adams, the second +President, and this has been the only time in the history of the nation +that father and son have occupied the Presidential chair. There has been +but one instance of an election of a Vice-President by the Senate, that +of R. M. Johnston, in 1837. + +Two methods of choosing the presidential electors preceded the present +system. It will be remembered that the Constitution gives the various +Legislatures the power of naming the manner in which the electors shall +be chosen. Originally, the Legislatures exercised this power themselves; +then the district system was tried; that is, each voter cast a ballot +for three electors, two for the State at large (representing the +Senators) and one for the Congressional district in which he lived. The +system now in vogue is an election by a "general ticket;" that is to +say, each voter uses a ballot on which are printed the names of all the +electors to which his State is entitled. + +The tendency of the district system was to divide the electoral vote, +while the "general ticket" tends to a solid vote from each State. In the +"Mugwump" campaign of 1884--Cleveland-Blaine--no State divided its +electoral votes. No State divided its vote in the Harrison-Cleveland +election of 1888. In 1892, owing to the People's Party candidate +breaking the vote, and owing to other circumstances, five States divided +their votes. In the McKinley-Bryan contest of 1896 the votes were only +divided in two States--California and Kentucky--where the popular +voting was so close that each State named one Bryan elector. + +The present system of naming electors increases the chances of electing +Presidents who have received less than a majority of the popular vote, +and it is even possible to elect a President who has received less than +a plurality of votes, which has happened in two instances--the election +of Hayes and Benjamin Harrison. It can be seen in the following +instances how both of the cases may happen: A candidate may carry Kansas +by a majority of 43,000, as Blaine did in 1884, and gain nine electoral +votes, and lose New York, with its thirty-six electoral votes by 1,149 +popular votes, as happened in the same election; or in 1896, when Bryan +carried Colorado by 133,000 majority and gained four electoral votes, +and perhaps lost twelve electoral votes in Kentucky by the narrow margin +of 281 popular votes. + +The following Presidents have failed to receive a majority of the total +popular vote: Adams in 1824 (elected by the House), Polk in 1844, Taylor +in 1848, Buchanan in 1856, Lincoln in 1860, Hayes in 1876, Garfield in +1880, Cleveland in 1884, Harrison in 1888, and Cleveland in 1892. +McKinley, in 1896, was the first President since 1872 to receive a clear +majority of the popular votes. + +Only States vote at the presidential elections, each State being +entitled to a number of electors equal to the whole number of Senators +and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in Congress. New +York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio rank in the order named as to +largest number of electors. Since the first election of Jackson, in +1828, no President has been chosen in direct opposition to the combined +votes of New York and Pennsylvania. + +The theory of the electoral college, as conceived by the Federal +Convention, was never realized. The aim was to constitute this peculiar +body as a check on the popular excitement attendant on these elections. +It was meant that the electors should meet some time after the election +day and calmly discuss the merits of the best men. Under the present +system, the National Conventions of the various parties present their +candidates; on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November of +every fourth year the people vote for the electors, and the result is +known the next day, although the electors do not meet until the second +Monday in January next after the election. There is nothing in the +Constitution to compel an elector to vote for any particular candidate, +yet custom is often stronger than law, and the elector who would +frustrate the wishes of the people who elected him would be guilty of +the basest of political treachery, although no law could punish him. + +In the early history of the country, presidential candidates were first +presented by the party leaders, then by Congressional caucuses, by State +Legislatures, local conventions, and since 1832 the method of nominating +has been by National Conventions of the various parties. Each State is +generally allowed twice as many delegates as it has electors. In the +Democratic Conventions a two-thirds vote of the delegates is necessary +for choice, while the Republican Conventions only require a majority +vote of the delegates for choice. + +The Constitution requires, among other things, that the President shall +be thirty-five years of age. Mr. Roosevelt is the youngest President we +have had, being three years younger than Ulysses S. Grant, who was +forty-seven years old when inaugurated. The eldest was William H. +Harrison, who was sixty-eight years of age when inaugurated. + +The manner of counting the electoral vote is prescribed in the Twelfth +Amendment to the Constitution as follows: + +"The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and +House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall +then be counted; the person having the greatest number of votes for +President shall be President, if such number be a majority of the whole +number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then +from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the +list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall +choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the +President the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from +each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a +member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all +the States shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of +Representatives shall not choose a President, whenever the right of +choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next +following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the +case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. +The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall +be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number +of electors appointed; and if no person have a majority, then from the +two highest numbers on the list the Senate shall choose the +Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of +the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall +be necessary to a choice." + +The procedure of the two houses, in case the returns of the election of +electors from any State are disputed, is provided in the "Electoral +Count" Act, passed in 1886. The "Electoral Count" Act remedied the +strained situation brought about by the Hayes-Tilden controversy in +1876. Congress counts the ballots on the second Wednesday in February +succeeding the meeting of the electors. + + +THE ELECTORAL VOTE IN 1904. + + ELECTORAL ELECTORAL + STATES. VOTES. STATES. VOTES. +Alabama ............... 11 Nevada ................ 3 +Arkansas .............. 9 New Hampshire ......... 4 +California ............ 10 New Jersey ............ 12 +Colorado .............. 5 New York .............. 39 +Connecticut ........... 7 North Carolina ........ 12 +Delaware .............. 3 North Dakota .......... 4 +Florida ............... 5 Ohio .................. 23 +Georgia ............... 13 Oregon ................ 4 +Idaho ................. 3 Pennsylvania .......... 34 +Illinois .............. 27 Rhode Island .......... 4 +Indiana ............... 15 South Carolina ........ 9 +Iowa .................. 13 South Dakota .......... 4 +Kansas ................ 10 Tennessee ............. 12 +Kentucky .............. 13 Texas ................. 18 +Louisiana ............. 9 Utah .................. 3 +Maine ................. 6 Vermont ............... 4 +Maryland .............. 8 Virginia .............. 12 +Massachusetts ......... 16 Washington ............ 5 +Michigan .............. 14 West Virginia ......... 7 +Minnesota ............. 11 Wisconsin ............. 13 +Mississippi ........... 10 Wyoming ............... 3 +Missouri .............. 18 --- +Montana ............... 3 Total ............... 476 +Nebraska .............. 8 Necessary to a choice . 239 + + +PRESIDENTS AND THEIR CABINETS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF +THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + + 1856. +JAMES BUCHANAN, Pa., _Dem._ J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, Ky., _Dem._ +Lewis Cass ........... Sec. State. Jacob Thompson ....... Sec. Int'r. +Jeremiah S. Black .... " Moses Kelly .......... " +Howell Cobb .......... Sec. Treas. Jeremiah S. Black .... Att. Gen'l. +Jacob Thomas ......... " Edwin M. Stanton ..... " +John A. Dix .......... " Aaron V. Brown ....... Post. Gen'l. +John B. Floyd ........ Sec. War. J. Holt .............. " +Joseph Holt .......... " H. King .............. " +Isaac Toucey ......... Sec. Navy. + + 1860. +ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Ill., _Rep._ HANNIBAL HAMLIN, Me., _Rep._ +Wm. H. Seward ........ Sec. State. Salmon P. Chase ...... Sec. Treas. +Simon Cameron ........ Sec. War. Wm. P. Fessenden ..... " +Edwin M. Stanton ..... " Edward Bates ......... Att. Gen'l. +Caleb B. Smith ....... Sec. Int'r. James Speed .......... " +John P. Usher ........ " Montgomery Blair ..... Post. Gen'l. +Gideon Welles ........ Sec. Navy. William Denison ...... " + + 1864. +ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Ill., _Rep._ ANDREW JOHNSON, Tenn., _Rep._ +William H. Seward .... Sec. State. Hugh McCulloch ....... Sec. Treas. +Edwin M. Stanton ..... Sec. War. Gideon Welles ........ Sec. Navy. +John P. Usher ........ Sec. Int'r. James Speed .......... Att. Gen'l. +Henry Harlan ......... " Wm. Denison .......... Post. Gen'l. + + 1865. + ANDREW JOHNSON, Tenn., _Rep._ +Wm. H. Seward ........ Sec. State. Gideon Welles ........ Sec. Navy. +Edwin M. Stanton ..... Sec. War. James Speed .......... Att. Gen'l. +Lorenzo Thomas ....... " Henry Stanbery ....... " +John Schofield ....... " Wm. M. Evarts ........ " +Hugh McCulloch ....... Sec. Treas. Wm. Denison .......... Post. Gen'l. +Henry Harlan ......... Sec. Int'r. Alex. W. Randall ..... " +Orville H. Browning .. " + + 1868. +ULYSSES S. GRANT, Ill., _Rep._ SCHUYLER COLFAX, Ind., _Rep._ +E. B. Washburne ...... Sec. State. J. D. Cox ............ Sec. Int'r. +Hamilton Fish ........ " Columbus Delano ...... " +G. S. Boutwell ....... Sec. Treas. George M. Robeson .... Sec. Navy. +J. A. Rawlins ........ Sec. War. George A. Williams ... Att. Gen'l. +Wm. W. Belknap ....... " John A. J. Creswell .. Post. Gen'l. + + 1872. +ULYSSES S. GRANT, Ill., _Rep._ HENRY WILSON, Mass., _Rep._ +Hamilton Fish ........ Sec. State. Columbus Delano ...... Sec. Int'r. +Wm. M. Belknap ....... Sec. War. Zachariah Chandler ... " +Alphonso Taft ........ " Wm. M. Richardson .... Sec. Treas. +J. D. Cameron ........ " Benj. H. Bristow ..... " +John A. J. Creswell .. Post. Gen'l. Lot M. Morrill ....... " +Marshall Jewell ...... " George A. Williams ... Att. Gen'l. +James N. Tyner ....... " Edwards Pierrepont ... " +George M. Robeson .... Sec. Navy. Alphonso Taft ........ " + + 1876. +RUTH'FORD B. HAYES, O., _Rep._ WM. A. WHEELER, N. Y., _Rep._ +Wm. M. Evarts ........ Sec. State. John Sherman ......... Sec. Treas. +R. W. Thompson ....... Sec. Navy. G. W. McCrary ........ Sec. War. +Nathan Goff, Jr ...... " Alex. Ramsay ......... " +D. M. Key ............ Post. Gen'l. Carl Schurz .......... Sec. Int'r. +Horace Maynard ....... " Charles Devens ....... Att. Gen'l. + + 1880. +JAMES A. GARFIELD, Ohio, _Rep._ CHESTER A. ARTHUR, N. Y., _Rep._ +J. G. Blaine ......... Sec. State. Wm. Windom ........... Sec. Treas. +R. T. Lincoln ........ Sec. War. S. J. Kirkwood ....... Sec. Int'r. +W. H. Hunt ........... Sec. Navy. T. L. James .......... Post. Gen'l. +Wayne McVeagh ........ Att. Gen'l. + + 1881. + CHESTER A. ARTHUR, N. Y., _Rep._ +J. G. Blaine ......... Sec. State. Wm. Windom ........... Sec. Treas. +F. T. Frelinghuysen .. " C. J. Folger ......... " +R. T. Lincoln ........ Sec. War. S. J. Kirkwood ....... Sec. Int'r. +W. H. Hunt ........... Sec. Navy. H. M. Teller ......... " +W. E. Chandler ....... " T. L. James .......... Post. Gen'l. +Wayne McVeagh ........ Att. Gen'l. T. O. Howe ........... " +B. H. Brewster ....... " + + 1884. +G. CLEVELAND, N. Y., _Dem._ THOS. A. HENDRICKS, Ind., _Dem._ +Thos. F. Bayard ...... Sec. State. Daniel Manning ....... Sec. Treas. +Wm. C. Endicott ...... Sec. War. Chas. Fairchild ...... " +Wm. C. Whitney ....... Sec. Navy. Augustus Garland ..... Att. Gen'l. +Wm. F. Vilas ......... Post. Gen'l. Lucius Q. C. Lamar ... Sec. Int'r. +Don M. Dickinson ..... " William F. Vilas ..... " + Norman J. Coleman .... Sec. Agric. + + 1888. +BENJ. HARRISON, Ind., _Rep._ LEVI P. MORTON, N. Y., _Rep._ +James G. Blaine ...... Sec. State. William Windom ....... Sec. Treas. +Redfield Proctor ..... Sec. War. Wm. H. H. Miller ..... Att. Gen'l. +Benj. F. Tracy ....... Sec. Navy. John W. Noble ........ Sec. Int'r. +John Wanamaker ....... Post. Gen'l. Jeremiah M. Rusk ..... Sec. Agric. + + 1892. +G. CLEVELAND, N. Y., _Dem._ ADLAI E. STEVENSON, Ill., _Dem._ +Richard Olney ........ Sec. State. John G. Carlisle ..... Sec. Treas. +Daniel S. Lamont ..... Sec. War. Judson Harmon ........ Att. Gen'l. +Hilary A. Herbert .... Sec. Navy. David R. Francis ..... Sec. Int'r. +Wm. L. Wilson ........ Post. Gen'l. J. Sterling Morton ... Sec. Agric. + + 1896. +WM. McKINLEY, Ohio, _Rep._ GARRET A. HOBART, N. J., _Rep._ +John Sherman ......... Sec. State. Lyman J. Gage ........ Sec. Treas. +William R. Day ....... " Jos. McKenna ......... Att. Gen'l. +John Hay ............. " John W. Griggs ....... " +Russell A. Alger ..... Sec. War. Cornelius N. Bliss ... Sec. Int'r. +Elihu Root ........... " Ethan A. Hitchcock ... " +John D. Long ......... Sec. Navy. James Wilson ......... Sec. Agric. +James A. Gary ........ Post. Gen'l. +Chas. Emory Smith .... " + + 1900. +WM. McKINLEY, Ohio, _Rep._ THEO. ROOSEVELT, N. Y., _Rep._ +John Hay ............. Sec. State. John D. Long ......... Sec. Navy. +Lyman J. Gage ........ Sec. Treas. Chas. Emory Smith .... Post. Gen'l. +Elihu Root ........... Sec. War. Philander C. Knox .... Att. Gen'l. +Ethan A. Hitchcock ... Sec. Int'r. Jas. Wilson .......... Sec. Agric. + + 1901. + THEO. ROOSEVELT, N. Y., _Rep._ +John Hay ............. Sec. State. John D. Long ......... Sec. Navy. +Lyman J. Gage ........ Sec. Treas. Wm. H. Moody ......... " +Leslie M. Shaw ....... " Philander C. Knox .... Att. Gen'l. +Elihu Root ........... Sec. War. Ethan A. Hitchcock ... Sec. Int'r. +Wm. H. Taft .......... " Jas. Wilson .......... Sec. Agric. +Chas. Emory Smith .... Post. Gen'l. G. B. Cortelyou ...... Sec. Com. & Lab. +Henry C. Payne ....... " + + +PRESIDENTS PRO TEM. OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE +SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + +CONGRESS. YEAR. NAME. + 32-33 1852-54 D. R. Atchison, Missouri. + 33-34 1854-57 Jesse D. Bright, Indiana. + 34 1857 James M. Mason, Virginia. + 35-36 1857-61 Benj. Fitzpatrick, Alabama. + 36-38 1861-64 Solomon Foot, Vermont. + 38 1864-65 Daniel Clark, New Hampshire. + 39 1865-67 Lafayette S. Foster, Connecticut. + 40 1867-69 Benj. F. Wade, Ohio. + 41-42 1869-73 Henry B. Anthony, Rhode Island. + 43 1873-75 M. H. Carpenter, Wisconsin. + 44-45 1875-79 Thos. W. Ferry, Michigan. + 46 1879-81 A. G. Thurman, Ohio. + 47 1881 Thos. F. Bayard, Delaware. + 47 1881-83 David Davis, Illinois. + 48 1883-85 Geo. F. Edmunds, Vermont. + 49 1885-87 John Sherman, Ohio. + 49-51 1887-91 Jno. J. Ingalls, Kansas. + 52 1891-93 C. F. Manderson, Nebraska. + 53 1893-95 Isham G. Harris, Tennessee. + 54-58 1895 Wm. P. Frye, Maine. + + +SPEAKERS OF THE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES +SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + +CONGRESS. YEAR. NAME. + 32-33 1851-55 Linn Boyd, Kentucky. + 34 1855-57 Nathaniel P. Banks, Massachusetts. + 35 1857-59 Jas. L. Orr, South Carolina. + 36 1859-61 Wm. Pennington, New Jersey. + 37 1861-63 Galusha A. Grow, Pennsylvania. + 38-40 1863-69 Schuyler Colfax, Indiana. + 41-43 1869-75 Jas. G. Blaine, Maine. + 44 1875-76 Michael C. Kerr, Indiana. + 44-46 1876-81 Samuel J. Randall, Pennsylvania. + 47 1881-83 J. Warren Keifer, Ohio. + 48-50 1883-89 John G. Carlisle, Kentucky. + 51 1889-91 Thos. B. Reed, Maine. + 52-53 1891-95 Chas. F. Crisp, Georgia. + 54-55 1895-99 Thos. B. Reed, Maine. + 56-57 1899-1903 David B. Henderson, Iowa. + 58 1903 Jos. G. Cannon, Illinois. + + +THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION. + +By Act approved January 18, 1886, the presidential succession is fixed +as follows: In case of the removal, death, resignation, or inability of +both the President and Vice-President of the United States, the +Secretary of State, or if there be none, or in case of his removal, +death, etc., then the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, +the Attorney-General, the Postmaster-General, Secretary of the Navy, and +Secretary of the Interior, shall act until the disability is removed, or +a President elected; if Congress is not in session when the presidential +powers devolve on any of these persons, or does not meet twenty days +thereafter, then the said person must call an extraordinary session. +This law applies only to such persons who are appointed by the advice +and with the consent of the Senate, and who are eligible under the +Constitution for the office of President. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1856. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Fillmore | + and | + Buchanan Fremont Donelson | + and and American | + Breckinridge Dayton and | Buchanan Fremont Fillmore +STATES Dem. Rep. Whigs | and B and D and D +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 46,739 ...... 28,552 9 ... ... +Arkansas ........... 21,910 ...... 10,787 4 ... ... +California ......... 53,365 20,691 36,165 4 ... ... +Connecticut ........ 34,995 42,715 2,615 ... 6 ... +Delaware ........... 8,004 308 6,175 3 ... ... +Florida ............ 6,358 ...... 4,833 3 ... ... +Georgia ............ 56,578 ...... 42,228 10 ... ... +Illinois ........... 105,348 96,189 37,444 11 ... ... +Indiana ............ 118,670 94,375 22,386 13 ... ... +Iowa ............... 36,170 43,954 9,180 ... 4 ... +Kentucky ........... 74,642 314 67,416 12 ... ... +Louisiana .......... 22,164 ...... 20,709 6 ... ... +Maine .............. 39,080 67,379 3,325 ... 8 ... +Maryland ........... 39,115 281 47,460 ... ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 39,240 108,190 19,626 ... 13 ... +Michigan ........... 52,136 71,762 1,660 ... 6 ... +Mississippi ........ 35,446 ...... 24,195 7 ... ... +Missouri ........... 58,164 ...... 48,524 9 ... ... +New Hampshire ...... 32,789 38,345 422 ... 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 46,943 28,338 24,115 7 ... ... +New York ........... 195,878 276,007 124,604 ... 35 ... +North Carolina ..... 48,246 ...... 36,886 10 ... ... +Ohio ............... 170,874 187,497 28,126 ... 23 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 230,710 147,510 82,175 27 ... ... +Rhode Island ....... 6,680 11,467 1,675 ... 4 ... +*South Carolina .... ...... ...... ...... 8 ... ... +Tennessee .......... 73,638 ...... 66,178 12 ... ... +Texas .............. 31,169 ...... 15,639 4 ... ... +Vermont ............ 10,569 39,561 545 ... 5 ... +Virginia ........... 89,706 291 60,310 15 ... ... +Wisconsin .......... 52,843 66,090 579 ... 5 ... + --------- --------- ------- --- --- --- + Total .......... 1,838,169 1,341,264 874,534 174 114 8 + +* Electors chosen by Legislature. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1860. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Bell | + Lincoln Douglas Breckinridge and | + and and and Everett | + Hamlin Johnson Lane Constitutional | Lincoln Douglas Breckinridge Bell +STATES Rep. Dem. Ind. Dem. Union | and H and J and L and E +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ ...... 13,651 48,831 27,825 ... ... 9 ... +Arkansas ........... ...... 5,227 28,732 20,094 ... ... 4 ... +California ......... 39,173 38,516 34,334 6,817 4 ... ... ... +Connecticut ........ 43,692 15,522 14,641 3,291 6 ... ... ... +Delaware ........... 3,815 1,023 7,347 3,864 ... ... 3 ... +Florida ............ ...... 367 8,543 5,437 ... ... 3 ... +Georgia ............ ...... 11,590 51,889 42,886 ... ... 10 ... +Illinois ........... 172,161 160,215 2,404 3,913 11 ... ... ... +Indiana ............ 139,033 115,509 12,295 5,306 13 ... ... ... +Iowa ............... 70,409 55,111 1,048 1,763 4 ... ... ... +Kentucky ........... 1,364 25,651 53,143 66,058 ... ... ... 12 +Louisiana .......... ...... 7,625 22,681 20,204 ... ... 6 ... +Maine .............. 62,811 26,693 6,368 2,046 8 ... ... ... +Maryland ........... 2,294 5,966 42,482 41,760 ... ... 8 ... +Massachusetts ...... 106,533 34,372 5,939 22,331 13 ... ... ... +Michigan ........... 88,480 65,057 805 405 6 ... ... ... +Minnesota .......... 22,069 11,920 748 62 4 ... ... ... +Mississippi ........ ...... 3,283 40,797 25,040 ... ... 7 ... +Missouri ........... 17,028 58,801 31,317 58,372 ... 9 ... ... +New Hampshire ...... 37,519 25,881 2,112 441 5 ... ... ... +New Jersey ......... 58,324 62,801 ...... ...... 4 3 ... ... +New York ........... 362,646 312,510 ...... ...... 35 ... ... ... +North Carolina ..... ...... 2,701 48,339 44,990 ... ... 10 ... +Ohio ............... 231,610 187,232 11,405 12,194 23 ... ... ... +Oregon ............. 5,270 3,951 3,006 183 3 ... ... ... +Pennsylvania ....... 268,030 16,765 178,871 12,776 27 ... ... ... +Rhode Island ....... 12,244 7,707 ...... ...... 4 ... ... ... +*South Carolina .... ...... ...... ...... ...... ... ... 8 ... +Tennessee .......... ...... 11,350 64,709 69,274 ... ... ... 12 +Texas .............. ...... ...... 47,548 15,438 ... ... 4 ... +Vermont ............ 33,808 6,849 1,969 218 5 ... ... ... +Virginia ........... 1,929 16,290 74,323 74,681 ... ... ... 15 +Wisconsin .......... 86,110 65,021 888 161 5 ... ... ... + --------- --------- ------- ------- --- --- --- --- + Total .......... 1,866,352 1,375,157 847,514 587,830 180 12 72 39 + +* Electors chosen by Legislature. + + +POPULAR, ARMY AND ELECTORAL VOTES, 1864. + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Army | Electoral + Vote | Vote | Vote +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Lincoln McClellan | | + and and | Lincoln McClellan | + Johnson Pendleton | and and | Lincoln McClellan +STATES Rep. Dem. | Johnson Pendleton | and J and P +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +California ......... 62,134 43,841 2,600 237 5 ... +Connecticut ........ 44,693 42,288 ...... ...... 6 ... +Delaware ........... 8,155 8,767 ...... ...... ... 3 +Illinois ........... 189,487 158,349 ...... ...... 16 ... +Indiana ............ 150,422 130,233 ...... ...... 13 ... +Iowa ............... 87,331 49,260 15,178 1,364 8 ... +Kansas ............. 14,228 3,871 ...... ...... 3 ... +Kentucky ........... 27,786 64,301 1,194 2,823 ... 11 +Maine .............. 72,278 47,736 4,174 741 7 ... +Maryland ........... 40,153 32,739 2,800 321 7 ... +Massachusetts ...... 126,742 48,745 ...... ...... 12 ... +Michigan ........... 85,352 67,370 9,402 2,959 8 ... +Minnesota .......... 25,060 17,375 ...... ...... 4 ... +Missouri ........... 72,991 31,026 ...... ...... 11 ... +*Nevada ............ 9,826 6,594 ...... ...... 2 ... +New Hampshire ...... 36,595 33,034 2,066 690 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 60,723 68,014 ...... ...... ... 7 +New York ........... 368,726 361,986 ...... ...... 33 ... +Ohio ............... 265,154 205,568 41,146 9,757 21 ... +Oregon ............. 9,888 8,457 ...... ...... 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 296,389 276,308 26,712 12,349 26 ... +Rhode Island ....... 14,343 8,718 ...... ...... 4 ... +Vermont ............ 42,422 13,325 243 49 5 ... +West Virginia ...... 23,223 10,457 ...... ...... 5 ... +Wisconsin .......... 79,564 63,875 11,372 2,458 8 ... + --------- --------- ------- ------ --- --- + Total .......... 2,213,665 1,802,237 116,887 33,748 212 21 + +* Nevada chose three electors, one of whom died before the election. + +The Army votes of Kansas and Minnesota arrived too late to be counted. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1868. + +------------------------------------------------------------ + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------ + Grant Seymour | + and and | + Colfax Blair | Grant Seymour +STATES Rep. Dem. | and C and B +------------------------------------------------------------ +Alabama ............ 76,366 72,080 8 ... +Arkansas ........... 22,152 19,078 5 ... +California ......... 54,592 54,078 5 ... +Connecticut ........ 50,641 47,600 6 ... +Delaware ........... 7,623 10,980 ... 3 +Florida ............ ...... ...... 3 ... +Georgia ............ 57,134 102,822 ... 9 +Illinois ........... 250,293 199,143 16 ... +Indiana ............ 176,552 166,980 13 ... +Iowa ............... 120,399 74,040 8 ... +Kansas ............. 31,049 14,019 3 ... +Kentucky ........... 39,566 115,889 ... 11 +Louisiana .......... 33,263 80,225 ... 7 +Maine .............. 70,426 42,396 7 ... +Maryland ........... 30,438 62,357 ... 7 +Massachusetts ...... 136,477 59,408 12 ... +Michigan ........... 128,550 97,069 8 ... +Minnesota .......... 43,542 28,072 4 ... +Missouri ........... 85,671 59,788 11 ... +Nebraska ........... 9,729 5,439 3 ... +Nevada ............. 6,480 5,218 3 ... +New Hampshire ...... 38,191 31,224 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 80,121 83,001 ... 7 +New York ........... 419,883 429,883 ... 33 +North Carolina ..... 96,226 84,090 9 ... +Ohio ............... 280,128 238,700 21 ... +Oregon ............. 10,961 11,125 ... 3 +Pennsylvania ....... 342,280 313,382 26 ... +Rhode Island ....... 12,993 6,548 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 62,301 45,237 6 ... +Tennessee .......... 56,757 26,311 10 ... +Vermont ............ 44,167 12,045 5 ... +West Virginia ...... 29,025 20,306 5 ... +Wisconsin .......... 108,857 84,710 8 ... + --------- --------- --- --- + Totals 3,012,833 2,703,249 214 80 + +Florida electors chosen by Legislature. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1872. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Greeley O'Conor | + Grant and and | + and Brown Adams | Grant + Wilson Liberal Straightout | and +STATES Rep. Rep. and Dem. Dem. | Wilson +------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 90,272 79,444 ...... 10 +Arkansas ........... 41,373 37,927 ...... ... +California ......... 54,020 40,718 1,068 6 +Connecticut ........ 50,638 45,880 204 6 +Delaware ........... 11,115 10,206 487 3 +Florida ............ 17,763 15,427 ...... 4 +Georgia ............ 62,550 76,356 4,000 ... +Illinois ........... 241,944 184,938 3,058 21 +Indiana ............ 186,147 163,632 1,417 15 +Iowa ............... 131,566 71,196 2,221 11 +Kansas ............. 67,048 32,970 596 5 +Kentucky ........... 88,766 99,995 2,374 ... +Louisiana .......... 71,663 57,029 ...... ... +Maine .............. 61,422 29,087 ...... 7 +Maryland ........... 66,760 67,687 19 ... +Massachusetts ...... 133,472 59,260 ...... 13 +Michigan ........... 138,455 78,355 2,861 11 +Minnesota .......... 55,117 34,423 ...... 5 +Mississippi ........ 82,175 47,288 ...... 8 +Missouri ........... 119,196 151,434 2,429 ... +Nebraska ........... 18,329 7,812 ...... 3 +Nevada ............. 8,413 6,236 ...... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 37,168 31,424 100 5 +New Jersey ......... 91,656 76,456 630 9 +New York ........... 440,736 387,281 1,454 35 +North Carolina ..... 94,769 70,094 ...... 10 +Ohio ............... 281,852 244,321 1,163 22 +Oregon ............. 11,819 7,730 572 3 +Pennsylvania ....... 349,589 212,041 ...... 29 +Rhode Island ....... 13,665 5,329 ...... 4 +South Carolina ..... 72,290 22,703 187 7 +Tennessee .......... 85,655 94,391 ...... ... +Texas .............. 47,406 66,500 2,499 ... +Vermont ............ 41,481 10,927 593 5 +Virginia ........... 93,468 91,654 42 11 +West Virginia ...... 32,315 29,451 600 5 +Wisconsin .......... 104,997 86,477 834 10 + --------- --------- ------ --- + Total .......... 3,597,070 2,834,079 29,408 286 + +The Prohibition candidate (Jas. Black) received 5,608 votes. + +The total electoral vote was 366; Mr. Greeley's death, on November 29, +1873, made it necessary for the Democratic and Liberal Republican +electors to vote for other persons; Thos. A. Hendricks received 42. B. +Gratz Brown 18, Chas. J. Jenkins 2, David Davis 1. On objection, +Congress excluded the vote of Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia, a total +of 17. The foregoing refers to the electoral vote for President; the +vote for Vice-President was divided among eight persons. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1876. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Tilden Hayes Cooper | + and and and | Hayes Tilden + Hendricks Wheeler Cary | and and +STATES Dem. Rep. Greenback | Wheeler Hendricks +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 102,002 68,230 ...... ... 10 +Arkansas ........... 58,071 38,669 289 ... 6 +California ......... 76,465 79,269 47 6 ... +Colorado ........... ...... ...... ...... 3 ... +Connecticut ........ 61,934 59,034 774 ... 6 +Delaware ........... 13,381 10,752 ...... ... 3 +Florida ............ 22,923 23,849 ...... 4 ... +Georgia ............ 130,088 50,446 ...... ... 11 +Illinois ........... 258,601 278,232 17,233 21 ... +Indiana ............ 213,526 208,011 9,533 ... 15 +Iowa ............... 112,099 171,327 9,001 11 ... +Kansas ............. 37,902 78,322 7,776 5 ... +Kentucky ........... 159,690 97,156 1,944 ... 12 +Louisiana .......... 70,508 75,135 ...... 8 ... +Maine .............. 49,823 66,300 663 7 ... +Maryland ........... 91,780 71,981 33 ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 108,777 150,063 779 13 ... +Michigan ........... 141,095 166,534 9,060 11 ... +Minnesota .......... 48,799 72,962 2,311 5 ... +Mississippi ........ 112,173 52,605 ...... ... 8 +Missouri ........... 203,077 145,029 3,498 ... 15 +Nebraska ........... 17,554 31,916 2,320 3 ... +Nevada ............. 9,308 10,383 ...... 3 ... +New Hampshire ...... 38,509 41,539 76 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 115,962 103,517 712 ... 9 +New York ........... 521,949 489,207 1,987 ... 35 +North Carolina ..... 125,427 108,417 ...... ... 10 +Ohio ............... 323,182 330,698 3,057 22 ... +Oregon ............. 14,149 15,206 510 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 366,158 384,122 7,187 29 ... +Rhode Island ....... 10,712 15,787 68 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 90,906 91,870 ...... 7 ... +Tennessee .......... 133,166 89,566 ...... ... 12 +Texas .............. 104,755 44,800 ...... ... 8 +Vermont ............ 20,254 44,092 ...... 5 ... +Virginia ........... 139,670 95,558 ...... ... 11 +West Virginia ...... 56,455 42,698 1,373 ... 5 +Wisconsin .......... 123,927 130,668 1,509 10 ... + --------- --------- ------ --- --- + Total .......... 4,284,757 4,033,950 81,740 185 184 + +Green C. Smith, Prohibitionist, received a total of 9,522 votes. There +were 2,636 scattering votes for the Anti-Masonic and American Alliance +tickets. + +The Colorado electors were chosen by the Legislature. + +The Returning Boards' counts are given for the popular votes in Florida +and Louisiana, where there was a dispute as to Tilden's majority. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1880. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Garfield Hancock Weaver | + and and and | Garfield Hancock + Arthur English Chambers | and and +STATES Rep. Dem. Greenback | Arthur English +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 56,221 91,185 4,642 ... 10 +Arkansas ........... 42,436 60,775 4,079 ... 6 +California ......... 80,348 80,426 3,392 1 5 +Colorado ........... 27,450 24,647 1,435 3 ... +Connecticut ........ 67,071 64,415 868 6 ... +Delaware ........... 14,133 15,275 120 ... 3 +Florida ............ 23,654 27,964 ...... ... 4 +Georgia ............ 54,086 102,470 969 ... 11 +Illinois ........... 318,037 277,321 26,358 21 ... +Indiana ............ 232,164 225,522 12,986 15 ... +Iowa ............... 183,927 105,845 32,701 11 ... +Kansas ............. 121,549 59,801 19,851 5 ... +Kentucky ........... 106,306 149,068 11,499 ... 12 +Louisiana .......... 38,637 65,067 439 ... 8 +Maine .............. 74,039 65,171 4,408 7 ... +Maryland ........... 78,515 93,706 818 ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 165,205 111,960 4,548 13 ... +Michigan ........... 185,431 131,597 34,895 11 ... +Minnesota .......... 93,903 53,315 3,267 5 ... +Mississippi ........ 34,854 75,750 5,797 ... 8 +Missouri ........... 153,567 208,609 35,135 ... 15 +Nebraska ........... 54,979 28,523 3,950 3 ... +Nevada ............. 8,732 9,613 ...... ... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 44,852 40,794 528 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 120,555 122,565 2,617 ... 9 +New York ........... 555,544 534,511 12,373 35 ... +North Carolina ..... 115,874 124,208 1,126 ... 10 +Ohio ............... 375,048 340,821 6,456 22 ... +Oregon ............. 20,619 19,948 249 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 444,704 407,428 20,668 29 ... +Rhode Island ....... 18,195 10,779 236 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 58,071 112,312 566 ... 7 +Tennessee .......... 107,677 128,191 5,917 ... 12 +Texas .............. 57,893 156,428 27,405 ... 8 +Vermont ............ 45,567 18,316 1,215 5 ... +Virginia ........... 84,020 128,586 ...... ... 11 +West Virginia ...... 46,243 57,391 9,079 ... 5 +Wisconsin .......... 144,400 114,649 7,986 10 ... + --------- --------- ------- --- --- + Total .......... 4,454,416 4,444,952 308,578 214 155 + +Neal Dow, Prohibition candidate, received a total vote of 10,305. Two +Republican tickets were voted for in Louisiana. The Democratic vote for +Maine is given for the fusion vote for the electoral ticket, made up of +three Democrats and four Greenbackers. A straight Greenback ticket was +also voted for in Maine. + +Two Democratic tickets were voted in Virginia. The Regular received +96,912; the "Readjusters" 31,674. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1884. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Blaine Cleveland Butler St. John | Cleveland Blaine +STATES Rep. Dem. Greenback Pro. | and H and L +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 59,591 93,951 873 612 10 ... +Arkansas ........... 50,895 72,927 1,847 ...... 7 ... +California ......... 102,416 89,288 2,017 2,920 ... 8 +Colorado ........... 36,290 27,723 1,958 761 ... 3 +Connecticut ........ 65,923 67,199 1,688 2,305 6 ... +Delaware ........... 12,951 16,964 6 55 3 ... +Florida ............ 28,031 31,766 ...... 72 4 ... +Georgia ............ 48,603 94,667 145 195 12 ... +Illinois ........... 337,474 312,355 10,910 12,074 ... 22 +Indiana ............ 238,463 244,990 8,293 3,028 15 ... +Iowa ............... 197,089 177,316 ...... 1,472 ... 13 +Kansas ............. 154,406 90,132 16,341 4,495 ... 9 +Kentucky ........... 118,122 152,961 1,691 3,139 13 ... +Louisiana .......... 46,347 62,540 ...... ...... 8 ... +Maine .............. 72,209 52,140 3,953 2,160 ... 6 +Maryland ........... 85,699 96,932 531 2,794 8 ... +Massachusetts ...... 146,724 122,481 24,433 10,026 ... 14 +Michigan ........... 192,669 149,835 42,243 18,403 ... 13 +Minnesota .......... 111,923 70,144 3,583 4,684 ... 7 +Mississippi ........ 43,509 76,510 ...... ...... 9 ... +Missouri ........... 202,929 235,988 ...... 2,153 16 ... +Nebraska ........... 76,912 54,391 ...... 2,899 ... 5 +Nevada ............. 7,193 5,578 26 ...... ... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 43,249 39,183 552 1,571 ... 4 +New Jersey ......... 123,440 127,798 3,496 6,159 9 ... +New York ........... 562,005 563,154 16,994 25,016 36 ... +North Carolina ..... 125,068 142,952 ...... 454 11 ... +Ohio ............... 400,082 368,280 5,179 11,069 ... 23 +Oregon ............. 26,860 24,604 726 492 ... 3 +Pennsylvania ....... 473,804 392,785 16,992 15,283 ... 30 +Rhode Island ....... 19,030 12,391 422 928 ... 4 +South Carolina ..... 21,733 69,890 ...... ...... 9 ... +Tennessee .......... 124,078 133,258 957 1,131 12 ... +Texas .............. 93,141 225,309 3,321 3,534 13 ... +Vermont ............ 39,514 17,331 785 1,752 ... 4 +Virginia ........... 139,356 145,497 ...... 138 12 ... +West Virginia ...... 63,096 67,317 810 939 6 ... +Wisconsin .......... 161,157 146,459 4,598 7,656 ... 11 + --------- --------- ------- ------- --- --- + Total .......... 4,851,981 4,874,986 175,370 150,369 219 182 + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1888. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Cleveland Harrison Fisk Streeter | Harrison Cleveland +STATES Dem. Rep. Pro. U. Labor | and M and T +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 117,320 56,197 583 ...... ... 10 +Arkansas ........... 85,962 58,752 641 10,613 ... 7 +California ......... 117,729 124,816 5,761 ...... 8 ... +Colorado ........... 37,567 50,774 2,191 1,266 3 ... +Connecticut ........ 74,920 74,584 4,234 240 ... 6 +Delaware ........... 16,414 12,973 400 ...... ... 3 +Florida ............ 39,561 26,657 423 ...... ... 4 +Georgia ............ 100,499 40,496 1,808 136 ... 12 +Illinois ........... 348,278 370,473 21,695 7,090 22 ... +Indiana ............ 261,013 263,361 9,881 2,694 15 ... +Iowa ............... 179,887 211,598 3,550 9,105 13 ... +Kansas ............. 103,744 182,934 6,768 37,726 9 ... +Kentucky ........... 183,800 155,134 5,225 622 ... 13 +Louisiana .......... 85,032 30,484 166 39 ... 8 +Maine .............. 50,481 73,734 2,691 1,344 6 ... +Maryland ........... 106,168 99,986 4,767 ...... ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 151,855 183,892 8,701 ...... 14 ... +Michigan ........... 213,459 236,370 20,942 4,542 13 ... +Minnesota .......... 104,385 142,492 15,311 1,094 7 ... +Mississippi ........ 85,471 30,096 218 22 ... 9 +Missouri ........... 261,974 236,257 4,539 18,632 ... 16 +Nebraska ........... 80,552 108,425 9,429 4,226 5 ... +Nevada ............. 5,362 7,229 41 ...... 3 ... +New Hampshire ...... 43,456 45,728 1,593 13 4 ... +New Jersey ......... 151,493 144,344 7,904 ...... ... 9 +New York ........... 635,757 648,759 30,231 626 36 ... +North Carolina ..... 147,902 134,784 2,787 32 ... 11 +Ohio ............... 396,455 416,054 24,356 3,496 23 ... +Oregon ............. 26,522 33,291 1,677 363 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 446,633 526,091 20,947 3,873 30 ... +Rhode Island ....... 17,530 21,968 1,250 18 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 65,825 13,736 ...... ...... ... 9 +Tennessee .......... 158,779 138,988 5,969 48 ... 12 +Texas .............. 534,883 88,422 4,749 29,459 ... 13 +Vermont ............ 16,788 45,192 1,460 ...... 4 ... +Virginia ........... 151,977 150,438 1,678 ...... ... 12 +West Virginia ...... 79,664 77,791 669 1,064 ... 6 +Wisconsin .......... 155,232 176,553 14,277 8,552 11 ... + --------- --------- ------- ------- --- --- + Total .......... 5,540,329 5,439,853 249,506 146,935 233 168 + +1,591 for Curtis, American; 2,418 for Cowdrey, United Labor. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1892. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + Harrison Cleveland Bidwell Weaver | Cleveland Harrison Weaver +STATES Rep. Dem. Pro. Peo. | and S and M and F +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Alabama ............ 9,197 138,138 239 85,181 11 ... ... +Arkansas ........... 46,974 87,752 113 11,831 8 ... ... +California ......... 117,618 117,908 8,187 25,226 8 1 ... +Colorado ........... 38,620 ...... 1,687 53,584 ... ... 4 +Connecticut ........ 77,032 82,395 4,026 809 6 ... ... +Delaware ........... 18,077 18,581 564 ...... 3 ... ... +Florida ............ ...... 30,143 570 4,843 4 ... ... +Georgia ............ 48,305 129,386 988 42,939 13 ... ... +Idaho .............. 8,799 ...... 219 10,430 ... ... 3 +Illinois ........... 399,288 426,281 25,870 22,207 24 ... ... +Indiana ............ 255,615 262,740 13,044 22,198 15 ... ... +Iowa ............... 219,373 196,408 6,322 20,616 ... 13 ... +Kansas ............. 157,241 ...... 4,553 163,111 ... ... 10 +Kentucky ........... 135,420 175,424 6,385 23,503 13 ... ... +Louisiana .......... 25,332 87,922 ...... 1,232 8 ... ... +Maine .............. 62,878 48,024 3,062 2,045 ... 6 ... +Maryland ........... 92,736 113,866 5,877 796 8 ... ... +Massachusetts ...... 202,814 176,813 7,539 3,210 ... 15 ... +Michigan ........... 222,708 202,296 20,569 19,792 5 9 ... +Minnesota .......... 122,736 100,579 14,017 30,398 ... 9 ... +Mississippi ........ 1,406 40,237 910 10,256 9 ... ... +Missouri ........... 226,762 268,628 4,298 41,183 17 ... ... +Montana ............ 18,833 17,534 517 7,259 ... 3 ... +Nebraska ........... 87,218 24,943 4,902 83,134 ... 8 ... +Nevada ............. 2,822 711 85 7,267 ... ... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 45,658 42,081 1,297 293 ... 4 ... +New Jersey ......... 156,080 171,066 8,134 985 10 ... ... +New York ........... 609,459 654,908 38,193 16,430 36 ... ... +North Carolina ..... 100,346 132,951 2,636 44,732 11 ... ... +North Dakota ....... 17,486 ...... ...... 17,650 1 1 1 +Ohio ............... 405,187 404,115 26,012 14,852 1 22 ... +Oregon ............. 35,002 14,243 2,281 26,965 ... 3 1 +Pennsylvania ....... 516,011 452,264 25,123 8,714 ... 32 ... +Rhode Island ....... 27,069 24,335 1,565 227 ... 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 13,384 54,698 ...... 2,410 9 ... ... +South Dakota ....... 34,888 9,081 ...... 26,512 ... 4 ... +Tennessee .......... 99,973 136,477 4,856 23,622 12 ... ... +Texas .............. 81,444 239,148 2,165 99,638 15 ... ... +Vermont ............ 37,992 16,325 1,424 43 ... 4 ... +Virginia ........... 113,256 163,977 2,798 12,274 12 ... ... +Washington ......... 36,470 29,844 2,553 19,105 ... 4 ... +West Virginia ...... 80,285 83,484 2,130 4,165 6 ... ... +Wisconsin .......... 170,761 177,436 13,132 9,909 12 ... ... +Wyoming ............ 8,376 ...... 526 526 ... 3 ... + --------- --------- ------- --------- --- --- --- + Total .......... 5,186,931 5,553,142 268,361 1,030,128 277 145 22 + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1896. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + McKinley, Bryan, Palmer, Levering, Bentley, Matchett, | McKinley, Bryan, +STATES Rep. Dem. N. Dem. Pro. Nat. Soc. L. | Rep. Dem. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Alabama ............ 54,737 130,307 6,462 2,147 1 ..... .... 11 +Arkansas ........... 37,512 110,103 ..... 839 893 ..... .... 8 +California ......... 146,170 143,373 2,006 2,573 1,047 1,611 8 1 +Colorado ........... 26,271 161,153 1 1,717 386 159 .... 4 +Connecticut ........ 110,285 56,740 4,334 1,808 ..... 1,223 6 .... +Delaware ........... 16,804 13,424 877 355 ..... ..... 3 .... +Florida ............ 11,288 32,736 654 1,778 ..... ..... .... 4 +Georgia ............ 60,091 94,232 2,708 5,613 ..... ..... .... 13 +Idaho .............. 6,324 23,192 ..... 179 ..... ..... .... 3 +Illinois ........... 607,130 464,632 6,390 9,796 793 1,147 24 .... +Indiana ............ 323,754 305,573 2,145 3,056 2,267 324 15 .... +Iowa ............... 289,293 223,741 4,516 3,192 352 453 13 .... +Kansas ............. 159,541 171,810 1,209 1,921 630 ..... .... 10 +Kentucky ........... 218,171 217,890 5,114 4,781 ..... ..... 12 1 +Louisiana .......... 22,037 77,175 1,834 ..... ..... ..... .... 8 +Maine .............. 80,465 34,688 1,870 1,570 ..... ..... 6 .... +Maryland ........... 136,959 104,735 2,507 5,918 136 587 8 .... +Massachusetts ...... 278,976 105,711 11,749 2,998 ..... 2,114 15 .... +Michigan ........... 293,582 236,714 6,879 5,025 1,995 297 14 .... +Minnesota .......... 193,501 139,626 3,202 4,343 ..... 867 9 .... +Mississippi ........ 5,130 63,859 1,071 485 ..... ..... .... 9 +Missouri ........... 304,940 363,667 2,355 2,169 293 596 .... 17 +Montana ............ 10,494 42,537 ..... 186 ..... ..... .... 3 +Nebraska ........... 102,304 115,880 2,885 1,193 797 186 .... 8 +Nevada ............. 1,938 8,377 ..... ..... ..... ..... .... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 57,444 21,650 3,520 779 49 228 4 .... +New Jersey ......... 221,367 133,675 6,373 5,614 ..... 3,985 10 .... +New York ........... 819,838 551,369 18,950 16,052 ..... 17,667 36 .... +N. Carolina ........ 155,222 174,488 578 675 247 ..... .... 11 +N. Dakota .......... 26,335 20,686 ..... 358 ..... ..... 3 .... +Ohio ............... 525,991 477,494 1,857 5,068 2,716 1,167 23 .... +Oregon ............. 48,779 46,662 977 919 ..... ..... 4 .... +Pennsylvania ....... 728,300 433,228 11,000 19,274 870 1,683 32 .... +Rhode Island ....... 37,437 14,459 1,166 1,160 5 558 4 .... +S. Carolina ........ 9,281 58,798 828 ..... ..... ..... .... 9 +S. Dakota .......... 41,042 41,225 ..... 685 ..... ..... .... 4 +Tennessee .......... 148,773 166,268 1,951 3,098 ..... ..... .... 12 +Texas .............. 167,520 370,434 5,046 1,786 ..... ..... .... 15 +Utah ............... 13,484 64,517 21 ..... ..... ..... .... 3 +Vermont ............ 51,127 10,637 1,331 733 ..... ..... 4 .... +Virginia ........... 135,368 154,709 2,129 2,350 ..... 108 .... 12 +Washington ......... 39,153 51,646 1,668 968 148 ..... .... 4 +W. Virginia ........ 104,414 92,927 677 1,203 ..... ..... 6 .... +Wisconsin .......... 268,135 165,523 4,584 7,509 346 1,314 12 .... +Wyoming ............ 10,072 10,655 ..... 136 ..... ..... .... 3 + --------- --------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ---- ---- + Total .......... 7,106,779 6,502,925 133,424 132,009 13,969 36,274 271 176 + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1900. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + McKinley, Bryan, Wooley, Debs, Malloney, Barker, Ellis, Leonard, | McKinley, Bryan, +STATES Rep. Dem. Pro. Soc. Dem. Soc. L. M. R. Pop. U. R. U. C. | Rep. Dem. +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 55,512 97,131 2,762 ....... ....... 4,178 ..... ..... .... 11 +Arkansas ........... 44,800 81,142 584 ....... ....... 972 341 ..... .... 8 +California ......... 164,755 124,985 5,024 7,554 ....... ...... ..... ..... 9 .... +Colorado ........... 93,072 122,733 3,790 654 700 387 ..... ..... .... 4 +Connecticut ........ 102,567 73,997 1,617 1,029 898 ...... ..... ..... 6 .... +Delaware ........... 22,529 18,858 538 57 ....... ...... ..... ..... 3 .... +Florida ............ 7,314 28,007 1,039 601 ....... 1,070 ..... ..... .... 4 +Georgia ............ 35,035 81,700 1,396 ....... ....... 4,584 ..... ..... .... 13 +Idaho .............. 26,997 29,414 857 ....... ....... 213 ..... ..... .... 3 +Illinois ........... 597,985 503,061 17,623 9,687 1,373 1,141 672 352 24 .... +Indiana ............ 336,063 309,584 13,718 2,374 663 1,438 254 ..... 15 .... +Iowa ............... 307,785 209,179 9,479 2,778 259 613 ..... 707 13 .... +Kansas ............. 185,955 162,601 3,605 1,605 ....... ...... ..... ..... 10 .... +Kentucky ........... 227,128 235,103 3,780 646 390 1,861 ..... ..... .... 13 +Louisiana .......... 14,233 53,671 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 8 +Maine .............. 65,435 36,822 2,585 878 ....... ...... ..... ..... 6 .... +Maryland ........... 136,212 122,271 4,582 908 391 ...... 147 ..... 8 .... +Massachusetts ...... 238,866 156,997 6,202 9,607 2,599 ...... ..... ..... 15 .... +Michigan ........... 316,269 211,685 11,859 2,826 903 833 ..... ..... 14 .... +Minnesota .......... 190,461 112,901 8,555 3,065 1,329 ...... ..... ..... 9 .... +Mississippi ........ 5,753 51,706 ....... ....... ....... 1,644 ..... ..... .... 9 +Missouri ........... 314,092 351,922 5,965 6,139 1,294 4,244 ..... ..... .... 17 +Montana ............ 25,373 37,146 298 708 ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 3 +Nebraska ........... 121,835 114,013 3,655 823 ....... 1,104 ..... ..... 8 .... +Nevada ............. 3,849 6,347 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 54,803 35,489 1,270 790 ....... ...... ..... ..... 4 .... +New Jersey ......... 221,707 164,808 7,183 4,609 2,074 669 ..... ..... 10 .... +New York ........... 821,992 678,386 22,043 12,869 12,622 ...... ..... ..... 36 .... +North Carolina ..... 133,081 157,752 1,006 ....... ....... 830 ..... ..... .... 11 +North Dakota ....... 35,891 20,519 731 518 ....... 110 ..... ..... 3 .... +Ohio ............... 543,918 474,882 10,203 4,847 1,688 251 4,284 ..... 23 .... +Oregon ............. 46,526 33,385 2,536 1,466 ....... 203 ..... ..... 4 .... +Pennsylvania ....... 712,665 424,232 27,908 4,831 2,936 638 ..... ..... 32 .... +Rhode Island ....... 33,784 19,812 1,529 ....... 1,423 ...... ..... ..... 4 .... +South Carolina ..... 3,579 47,236 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 9 +South Dakota ....... 54,530 39,544 1,542 176 ....... 339 ..... ..... 4 .... +Tennessee .......... 121,194 144,751 3,900 410 ....... 1,368 ..... ..... .... 12 +Texas .............. 121,173 267,337 2,644 1,841 160 20,976 ..... ..... .... 15 +Utah ............... 47,139 45,006 209 720 106 ...... ..... ..... 3 .... +Vermont ............ 42,568 12,849 368 ....... ....... 367 ..... ..... 4 .... +Virginia ........... 115,865 146,080 2,150 ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 12 +Washington ......... 57,456 44,833 2,363 2,006 866 ...... ..... ..... 4 .... +West Virginia ...... 119,829 98,807 1,692 268 ....... 274 ..... ..... 6 .... +Wisconsin .......... 265,866 159,285 10,124 524 7,065 ...... ..... ..... 12 .... +Wyoming ............ 14,482 10,164 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... 3 .... + --------- --------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ----- ----- ---- ---- + Total .......... 7,207,923 6,358,133 208,914 87,814 39,739 50,373 5,698 1,059 292 155 + + + +INDEX + +Abbott, Josiah G., 180. +Abolitionists, chapter on, 51. +Abolitionists, early in Pennsylvania, 26. +Abolitionists, sentiment during Revolution, 28 et seq. +Adams, Charles Francis, 159. +Adams, John Q., 164, 296. +Adams, John Quincy, 55, 295. +Alabama Claims, 165. +Alabama, secedes, 125; + reconstructed, 139. +Alaska, purchased, 146, 252; + boundary award, 290. +Alger, Russell A., 224, 302. +Allen, S. W. K., 255. +Allison, William B., 183, 224, 255. +American Anti-Slavery Society, 52 et seq. +American Party, see Know-Nothings. +Ames, Oakes, 165. +Anthony, Henry B., 303. +Anti-Monopoly Convention, 1884, 209. +Arbitration, National advocated, 252. +Arkansas, reconstructed, 139. +Army Vote 1864, 133. +Arthur, Chester A. nominated for Vice President, 193; + becomes President, 197; + biographical sketch, 197; + candidate for nomination, 1884, 200; + placed in nomination, 207; + ballots, 208; + his cabinet, 301. +Articles of Confederation, 30. +Ashmun, George, 115. +Ashton, James A., 273. +Atchison, D. R., 303. +Atherton Gag-rule, 55. + +Bailey, D. F., 255. +Baldwin, John M., 255. +Banks, Nathaniel P., 85, 94, 122, 304. +Barker, Wharton, 263. +Barnburners, 64. +Bates, Edward, 119, 300. +Bayard, Thomas F., 180, 302, 303. +Belknap, Wm. W., 301. +Bell, John, 238. +Bentley, Charles E., 258. +Benton, Thomas C., 93. +Bidwell, John, 238. +Billings, Frederick, 192. +Bimetalism, 221, 233. +Bingham, Harry, 207, 246. +Bingham, John A., 143. +Bingham, Kinsley S., 82. +Birney, John G., 56, 57. +Black, James, 159. +Black, Jeremiah S., 300. +Blaine, James G., elected speaker, 156; + Credit Mobilier, 165; + elected speaker, 167; + defeated, 168; + mentioned for President, 170, 174, 175, 184, 185; + placed in nomination 1884, 207; + biographical sketch, 208; + Little Rock R. R. matter, 210; + campaign of 1884, Rum, Romanism, Rebellion, 210; + declines nomination 1888, 214; + resigns as Secretary of State, 229; + in Convention of 1892, 237; + 301, 302, 304. +Blair, Francis P., 88. +Blair, Francis P., Jr., 154. +Blair, Montgomery, 300. +Bland-Allison Act, 182, 183. +Bland, Richard P., 182. +Bliss, Cornelius N., 302. +Bolton, J. Gray, 264. +Bond Issue, Cleveland's second term, 243. +Booth, John Wilkes, 134. +Booth, Newton, 177. +Boutwell, Geo. S., 143, 301. +Bovay, Alvan E., founder of the Republican Party, 74; + biographical sketch, 75; + calls first meeting, 76; + urges Mr. Greeley to Christen the Party, 80. +Bowen, Jehdeiah, 76. +Boyd, Linn, 304. +Boyd, W. G., 237. +Bradley, Joseph P., 180. +Bradley, William O., 192, 216, 226. +Brainard, Lawrence, 87, 88. +Brandagee, A. H., 207. +Breckinridge, John C., 95, 113, 300. +Breckinridge, Robert J., 129. +Brewster, B. H., 301. +Bright, Jesse D, 303. +Brinkerhoff, Jacob, 63. +Bristow, Benjamin H., 170, 301. +Brooks, James, 165. +Brooks, John A., 213. +Brooks, Preston S., 97. +Brown, Aaron V., 300. +Brown, B. Gratz, 159. +Brown, John, raid, 108. +Browning, Orville H., 300. +Bruce, Blanche K., 226. +Bryan, William J., speech in Democratic Convention, 1896, 257; + is nominated for President 1896, 257; + nominated by People's Party and Silver Party 1896, 258; + nominated by People's Party 1900, 263; + by Democrats, 282; + by Silver Republicans, 283. +Buchanan, James, nominated 1856, 95; + elected, 99; + his term, 101; + does not prevent secession, 125; + his cabinet, 300. +Buckner, Simon B., 258. +Bulkeley, William G., 255. +Bunau-Varilla, Philippe, 288. +Burchard, Dr., Rum, Romanism, Rebellion, 210. +Burleigh, H. G., 208. +Burr, Aaron, 295. +Butler, Benjamin F., 65, 144, 209. + +Caldwell, Luther, 150. +Calhoun, John C., State Rights, 49; + demands suppression of Right of Petition, 55; + made Secretary of State, 1844, 60; + Texas, 60; + speaks on Compromise of 1850, 68. +California, gold, 67; + applies for admission as free State, 67; + in Compromise of 1850, 69. +Cameron, Frank J., 254. +Cameron, J. Donald, 185, 186, 293, 301. +Cameron, Simon, 119, 132, 300. +Cannon, Jos. G., 304. +Carey, Henry C., 94. +Carlisle, John G., 211, 302, 304. +Carpenter, M. H., 303. +Carter, Thomas H., 246, 293. +Cartter, David K., 121. +Cary, Samuel F., 177. +Cass, Lewis, 64, 300. +Cassady, J. E., 192. +Central Pacific Railroad advocated Republican Platform 1856, 92; + 119, 131, 146. +Chambers, B. F., 194. +Chandler, W. E., 301. +Chandler, Zachariah, 88, 178, 293, 301. +Chase, Salmon P., 92, 119, 128, 300. +Chinese Immigration, 184; + Republican Party and, 190; + 198, 205; + 219. +Civil Rights Bill, 141. +Civil Service Reform, Republican Party and, 162, 172, 182, 199, 205, 223, 235, 251, 269. +Claflin, William, 160, 293. +Clark, Daniel, 303. +Clarkson, John S., 228, 231, 294. +Clay, Cassius M., 88, 94, 121, 122, 123. +Clay, Henry, Missouri Compromise, 48; + candidate for President 1844, 61; + Compromise of 1850, 68. +Clayton, Powell, 202. +Cleveland, A. C., 254. +Cleveland, Grover, elected governor of New York, 200; + nominated 1884, 209; + first term, 211; + nominated 1888, 214; + nominated 1892, 229; + second term, 240; + his cabinets, 302. +Clifford, Nathan, 180. +Coal Strike, 289. +Cobb, Howell, 300. +Cochrane, John, 129. +Coleman, Norman J., 302. +Colfax, Schuyler, 153, 154, 160, 304. +Collamer, Jacob, 94, 119. +Colombia, 288. +Colored Liberal Republicans, 164. +Commerce, Department of, advocated, 271. +Compromise of 1820, 42. +Compromise of 1850, 59. +Confederate Government, 125. +Conkling, Roscoe, 170, 185, 187, 192, 196, 197. +Constitutional Convention, U. S., 35. +Constitutional Union Party, 114. +Cooper, Peter, 177. +Cortelyou, Geo. B., 303. +Cotton, 38. +Cowdrey, Robt. H., 213. +Cowen, B. R., 150. +Cox, J. D., 301. +Cranfill, J. B., 238. +Crawford, L. J., 294. +Crawford, Wm. H., 296. +Credit Mobilier, 165. +Creswell, J. A. J., 153, 301. +Crisp, Charles F., 241, 304. +Crittenden Compromise, 125. +Cuba, mentioned in Republican Platform 1896, 251, 260, 287. +Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, 287. +Cullom, Shelby M., 160, 207. +Currency Inflation Bill, 167. +Curtin, A. G., 120, 153. +Curtis, Benjamin R., 144. +Curtis, George William, 119. +Daniel, John B., 257. +Daniels, William, 209. +Davis, Cushman K., 207. +Davis, David, 159, 198, 303. +Davis, Edmund J., 160, 193. +Davis, Henry W., 122. +Davis, Jefferson, 111, 125. +Day, Wm. R., 302. +Dayton, William L., 94, 119, 122. +Debs, Eugene V., 263. +Delano, Columbus, 120, 301. +Democratic Conventions, 1856, 95; + 1860, 112; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 164; + "Straight Out" 1872, 164; + 1876, 177; + 1880, 194; + 1884, 209; + 1888, 214; + 1892, 238; + 1896, 256; + 1900, 274. +Democratic Party, supports slavery, 8, 59; + defeated in 1840, 60; + advocates Texas, 61; + Barnburners and Hunkers in, 64; + in campaign of 1852, 71; + repeals Missouri Compromise, 72; + in campaign of 1856, 96; + 1860, 113; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 164; + 1876, 177; + 1880, 195; + 1884, 209; + 1888, 214; + 1892, 238; + 1896, 257; + 1900, 274. +Demonetization of Silver, 165. +Dennison, William, 129, 300. +Depew, Chauncey M., 224, 231, 237, 255, 256, 274. +Devens, Charles, 301. +Dickinson, Daniel S., 132. +Dickinson, Don M., 302. +Dingley, Nelson, Jr., Tariff Bill, 260. +Dix, John A., 66, 300. +Dixon, Senator, 72. +Dolliver, Jonathan P., 273. +Dom Pedro, 11, 169. +Donelson, A. J., 95. +Donnelly, Ignatius, 263. +Douglas, Frederick, 225. +Douglas, Stephen A., 7, 63, 72, 95; + Lincoln-Douglas debates, 101, 105; + 103, nominated for President, 113; + 126. +Dow, Neal, 194. +Drake, E. F., 192. +Dred Scott Decision, 101. +Dubois, F. T., 254. +Dunham, William, 77. +Earl, Thomas, 57. +Edmunds, George F., 180, 192, 202, 207, 303, +Edmunds Law, 1882, 198. +Eight Hour Law advocated by Republicans, 204. +Electoral College, 295 et seq. +Electoral Commission Law, 180. +Electoral Count Act, 299. +Electoral Vote 1852, 71; + 1856, 99; + 1860, 124; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 164; + 1876, 179, 181; + 1880, 196; + 1884, 211; + 1888, 226; + 1892, 240; + 1896, 260; + 1900, 283, 296. See appendix for electoral votes by States. +Electoral vote for 1904, 299. +Electors, Presidential, how chosen, 295. +Elliott, R. B., 192. +Emancipation Proclamation, 127. +Emmet, Robert, 89. +Employes protection, 234. +Endicott, Wm. C., 302. +English, William H., 195. +Equal Rights Convention, 213. +Estee, M. M., 216. +Eustis, W. H., 237. +Evans, H. Clay, 255. +Evans, Samuel, 213. +Evarts, William M., 120, 121, 144, 300, 301. +Everett, Edward, 114. +Fairbanks, Charles W., temporary chairman 1896, 246; + presents platform 1900, 264. +Fairchild, Chas., 302. +Farmers' Alliance Convention, 238. +Fassett, J. Sloat, 231. +Fenton, Reuben E., 153. +Ferry, Thos. W., President of Senate, 181, 303. +Fessenden, Samuel, 255. +Fessenden, Wm. P., 300. +Field, James G., 239. +Field, Stephen J., 180. +Fifteenth Amendment, 155. +Fillmore, Millard, 64, 95. +Finck, B. E., 237. +Fish, Clinton B., 213. +Fish, Hamilton, 301. +Fisheries, 222. +Fitler, E. H., 224, 225. +Fitzpatrick, Benj., 303. +Florida, secedes, 125; + reconstructed, 139. +Floyd, John B., 300. +Folger, C. J., 301. +Foot, Solomon, 303. +Foraker, Joseph B., nominates Sherman, 1884, 207, 208, 216, 225; + presents Platform 1892, 232; + presents Platform 1896, 246; + nominates McKinley, 1896, 255; + nominates McKinley, 1900, 273. +Ford, Thomas, 94. +Forney, John W., 150. +Fort, J. Franklin, 246, 255. +Fort Sumter, 125, 126, 134. +Foster, Mrs. J. Ellen, 237. +Foster, James P., 293, 294. +Foster, Lafayette S., 303. +Francis, David R., 302. +Frazer, Robert E., 224. +Free Soil Party, 63; + organization of in 1848, 65; + in campaign of 1852, 71; + one of the elements of the Republican Party, 79, et seq. +Free Suffrage, 217. +Free Trade, 211. +Freedmen's Bureau Bill, 140. +Fremont, John C., mentioned for the nomination 1856, 92; + first Presidential nominee of Republican Party, 93; + is defeated, 99; + in Convention of 1860, 121; + nominated by Radicals in 1864 but withdraws, 129; + makes speech in convention of 1888, 215. +Frelinghuysen, F. T., 176, 180, 301. +Frye, William P., seconds nomination of Blaine 1876, 175; + do. 1880, 192; + 303. +Fugitive Slave Law of 1793, 42; + of 1850, 69, 70; + repealed, 134. +Gage, Lyman J., 302, 303. +Gallinger, Senator, 224. +Garey, James A., 302. +Garfield, James A., on electoral commission, 180; + defeated for speaker, 181, 184; + quoted, 185; + in convention of 1880, 187; + nominates Sherman, 1880, 192; + is himself selected, 193; + biographical sketch, 193; + inaugurated, 196; + assassinated, 197; + his cabinet, 301. +Garland, Augustus, 302. +Garrison, William Lloyd, publishes the Liberator, 54, 55. +Georgia, secedes, 125. +Germans strong for the new Republican Party, 73. +Giddings, Joshua R., 88, 94, 119, 123. +Goff, Nathan, Jr., 301. +Gold Standard, advocated by Republicans, 1896, 249; + Act, 261. +Goodloe, Wm. C., 207. +Goodrich, J. Z., 87. +Grant, Frederick D., 225, 256. +Grant, Ulysses S., receives votes for nomination, 1864, 132; + nominated for President, 1868 and biographical sketch, 148; + inaugurated, 156; + nominated, 1872, 160; + reinaugurated, 166; + candidate in 1880, 184; + placed in nomination, 192; + votes for, 192, 193; + his cabinets, 301. +Greeley, Horace, advocates election of Taylor, 66; + influence of in 1854, 75; + talks with Bovay about the new party, 75, 76; + advocates name Republican, 80; + at Pittsburg Convention, 1856, 88; + in convention of 1860, 115; + in campaign 1860, 123; + nominated for President, 159; + in campaign of 1872, 164; + death, 165. +Green, Beriah, 54. +Greenback Labor Party in 1884, 209. +Greenback Party, 146; + in 1876, 177; + in 1880, 194. +Greenbacks, 145, 241. +Gresham, Walter Q., 208, 224. +Griggs, John W., 302. +Groesbeck, Wm. S., 144, 164. +Grosvenor, Charles E., 264. +Grow, Galusha A., 109, 207, 304. +Gunsaulus, Dr., 215. +Hale, John P., 65, 71. +"Half-breeds," 196. +Hamilton, I. N., 294, 225. +Hamlin, Hannibal, 122, 132, 153. +Hancock, Winfield S., 195. +Hanna, Marcus A., campaign manager for McKinley, 1896, 245; + made Chairman National Committee, 254; + calls 1900 Convention to order, 263, 293. +Harlan, Henry, 300. +Harlan, James, 153. +Harmon, Judson, 302. +Harris, Isham G., 303. +Harrison, Benjamin, quoted, 213; + nominated in 1888, 224, 225; + biographical sketch, 225; + candidate in 1892, 228; + nominated, 237; + defeated by Cleveland, 240, 297; + his cabinet, 302. +Harrison, Wm. Henry, 48, 57, 60, 298. +Hartman, Charles S., 254. +Hartranft, John F., 170. +Hastings, Daniel B., 224, 255. +Hausserek, F., 150. +Hawaii, 240, 261. +Hawley, Joseph R., 150, 160, 171, 176, 207, 224. +Hay, John, 288, 290, 302, 303. +Hayes, Rutherford B., candidate for President, 170; + nominated 1876, 175; + biographical sketch, 176; + Hayes-Tilden contest, 179; + inaugurated, 181; + not a candidate in 1880, 184, 297; + his cabinet, 301. +Haymond, Creed, 225. +Henderson, David B., 186, 261, 304. +Henderson, John B., 202. +Hendricks, Thomas A., 177, 209. +Hepburn, 224. +Herbert, Hilary A., 302. +Hickman, John, 122. +Hill, David B., 229, 238, 257. +Hiscock, Senator, 224. +Hitchcock, Ethan A., 302, 303. +Hoar, George F., 180, 186. +Holt, Joseph, 300. +Homestead Act, advocated in Republican platform, 1860, 118; + 128, 205, 219, 252. +Houston, Samuel, 122. +Howe, T. O., 301. +Hunkers, 64. +Hunt, W. H., 301. +Hunton, Eppa, 180. +Ide, Henry C., 262. +Immigration, Republican Party, and, 118, 131, 152, 234, 251, 268. +Imperalism, 274. +Independent Republicans, 210. +Ingalls, John J., 225, 303. +Ingersoll, Robert G., Plumed Knight speech, 174. +Internal Revenue, 128, 146, 218. +Interstate Commerce Laws, 204. +Isthmian Canal, 271; + Act, 287. +Jackson, Andrew, 295. +James, I. L., 301. +Jefferson, Thomas, 30, 31, 46, 295. +Jessup, William, 115. +Jewell, Marshall, 175, 176, 193, 293, 301. +Johnson, Andrew, in Thirtieth Congress, 63; + nominated for Vice President, 132; + becomes President, 135; + reconstruction, 138; + impeachment of, 143; + his cabinet, 300. +Johnson, Hale, 258. +Johnson, Whitfield S., 94. +Johnston, R. M., 296. +Johnston, Wm. F., 95. +Jones, B. F., 215, 293. +Joy, Thomas F., 192. +Judd, Norman B., 120. +Julian, Geo. W., 71, 88. +Kansas, Douglas bill, 72; + in Republican National Platform, 1856, 90, 91, 92; + Lecompton Constitution, 102; + in Republican Platform, 1860, 117, 118; + admitted, 125. +Keifer, Jos. Warren, 198, 304. +Kelley, Wm. D., 153. +Kelly, Moses, 300. +Kerr, Michael C., 156, 168, 181, 304. +Key, D. M., 301. +King, H., 300. +King, John A., 88, 94. +King, Preston, 88. +Kirkwood, S. J., 301. +Knight, George, 273. +Know-Nothings, organized, 83; + convention of 1856, 95. +Knox, P. C., 288, 302, 303. +Ku Klux Klans, 158. +Labor National Bureau of, advocated, 204. +Labor Reform Party, 158. +Lamar, L. Q. C., 302. +Lamont, Daniel S, 302. +Lane, Henry S., 90, 94, 120. +Lane, Joseph, 113. +Lapham, Elbridge C., 197. +Lecompton Constitution, 102. +Lee, Robert E., 134. +Legal Tender Act, 128. +Legal Tenders, 128, 145. +Levering, Joshua, 258. +Levy, Edgar M., 264. +Lewis, John F., 160. +Liberal Republicans, 158. +Liberal Republican Revenue Reformers, 164. +Liberty Party, in 1840, 57; + 1844, 62; + 1848, 65. +Lincoln, Abraham, quoted, 9; + early views on slavery, 9, 67; + in Thirtieth Congress, 63; + in campaign of 1848, 66; + hears Seward at Boston, 67; + receives votes for V. P. 1856, 94; + endorsed for U. S. Senate, 104; + Lincoln-Douglas debates, 101-106; + Douglas and Lincoln compared, 107; + defeated for U. S. Senator, 106; + Henry Ward Beecher, on, 112; + nominated for President 1860; + in campaign of 1860, 122; + first inauguration, 126; + his term, 126, et seq.; + nominated 1864, 132; + second inauguration, 134; + assassinated, 134; + quoted, 135; + reconstruction, 136; + his cabinets, 300. +Lincoln, Robert T., 225, 301. +Lippitt, Charles W., 255. +Lodge, Henry Cabot 202, 255, 264. +Lockwood, Mrs. Belva A., 213. +Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign, 60. +Logan, John A., 144, 153, 185, 207, 208. +Long, John D., 207, 302, 303. +Loper, Amos, 76. +Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 289. +Louisiana secedes, 125; + reconstructed, 136, 139. +Louisiana Territory, 44. +Love, Alfred H., 213. +Lovejoy, Elijah P., 56. +Lovejoy, Owen, 88. +Lundy, Benjamin, 53. +Lynch, John R., 202, 207. +Lynching condemned, 252. +McAlpin, E. A. 294. +McClellan, Geo. B., 133. +McCrary, Geo. W., 301. +McCullouch, Hugh, 145, 300. +McKenna, Joseph, 302. +McKinley, William, reports Platform 1884, 202; + reports platform 1888, 216; + receives some votes in convention, 1888, 225; + Tariff Bill of 1890, 227; + mentioned for nomination 1892, 230; + presides over convention, 1892, 231; + receives some votes, 1892, 238; + quoted, 244; + candidate, 1896, 245; + nominated, 255; + biographical sketch, 256; + first term begins, 260; + nominated 1900, 273; + second term begins, 283; + assassinated, 283; + his last words, 284; + his cabinets, 302. +McLean, John, 92, 93, 119. +McMichael, Morton, 160. +McPherson, Edward, 171. +McVeagh, Wayne, 301. +Maguire, Matthew, 259. +Mahone and Wise, 216. +Maine, Battleship destroyed, 260. +Malloney, Joseph F., 263. +Manderson, C. F., 303. +Manley, Joseph H., 245. +Manning, Daniel, 302. +Mason, James M., 303. +Matchett, Charles H., 239, 259. +Maynard, Horace, 160, 193, 301. +Merchant Marine Advocated Republican Platform, 1872, 163; + 206, 221, 234, 249, 269. +Metcalf, Henry B., 263. +Mexican War, 61, 62. +Middle of the Road People's Party, 263. +Milburn, John G., 284. +Miller, Samuel F., 180, 225. +Miller, Warner, 237. +Miller, Warren, 197. +Miller, Wm. H. H., 302. +Mills Tariff Bill, 212. +Mississippi, secedes, 125. +Missouri Compromise, 7, 8, 42; + Repealed, 72. +Mollison, W. E., 237. +Monroe Doctrine, Republican Party and, 132; + 222, 234, 243, 250. +Moody, William H., 303. +Moore, J. Hampton, 294. +Morey, H. L., letter, 195. +Morgan, Edwin D., 89, 115, 129, 171, 293. +Morrill, Lot M., 301. +Morrill Tariff Bill, 128. +Morton, J. Sterling, 302. +Morton, Levi P., 226, 255, 256. +Morton, Oliver P., 170, 180. +Moses, Bernard, 262. +Mount, James A., 273. +Mugwumps, 210. +Mulligan Letters, 210. +Murchison, Charles F., 226. +Murray, Butler, 273. +National Bank System, 128. +National Debt, Republican Party and, 131, 135, 144, 145, 151. +National Democratic Party, 1896, 258. +National Party, 1896, 258. +National Republican League, 293. +Naturalization Laws, Republican Party and, 118. +Navy, advocated, 206, 221, 251. +Nebraska, 72. +Negro question, Republican Party and, 269. +Nicaraguan Canal, 236, 287. +Noble, John W., 302. +Northwest Territory, 31. +Noyes, E. F., 160, 175. +O'Conor, Charles, 159, 164. +Ocala Platform, 239. +Olmstead, F. L., 164. +Olney, Richard, 302. +Ordinance of 1787, 33, 48. +Orr, James L., 304. +Ostend, circular, 92. +Pacific Cable, 290. +Palmer, John M., 150, 258. +Panama, 288. +Panama Canal, 287. +Panic of 1873, 156; + of 1893, 241. +Parker, Joel, 159. +Payne, H. B., 180. +Payne, Henry C., 303. +Payne, Sereno E., 264. +Pendleton, Geo. H., 133. +Pennington, Aaron S., 94. +Pennington, Wm., 110, 304. +Pension Laws of 1890, 228. +Pensions, Republican Party and, 130, 152, 162, 173, 205, 223, 237, 250, 269. +Peoples Party, appearance of, 228; + in 1892, 238, 239, 240; + in 1896, 258; + in 1900, 263. +Personal Liberty Laws, 70. +Phelps, W. W., 225, 226. +Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, 168. +Philippines acquired, 261; + Commission, 262, 272, 288; + President Roosevelt's Amnesty, 289. +Pierce, Franklin, 71, 86, 95. +Pierrepont, Edwards, 188, 301. +Pinchback, P. B. S., 207. +Pixley, F. M., 192. +Platt, Thomas C., 196, 207. +Plumb, Preston B., 208. +Polk, James K., 61. +Polygamy, in Republican Platform, 1856, 91; + 173; + Edmunds law, 198, 206, 220. +Pomeroy, Samuel C., 94, 133. +Pomeroy, Theo. O., 171. +Popular Vote in 1852, 72; + 1856, 99; + 1860, 124; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 165; + 1876, 181; + 1880, 196; + 1884, 211; + 1888, 227; + 1892, 240; + 1896, 260; + 1900, 283; + see appendix. +Porter, Albert G., 224. +Postal Rates, reduction advocated by Republicans, 162, 221. +Proctor, Redfield, 302. +Prohibition Party, in 1872, 158, 159; + 1876, 177; + 1880, 194; + 1884, 209; + 1888, 213; + 1892, 238; + 1896, 258; + 1900, 263. +President, manner of electing, 295. +Presidential succession, 304. +Presidents who failed to receive a majority of the popular vote, 297. +Protective Tariff, mentioned in Republican platform, 1860, 118; + 162, 173, 190, 203, 212, 218, 232, 247, 268. +Public Roads, 270. +Quakers, opposed to slavery, 26, 52. +Quay, Matthew S., 255, 273, 293. +Radical Republican Convention, 1864, 129. +Ramsey, Alex., 301. +Randall, Alex. W., 300. +Randall, Samuel J., 181, 184, 198, 304. +Rawlins, J. A., 301. +Raymond, Henry J., 129. +Reciprocity, Blaine on, 201; + in Republican Platforms, 233, 248, 268. +Reconstruction, 135, Republican Party and, 151. +Reed, John M., 121, 122. +Reed, Thomas B., elected speaker, 227; + 231; + candidate for President, 1896, 245; + 255, 256, 304. +Reeder, Andrew H., 122. +Reid, Whitelaw, 238. +Remmel, Valentine, 263. +Republican National Committee, 293. +Republican National Conventions, call for first convention at Pittsburg, 87; + at Philadelphia, 1856, 89, 1860, 114; + 1864, 129; + 1868, 148; + 1872, 159; + 1876, 170; + 1880, 186; + 1884, 201; + 1888, 215; + 1892, 230; + 1896, 246; + 1900, 263; + see appendix, 294. +Republican National Platforms, 1856, 90; + 1860, 116; + 1864, 130; + 1868, 151; + 1872, 160; + 1876, 170; + 1880, 188; + 1884, 203; + 1888, 217; + 1892, 232; + 1896, 247; + 1900, 265. +Republican Party; + formative causes, 5, 7, 72; + birth of, 70, 74; + first meetings, 74; + how name adopted, 76; + first State meeting, 81; + meeting at Washington, 80; + first Republican governor, 82, 83; + State meetings, 82, 83; + success in 1855, 84; + prepares for first National campaign, 85, 86; + in various campaigns, see Conventions. +Republican Rallying Cry, 1856, 86. +Repudiation, denounced by Republican Party, 151; + 163. +Resumption of Specie Payment, 168, 183. +Richards, Frank S., 150. +Richardson, Wm. M., 301. +River and Harbor Improvements, advocated Republican Platform 1856, 92; + 118. +Robertson, Wm. H., 196. +Robeson, Geo. M., 301. +Roosevelt, Theodore, in convention of 1884, 202; + seconds McKinley's nomination, 1900, 273; + is nominated for Vice President, 273; + quoted, 285; + becomes President, 285; + biographical sketch, 285; + his administration, 287 et seq.; + 298. +Root, Elihu, 289, 302, 303. +Rum, Romanism, Rebellion, 210. +Rural Free Delivery, advocated by Republican Platform, 1892, 235; + 270. +Rush, Governor, 224. +Rusk, Jeremiah M., 224, 225, 302. +Russell, John, 159. +Sabin, Dwight M., 202, 293. +Sackville-West, 226. +St. John, John P., 209. +Sale, Samuel, 246. +Schofield, John, 300. +Schurz, Carl, 123, 150, 159, 301. +Scott, Winfield, 71. +Secession, 125. +Settle, Thomas, 160, 193. +Sewall, Arthur, 258. +Seward, William H., 67, 68, 83, 92, 93, 119, 120, 123, 300. +Seymour, Horatio, 127, 154. +Shaw, Leslie M., 303. +Sheep Industry, Republican Party and, 204, 218. +Sherman Anti-Trust Law, 228. +Sherman, John, 109, 145; + specie resumption, 168; + Secretary of Treasury, 183; + mentioned for President, 184, 186; + placed in nomination 1880, 192; + 1884, 207; + 211; + 1888, 214; + 224, 301, 302, 303. +Sherman Silver Act, 228; + repealed, 241. +Silver Act of 1873, 165. +Silver Party Convention, 1896, 258. +Silver Republicans, in 1896, 253; + 254; + 1900, 282, 283. +Silver, in 1896, 244; + in Republican Convention, 253, 254; + in Democratic Convention, 1896, 257; + 1900, 274. +Silver in Democratic Platforms, 257, 279. +Silver in Republican Platforms, 249, 267. +Slave Trade, in Greece and Rome, 14, 15; + beginning of modern, 18; + abolition of by U. S., 43; + coastwise prohibited, 134. +Slavery, ancient, how established, 11; + Egypt, 12; + biblical, 12; + in ancient countries, 13; + Greece and Rome, 14; + modern, how established, 15; + in Europe, 16; + in New World, 16, 18; + Las Casas, 19; + Hawkins, 20; + beginning of in United States, 22; + Lord Mansfield, 27; + in early federal government, 28; + Jefferson draft of the Declaration of Independence, 29; + prohibited in Northwest Territory, 33; + in Constitutional Convention, 35; + cotton and, 40; + Missouri Compromise, 42; + the abolitionists, 51; + Compromise of 1850, 59; + see Lincoln; + see Republican Party. +Smith, Caleb B., 120, 300. +Smith, Charles Emory, 302, 303. +Smith, Green Clay, 177. +Social Democrats, 1900, 263. +Socialist Labor Party, 1892, 239; + 1896, 259; + 1900, 263. +Solid South, 50; + in Republican Platform, 1880, 191; + 196. +Sound Money in Republican Platforms, 204, 249, 267. +South Carolina, secedes, 125. +Southgate, James H., 258. +Spanish American War, 261, 266. +Speed, James, 153, 300. +Spooner, Senator, 237. +"Stalwarts," 196. +Stanberry, Henry, 144, 300. +Stanton, Edwin M., 134, 143, 300. +State Rights, 49. +Stephens, Alex H., 125. +Stevens, Thaddeus, 123, 144. +Stevenson, Adlai E., 238, 282, 283. +Stewart, G. T., 177. +Stone, A. P., 87. +Stone, Wm., 294. +Stowe, Harriet B., 71. +Streeter, Alson J., 213. +Strong, William, 180. +Sugar, 249. +Sumner, Charles, 93, 94, 97, 121. +Sweet, Leonard, 224. +Taft, Alphonso, 301. +Taft, William H., 262, 288, 289, 303. +Tallmadge, 45. +Tappan, Lewis, 54. +Tariff Bills, 128, 199; + Mills, 212; + McKinley, 227; + Wilson, 242; + Dingley, 260. +Tariff Commission, 198. +Taylor, Zachary, 64. +Teller, Henry M., 253, 254, 283, 301. +Tenure of Office Bill, 143. +Terrill, 224. +Texas, 60, 125. +Thirteenth Amendment, 134, 141. +Thomas, Jacob, 300. +Thomas, Jesse B., 47. +Thomas, Lorenzo, 148, 300. +Thomas, Walter F., 226. +Thompson, A. M., 194. +Thompson, Jacob, 300. +Thompson, Richard, 231. +Thompson, Richard W., 150, 237, 301. +Thurman, Allan G., 180, 214, 303. +Thurston, John M., 215, 246, 255, 256, 273, 294. +Tilden, Saml. J., 65, 177. +Toucey, Isaac, 300. +Towne, Charles A., 263. +Townsend, Martin I., 207. +Tracy, Benj. F., 302. +Tracy, W. W., 294. +Trade Dollar, 166. +Tribune, New York, 66, 75, 80. +Trumbull, Lyman, 108, 159. +Trusts condemned by Republicans, 1888, 219, 235, 268, 289. +Turner, Henry M., 175. +Twelfth Amendment, 295. +Tyler, John, 60. +Tyner, James N., 301. +Uncle Tom's Cabin, 71. +Underground Railroad, 70. +Union Labor Convention, 1888, 213. +Union Pacific, advocated in Republican Platform, 1856, 92, 119, 131, 146, 156. +Unit Rule, 175, 186, 187. +United Labor Convention, 1888, 213. +Usher, John P., 300. +Upshur, Secy. of State, 60. +Van Buren, Martin, 57, 61, 65. +Vance, J. Madison, 255. +Vilas, Wm. F., 302. +Virginia, secedes, 125. +Wade, Benjamin F., 121, 144, 153, 175, 303. +Wakefield, W. H. T., 213. +Walker, James A., 255. +Wanamaker, John, 302 +Ward, Marcus L., 150, 293. +Warner, 224. +Washburne, Elihu B., 175, 192, 193, 301. +Washington, Geo., 295. +Watson, Thomas E., 258. +Weaver, James B., 194, 239. +Webster, Daniel, 68. +Welles, Gideon, 300. +West, A. M., 209. +West, Wm. H., 207. +Wheeler, William A., 175, 176. +Whig Party, 8, 51, 56, 57; + incapable of handling slavery question, 59; + Abraham Lincoln, a member of, 63; + disorganized in 1852, 71; + last appearance of, 1856, 95. +White, Wm. A., 87, 88. +Whitney, Wm. C., 302. +Whittier, John G., 54. +Wide Awakes, 123. +Williams, George A., 301. +Williams, Thos., 144. +Wilmot, David, 63, 87, 90, 94, 115. +Wilmot Proviso, 59, 63. +Wilson, Henry, 82, 94, 153, 160. +Wilson, James F., 143. +Wilson, James, 302, 303. +Wilson, Wm. L., 242, 260, 302. +Windom, William, 192, 301, 302. +Wing, Simon, 239. +Winkler, F. C., 192. +Winston, P. H., 207. +Wolcott, Senator, 237, 264. +Woman's Rights, recognized by Republicans, 163, 173, 253. +Woodford, Stewart L., 176. +Woodmansee, D. D., 294. +Wool, 204, 218, 249. +Wooley, John G., 263. +Worcester, Dean C., 262. +Workingmen's National Convention, 164. +Wright, Luke E., 262, 289. +Yerkes, John W., 273. +Young, Lafe, 273. + +________________________________________ + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Some words which appear to be typos are printed thus in the original book. +A list of these possible misprints (along with suggested corrections) follows: + + +CHAPTER I. +... the history of the immediate casual[**causal] events which ... (?) + + +CHAPTER VIII. +... African slave trade, the services [**of] which, doubtless, ... + + +CHAPTER IX. + +The House at this time was dead-locked over the election ... + +[**deadlocked] (Erase the hyphen -- but, there is another one, at + CHAPTER V., definitely with a hyphen.) + + +CHAPTER XI. + +The Convention was again called to order by Edwin B[**D]. Morgan ... (?) + +... of the army and navy who have peril[**l]ed their lives ... + +[In two other occurrences, in a composite word, imperilled, it is spelled + with double l: + CHAPTER XIII., and CHAPTER XIV.] + +also: +... shall be held in grateful and everlasting rememb[**e]rance. + +[It is also spelled without an e in CHAPTER XVII., but, in CHAPTER XIV., + it is spelled rememberance.] + + +CHAPTER XII. + +... Representatives, many of whom less than a year before had been engaged in +active rebel-loin, ... + +rebel-[**]loin[**lion] (Erase the hyphen and anagrammatize correctly.) + +... when an Act to enlarge the provis[**i]ons of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill ... + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +The election was held on Ne[**o]vember 7th, ... + +These decis[**i]ons, as already noted, could not be set aside without ... + + +CHAPTER XV. + +... and to conserve the freedom of the sufferage, ... + +suffe[**]rage (Erase the e.) + +... and Elihu B. Washburn[**e] by J. E. Cassady. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +In this spirit spirit we denounce the importation of contract labor, ... + +spirit [**spirit] (repetition) + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +The Union Labor Convention at Cinc[**i]nnati ... + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +The provisions of The Hague convention was[**were] wisely regarded ... + +We are proud of the courage and fidelity of the American soldier and sailors ... + +soldier and sailors [**either both singular or both plural -- a typo? I suggest +that both be in plural, as they are in other occurrences throughout the book.] + + +CHAPTER XX. + +... stifling competit[**i]on and dictating wages and prices, ... + + +APPENDIX + +- PRESIDENTS PRO TEM. OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE + SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + 49-51 1887-91 Jno. J. Ingalls, Kansas. + + Jno[**John] J. Ingalls + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1876. + + [**Under the Electoral Vote, the candidates' pairs are reversed -- relatively + to the respective Popular Vote columns; in other tables, as well.] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1868. + + [**The total of the second column reads 2,703,249; should read 2,703,243. + see also: + CHAPTER XIII. + ... Grant and Colfax 3,012,833, and Seymour and Blair 2,703,249.] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1880. + + [**The total of the first column reads 4,454,416; should read 4,454,506. + see also: + CHAPTER XV. + Garfield ............ 4,454,416] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1888. + + [**The total of the first column reads 5,540,329; should read 5,840,329. + see also: + CHAPTER XVII. + Cleveland ............ 5,540,329) + + **The total of the third column reads 249,506; should read 249,512. + see also: + CHAPTER XVII. + ... the total Prohibition vote was 249,506, ...] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1892. + + [**The total of the third column reads 268,361; should read 268,368. + + **The total of the fourth column reads 1,030,128; should read 1,022,102.] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1896. + + [**The total of the fifth column reads 13,969; should read 13,971.] + +- [Barker, ]M. R. P[**e]op. + see also: + CHAPTER XIX. + ... Barker (M. R. Peop.), 50,373; ...) + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1900. + + [**The total of the sixth column reads 50,373; should read 50,307. + see also: + CHAPTER XIX. + Barker (M. R. Peop.), 50,373;] + + +INDEX + +Bright, Jesse D[**.], 303. +Edmunds, George F., ... 300,[**.] +Imper[**i]alism, 274. +Lamont, Daniel S[**.], 302. +... at Philadelphia, 1856, 89,[**;] 1860, 114; ... +Wanamaker, John, 302[**.] +People[**']s Party, appearance of, 228; ... + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A History of the Republican Party, by +George Washington Platt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY *** + +***** This file should be named 37737-8.txt or 37737-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/3/37737/ + +Produced by Polyvios J. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/37737-8.zip b/37737-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1496b1c --- /dev/null +++ b/37737-8.zip diff --git a/37737.txt b/37737.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7c83b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/37737.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11096 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A History of the Republican Party, by +George Washington Platt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A History of the Republican Party + +Author: George Washington Platt + +Release Date: November 3, 2011 [EBook #37737] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY *** + + + + +Produced by Polyvios J. Simopoulos + + + + +[Transcriber's note: + + In Memoriam + + Michael S. Hart (1947-2011), + + Inventor of the e-Book + + and + + Founder of Project Gutenberg + +] + + + + +================================= +A History of the Republican Party +by George Washington Platt +================================= + + + +[Frontispiece: Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley.] + +A History + +OF THE + +Republican Party + +BY + +GEO. W. PLATT + +----------------------------------- + +"And summon from the shadowy Past, +The forms that once have been." + +----------------------------------- + +C. J. KREHBIEL & CO., +CINCINNATI, O. +1904 + + +Copyright, 1904, +by GEO. W. PLATT. +All rights reserved. + + +Inscribed + +to the Memory of + +the three Martyred Republican Presidents + +LINCOLN, GARFIELD, McKINLEY. + + + + +PREFACE. + +Early in February, 1900, the writer delivered an address before the +Stamina Republican League of Cincinnati on "The Origin and Rise of the +Republican Party." The interest in the subject shown by the audience and +the many words of approbation led to a deeper consideration of the +history of the Party, and the address was repeated on a more elaborate +plan before many other organizations in Cincinnati and vicinity. + +It soon became apparent that the great majority of every audience had +very vague recollections of the tragic events which led to the +organization of the Party, and of its early history, owing perhaps to +the fact that they belonged to a generation that had followed the +enactment of those events. It was also clear that those who had lived in +the momentous decade before the Civil War were deeply interested and +stirred by a new recital of the history of that period, and thus it was +suggested that a History of the Republican Party might prove of interest +and value. + +Like the place of Homer's birth that of the Republican Party is in +dispute, but it is believed that the facts herein narrated are supported +by the weight of evidence. + +It is hoped that this work does not display so much partisanship as to +make it uninteresting to members of other political parties in the +United States. + +GEO. W. PLATT. +Cincinnati, February, 1904. + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER. PAGE + I. Formative Causes .......................................... 5 + II. Ancient and Modern Slavery ................................ 11 + III. Beginning of Slavery in the United States ................. 22 + IV. The Early Federal Government .............................. 28 + V. The Missouri Compromise ................................... 42 + VI. The Abolitionists ......................................... 51 + VII. Compromise of 1850 ........................................ 59 + VIII. Birth of the Republican Party ............................. 70 + IX. First Republican National Convention ...................... 86 + X. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates ............................... 101 + XI. Lincoln ................................................... 112 + XII. Reconstruction and the National Debt ...................... 135 + XIII. Grant ..................................................... 148 + XIV. Hayes ..................................................... 170 + XV. Garfield and Arthur ....................................... 185 + XVI. Blaine .................................................... 201 + XVII. Harrison .................................................. 213 +XVIII. Cleveland's Second Term ................................... 230 + XIX. McKinley .................................................. 244 + XX. Roosevelt ................................................. 285 + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + PAGE + 1. Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley ...................... Frontispiece + 2. White House ........................................... facing 28 + 3. Capitol ............................................... " 44 + 4. Alvan E. Bovay ........................................ " 76 + 5. Schoolhouse at Ripon, Wis ............................. " 84 + 6. John C. Fremont ....................................... " 92 + 7. Wm. H. Seward ......................................... " 100 + 8. Lincoln's First Inauguration .......................... " 124 + 9. _New York Herald_, April 15, 1865 ..................... " 132 +10. Andrew Johnson ........................................ " 140 +11. Ulysses S. Grant ...................................... " 148 +12. Rutherford B. Hayes ................................... " 180 +13. Chester A. Arthur ..................................... " 196 +14. James G. Blaine ....................................... " 204 +15. Benjamin Harrison ..................................... " 213 +16. John Sherman .......................................... " 220 +17. Inauguration of Wm. McKinley, March, 1897, ............ " 244 +18. Thos. B. Reed ......................................... " 252 +19. Second Inauguration of McKinley ....................... " 260 +20. Marcus A. Hanna ....................................... " 276 +21. Theodore Roosevelt .................................... " 285 + + + + + +A HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FORMATIVE CAUSES. + + +"_Resolved_, That the Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power +over the territories of the United States for their government, and that +in the exercise of this power it is both the right and duty of Congress +to prohibit in the territories those twin relics of barbarism, polygamy +and slavery." + +_Republican National Platform_, 1856. + + +Near the beginning of Mr. Conway's small volume entitled "Barons of the +Potomack and Rappahannock" occurs the sententious remark that "a true +history of tobacco would be the history of English and American +Liberty." With whatever truth there is in such sweeping statements it +may also be said that "a history of Slavery in this country would be the +history of the Republican Party." This is distinctly so, at least to the +close of the Civil War, for we are to notice that while the party +originated in a desire to oppose the extension of slavery, the cause of +its origin disappeared in less than ten years after the birth of the +organization. But the results of that cause remained for many years, and +justified the assertion in the Republican platform of 1860 that "a +history of the nation during the last four years has fully established +the propriety and necessity of the organization and perpetuation of the +Republican Party, and that the causes which called it into existence are +permanent in their nature." From its primary position as an opponent of +slavery extension, the new party became the champion of abolition, and +in the chaos brought on by the Civil War, and in the Reconstruction +period which followed, it was kept in power, notwithstanding the +disappearance of its direct formative cause, and the justification for +its continued existence was found in the urgent necessity of the hour. +Gradually but firmly it became a strong State and National Party, +solving the many vexed problems which followed the great conflict, +restoring public credit, reducing the enormous war debt; and when the +slavery question and its direct consequences had been eliminated from +national politics, taking up new political ideas and economic policies, +for the welfare of the entire country, until now, after half a century +of existence, during which time it has written some of the brightest +pages of American history, the Republican Party stands out as one of the +greatest and most consistent of political parties in all the world's +history. + +Taking the popular vote as a criterion of permanent growth, the vote for +the Republican presidential candidates, beginning with 1,341,264 for +Fremont in 1856, reached the maximum of 7,208,244 for McKinley in 1900, +and only once (in 1892) during this entire period did the popular vote +for the Republican presidential candidate fail to show an increase over +the vote of the preceding election. + +The events of the momentous decade before the Civil War (during which +period the Republican Party was firmly established), the election of Mr. +Lincoln, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the story of the national +development along commercial and financial lines since that period, +present the most interesting and vivid chapters of American history. +Throughout its history of fifty years, covering the period just +mentioned, the Republican Party has a remarkable record for solid and +consistent action, resulting universally in national prosperity and +honor, and on the three occasions since its formation (1856, 1884 and +1892), when the voters turned away to listen to the teachings of +Democracy, the invariable result has been national disaster and +humiliation and a retarding of progress. + +The Republican Party was organized in the early months of 1854, and the +direct formative causes leading to its establishment were the repeal of +the Missouri Compromise and the efforts on the part of the South, under +the leadership of that ambitious politician, Stephen A. Douglas (with +his specious doctrines of non-intervention on the part of the +Government, and popular sovereignty), to force slavery into the +Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, which, by the Compromise of 1820, +should have been forever dedicated to freedom. By these efforts it was +seen that the South was attempting to make slavery a national instead of +a sectional institution, and the situation early in 1854 (after the long +series of triumphs of the Slave Power) seemed almost hopeless as far as +concerned political opposition to these radical measures was concerned. +At this time, and, indeed, for many years past, the Democratic Party was +firm and united in its support of slavery, and the course of the Whig +Party, intimidated by its southern members, and fearful of civil strife, +had been one of subserviency to the exacting demands of slavery. The +Whig Party had proven itself totally incapable of meeting the great +question of the hour, and after the election of 1852 was on the verge of +absolute dissolution. + +The astonishing repeal of the Missouri Compromise early in 1854, coming, +as it did, in a time of comparative peace on the slavery question, +obliterated old party lines in the North completely, and left +disorganized groups of anti-Nebraska Whigs, anti-Nebraska Democrats, +Free-soilers, Abolitionists, and Know-Nothings, all of whom represented +every extreme of the northern views of slavery. But underneath these +views was the belief that slavery was a great moral wrong, and that its +extension, at least, should be opposed, and from these seemingly +discordant elements it became, in fact, an easy matter to organize, in a +short time, a strong opposition party to the new aggression of the slave +interests. + +The Republican Party was at first one of defense only; it was a +combination of the existing political elements opposed to slavery, and +its first stand was conservative, not to abolish slavery, but to firmly +oppose its extension. The Party at first had no intention of interfering +with slavery in the States in which it then existed, but the idea of +allowing slavery, with its manifest evils, to be extended into other +States and Territories at the will of the South was not to be silently +borne. The early views of the party, up to the Civil War, were well +expressed by Mr. Lincoln in his last great public utterance before his +election as President in November, 1860 (The Cooper Union Speech, +February, 1860): "Wrong, as we think slavery is, we can yet afford to +let it alone where it is, because that much is due to the necessity +arising from its actual presence in the nation; but can we, while our +votes will prevent it, allow it to spread into the national territories +and to overrun us here in these free States?" + +It will be of interest, before taking up the history of the immediate +casual events which made necessary this new political party, to consider +the early history of that great institution, slavery, which, from the +very beginning of American history to the close of the Civil War, and +indeed for many years after, was the chief disturbing element in the +country; to consider how this institution established itself in other +countries, how it insidiously began its growth in the Jamestown colony, +and how it gained in strength and political power, until, at the opening +of the Revolution it owned half a million slaves, and after Independence +had been gained, forced recognition in the Constitutional Convention and +there domineered the North into the first of a series of humiliating +compromises on the slave question. And from that time on, with +increasing force, pressed its obnoxious doctrines upon the press, the +pulpit, platforms and political parties of the country, until, after +many years of bitter contention, it was met in 1854 by the organization +of a determined opposition political party, which, after one failure, +brought about its political overthrow, an event followed by a last +tremendous struggle for the mastery, in which slavery was wiped out +forever in the life-blood of those who upheld and those who opposed it. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ANCIENT AND MODERN SLAVERY. + + +"Slavery is as ancient as War, and War as human nature." + +_Voltaire_. + +"That execrable sum of all villainies, commonly called the slave trade." + +_John Wesley_, 1792. + + +The earliest records of the human race begin with accounts of slavery. +The first slave was probably a war captive whose life had been spared, +and slavery probably originated when the nations emerging from the +savagery of early times discovered that the prisoner captured in war +could render to the conqueror more service alive than dead; and it +became a very early custom that all persons captured in war and not +ransomed by their fellows should remain the property of the conqueror to +be used by him at will or sold to others. It is seen that slavery in its +inception was in some degree an innocent and humane institution, because +it saved many lives and resulted in much development in building, +agriculture and the crude manufacturing of early times. + +It is convenient to divide the history of slavery into two epochs, +ancient and modern, although there are times in the history of several +nations when ancient slavery assumed the modern form. The ancient slaves +were the prisoners captured in war, the hereditary slaves, and persons +who, by the laws of their country, became slaves by the commission of +crime or inability to meet their debts. Modern slavery assumed a more +brutal aspect. Here the slave was not the result of wars, but the direct +object of them, and we find nations engaged in the shameful traffic of +deliberately declaring war upon a foreign and inoffensive people for the +purpose of obtaining possession of their bodies to carry them away for +sale in foreign countries. The modern slave for four centuries was a +distinct article of commerce, quoted and bargained for in the markets +and reckoned on as a medium of exchange. + +For the history of ancient slavery we turn first to Egypt, and find +abundant evidence of the use of slaves from the very earliest times. +Egypt thrived, and its native population was overflowing; but +notwithstanding this, thousands of slaves were brought into the country +by the early Wars of Conquest. Most of these slaves, for lack of other +work, were put to labor on vast monuments, buildings, shrines and +temples. The great Pyramid of Gizeh, near Memphis, the smaller pyramids +near it and the ruins near Thebes, and the Karnak, still remain as +mysterious and wonderful records of the skill of the Egyptian builders, +and as mute evidence of the use of vast numbers of slaves. + +In the quaint diction of early biblical history is told the manner of +the Egyptian use of slaves. We learn how Joseph was treacherously sold +by his brethren into Egyptian captivity, but gaining favor, was placed +in the house of his master, and how, in later years, when famine waxed +sore in the land of Canaan, Joseph's father, Jacob, and his brethren and +their flocks went into Egypt and prayed to Pharaoh for permission to +dwell there, and partly through the influence of Joseph were given +permission to live in the country of Goshen. The Israelites grew and +multiplied until the land was filled with them, but new Kings ruled in +Egypt, hostile to them, and their lives were made bitter with hard +bondage and compulsory work in mortar and brick, "and they built for +Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses." + +When the Hebrews, under the guidance of Moses, left Egypt, they took +slaves with them, and in their subsequent history we find a record of +the use of two classes of slaves, the Hebrew born and those of alien +blood. The Hebrew slave usually became such by selling himself on +account of his poverty, or because it was imposed upon him as a +punishment for crime. He could claim his liberty at the end of six +years, but not so with the alien, who was in bondage for life. Jerusalem +was built, and after many years captured by Nebuchadnezzar, King of +Babylon, who razed the city and carried the upper classes of the Hebrews +captive to Babylon, where they remained in a condition of servitude +until the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, +who, as a political measure, permitted the Hebrews to return to their +homes and rebuild Jerusalem. Egypt went down to rise no more before the +new power of the Persians, who, in turn, gave way to the Greeks, and +they to the Romans. Throughout the history of the ancient people, the +Egyptians, the Syrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Medes and Persians, +slavery developed in the same general way; the prisoner of war was held +in slavery and reduced to the lowest caste, and this we find true in +China, Ancient India and in the history of the Aztecs. + +Slaves were used in Greece, especially so at Athens, where, at the +height of the city's power, there were four times as many slaves as +citizens. The slaves took a prominent part in the domestic and public +economy, being used as agricultural laborers, and as artificers and +servants, and by the State as policemen and soldiers. Sparta possessed +very few slaves, probably only enough to supply the demand for domestic +servants. With the rapid progress of the Greeks came an increased use of +slaves, and the wars not being sufficient to supply the demand, an open +slave trade was soon established. In Greece arose to its height that +peculiar form of slavery practiced by the early Hebrews, wherein +foreigners violating laws, and Greeks themselves, if unable to meet +their debts, were sold with their families into slavery. This brought +about such a threatening state of affairs that by the wise laws of Solon +this form of slavery was abolished. This peculiar slavery also existed +in the early days of Rome, but in the third century before Christ it was +also abolished. + +In the Roman Empire slavery existed from the earliest times, and was +carried to an excess not known before or since in the history of +slavery. The wonderful and rapid rise of the Romans in power, domain and +wealth led to a moral and political degeneracy which demanded the +increased use of slaves in all branches of domestic and public life. +Here, as in Greece, the Wars of Conquest bringing in, as they did, vast +numbers of slaves, failed to supply the demand, and here again, as in +Greece, the slave trade, with its acts of piracy, was established to +obtain a supply, and the occupation of the professional slave hunter and +slave dealer became fully recognized and were the forerunners of similar +acts in the history of Negro slavery many centuries later. The abuses +brought on by the Roman system of slavery led to such decay and +corruption in the Empire that it became an easy prize for the Teutonic +tribes, and Rome of the West fell to rise no more, about the middle of +the fifth century. + +Then probably began the Feudal system, which practically abolished the +ancient form of slavery, and in its place the lower classes of the +population were put in the semi-servile condition of serfs and villeins +to their Feudal Lords. This system spread in Germany, France, England +and Russia, but by the time of the capture of Constantinople in 1453 by +the Turks, Feudalism, the last relic of slavery in Western Europe, was +almost extinct, and was gradually assuming a very mild form in the other +countries, when suddenly and unexpectedly slavery was revived and +perpetuated in a new, its modern form, by a singular and interesting +series of events which brought about the ruthless bondage of an entire +people to nations whom they had never offended. + +Portugal, Spain and England were mainly responsible for fastening the +evils of Negro Slavery on the New World. The Portuguese first began the +modern traffic in negro slaves; the Spaniards introduced them into +America, and the English engaged in and encouraged, more than any other +nation, the infamous slave trade, to supply the New World demand. + +In a strange way Christianity was indirectly responsible for the +beginning of negro slavery in its modern form. For many centuries prior +to the discovery of America the Mohammedans and Christians had been +arrayed against each other in western Europe, and the struggles for the +mastery had aroused the most implacable hatred between the foes, and the +almost inevitable fate of the captives, whether taken by Christian or +Mohammedan, was slavery for life. Fifty-one years before the discovery +of America some Portuguese sailors, coasting along the shores of +Morocco, took captive a few Moors and brought them to Portugal. This +event led to the beginning of modern slavery, for in the following year, +1442, these captive Moors, at their own request, were exchanged for +negroes, which they procured from Africa. It appears that Prince Henry +of Portugal had made many ineffectual attempts to convert these Moors, +and their obstinate refusal made acceptable an exchange for negroes, +"for whatever number he should get he would gain souls, because they +might be converted to the Faith, which could not be done with the +Moors," said the Prince. With what sincerity this argument was advanced +cannot be known, but it is certain that the beginning of modern slavery +was justified by this crafty philanthropy, not only in Portugal but +later in the Spanish Colonies, where the same argument was advanced by +Columbus and accepted by the Spanish Monarchs to ease their minds while +it filled their treasuries. It is also certain that in a very short +time, whether to be Christianized or not, shipload after shipload of the +unfortunate Africans were brought to Portugal and a regular slave trade, +with all its sickening horrors, was established, the Crown receiving +one-fifth of the proceeds as its royal share. Soon Spain engaged in the +traffic, and then the event happened, the discovery of America, which +startled Europe, and opened up a vast new country to whatever good or +evil its conquerors might choose to plant. + +Strangely enough the very events which led to the discovery of the New +World operated to firmly establish the beginning of what was to be its +greatest curse. With the capture of Constantinople in 1453 by the Turks +and the cutting off of that way to the Indies, increased efforts were +made to discover a new route, and the first attempts were down the west +coast of Africa. The Portuguese were the most active mariners at that +time and took the most prominent part in these new voyages, and while +they did not meet with complete success, they discovered a country +thronged with the people, who, by the circumstances already related, +were practically doomed to slavery. So promising was this base of +supplies that about the year 1485 the Portuguese established a Colony at +Benin, on the west coast of Africa, for the purpose of more actively +carrying on the slave trade, and this was the first of those permanent +fortified places established in Africa by the Christian countries of the +world as stations where, by the blackest of cruelties and crimes, they +might obtain large and immediate supplies of this new article of +commerce. From the time of the establishment of this first Colony to the +year 1807, when Great Britain and the United States prohibited the slave +trade (a period of 322 years), Africa was desolated and her people +abducted, sold and murdered by the Christian people of the earth; and +indeed for many years after its prohibition the slave trade was carried +on, notwithstanding that it became piracy to do so, punishable by death, +so profitable had the business become and so rapacious and insensate +those who engaged in it. + +Thus was the slave monster, a gigantic and hideous Frankenstein, created +by the Christian nations, and long after, when it obtained its full +growth, it was to fright them, retard their progress and result in +dreadful retribution. The slave district began with the River Senegal on +the west coast of Africa and continued a distance of fully 3000 miles to +Cape Negro. The enormous sum of cruelty and wickedness which attended +the slave trade throughout this vast territory can never be known, but +may be partially imagined when we know that at its height fully 80,000 +persons were torn from their homes annually, with all the attendant +horrors of rapine, murder and the worst crimes of mankind. + +The evil thus begun and fostered in Europe needed only a new impetus +to make it grow beyond all bounds; owing to economical conditions, it +would probably have died out in western Europe had it not been for the +discovery of America, which almost immediately opened up a new and +enormous market for slaves. The first Spanish settlement in the West +Indies was called Hispaniola, now the Island of Haiti, and this Colony +became the scene of the first use of negro slaves in the New World. A +cruel fate seemed to be working out the enslavement of the African, for +it is almost certain that Columbus in his first voyages did not take +with him any slaves, and there seemed to be no thought of using them in +this new Colony during the first few years after the discovery. The +first negroes were brought to Hispaniola about eight years after +Columbus landed, but they were few in number, and it was probably not +contemplated to use them in the fields and mines, for the Spaniards had +an immense and almost inexhaustible supply of free labor at hand in the +native population, who, by the avarice of the Spaniards, were almost +immediately enslaved and compelled to work in the mines and on the +farms. So greedy were the Spaniards to acquire sudden wealth, and so +numerous the natives, that their lives were reckoned of no value, and so +heartlessly cruel and inhuman was their treatment that the population of +the island, which is given as about 800,000 in 1492, had decreased, it +is estimated, one-third four years later, and twenty years later the +native population is given as only 14,000. These figures are probably +greatly exaggerated, but making all allowances they tell a frightful +story. + +The benevolent Las Casas, aroused by the frightful cruelties to the +natives and their rapid destruction, began his successful opposition to +Indian slavery; but, without knowing or intending it, his success was at +the fearful cost of the Africans, who now began to be imported in large +numbers to take the place of Indian slaves, and it was shortly +discovered that one negro could do the work of four or five natives. +Thus a new and growing market opened for slaves, and the slave trade of +the New World became so profitable that Charles V. of Spain, desiring to +reap the greatest benefit from it, granted, for a consideration, an +exclusive right for eight years of supplying four thousand slaves per +year to the Spanish Colonies. This seems to have been the first monopoly +on the slave trade, but soon other nations were attracted by the ease +and profit of the business, and the Dutch and English began early to +engage their energies in the trade, and the latter, with their superior +methods, greatly increased its profit and popularity. William Hawkins +was the first Englishman to begin the slave trade, and made a trip to +Guinea in 1530. In 1562 his son, John Hawkins, who was knighted later +for his services by Queen Elizabeth, followed in his father's steps and +carried away three hundred slaves to San Domingo. This voyage was +repeated in 1564 and 1567 with great profit, and soon England had +entered and was committed fully to the business. One hundred and fifty +years later the traffic in negro slaves was considered the most +profitable branch of British commerce. + +Thus it is seen that prior to the discovery of America negro slavery had +begun in western Europe, and, like some dread scourge, lay in wait for +new fields in which to operate; and we have seen how it was permitted to +enter so early into the history of the New World. From the islands of +the West Indies the Spaniards went to the mainland, and with them went +slavery; and as more territory was discovered the use of slaves was more +in demand and they were brought over in almost incredible numbers. This +history is not further concerned with the development of slavery in +other countries, or with the horrifying details of the slave trade which +grew up to supply the enormous demand of the New World, except as it +affected this country. + +How slavery became established in the United States, how it dominated +the first attempts of the Colonies to organize a strong Federal +Government, and how, after a series of compromises, seeking to settle a +question which could only be settled by its abolition, it resulted in +the organization of a great opposition political party, the first +success of which was followed by the bloodiest civil war in all history, +will now be the direct subject of our inquiry. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BEGINNING OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES. + + +"I do not say who was guilty of this ... but there was the evil, and no +man could see how we were to be delivered from it." + +_Frelinghuysen_. + + +Ayllon, a Spaniard, who attempted to find the northwest passage, landed +in Virginia as early as 1526, near the same place where the English +eighty-one years later founded their colony, and began to build a town, +using negro slaves in the work, but this settlement was abandoned. Negro +slaves were also used in Florida prior to the Jamestown settlement. +These appear to be the first use of negro slaves in territory +subsequently a part of the United States. But we are not concerned with +these events except as curious historical facts, because they had no +influence on the history of the country, and are of no more importance +or interest than the discovery of America by the Norsemen before +Columbus. But toward the end of August, 1620, an event occurred of the +greatest moment to the history and welfare of the country, and which was +to have a far-reaching and lasting effect upon the political and social +life of the United States. In that month, about thirteen years after the +English founded their settlement, a Dutch ship, in great distress for +food, entered the James River, and after some negotiation with the +settlers, exchanged twenty negroes for a supply of food. This was the +beginning of negro slavery in the United States, and thus was the +disturbing element planted which was to distract the nation for so many +weary years, and the opposition to which was finally to culminate in the +founding of the Republican Party. + +Not many months after these slaves were landed the Pilgrims established +their settlement on the New England shores and began that political and +social life whose subsequent development made them an enemy to slavery. +If there is one scene or period in American history representing the +very genesis of the Republican Party, it is the landing of the Pilgrims +in December, 1620; just as the settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, was +the point from which radiated, by subsequent economical and social +developments, the principles of the Democratic Party. Thus it is seen at +this early period that slavery and freedom were planted almost side by +side to progress along unconsciously until economical conditions and +demands were to make them openly antagonistic; and here began that +remarkable balancing of power between slavery and freedom, which was to +be maintained in later years, after the Union had been formed, by a +series of compromises, and indeed also by a balancing of progress along +economical lines. + +The Virginians at first neither sought nor needed negro slaves; this is +proven by the circumstances under which the first slaves were landed, +and also by the fact that slavery grew very slowly. In 1622 there were +only twenty-two negro slaves in the Colony, and in 1648, twenty-eight +years after the first acquisition, there were only three hundred in +Virginia; not that the settlers were averse to using them, but because +another class of cheap labor was obtainable in the great number of +criminals which were sent from England to work out their freedom in the +New World, and by other white persons who voluntarily sold themselves +and became indented or bond servants for a period of years in payment of +their passage to America, or for other considerations. The use of this +class of labor began very shortly after the first settlement, but toward +the close of the seventeenth century the use of indented servants became +less as negro slaves became more numerous. + +Negro slaves were introduced into every one of the other Colonies when +they were founded, or a short time afterwards, and to the close of the +Revolution negro slaves were used in every Colony. The North was for +slavery as long as it was necessary and profitable, and the early +settlers in New England found no scruple in using as slaves the Indians +captured in war; and when negro slavery appeared later, the shrewd +Yankees made money in the slave trade along the coast to the South and +to the West Indies. The modern Newport, R. I., was the great slave mart +of New England, and it is said that the first slave ship used by +American colonists was fitted up in a New England port. + +Prior to 1715 the number of slaves in America was not so great, but +after that year they increased in large numbers, not only by an active +demand which sprang up for them, but also by the infamous Asiento Clause +in the Treaty of Utrecht between England and Spain, whereby the former +for a period of thirty years, from 1713 to 1743, took the exclusive +right of importing and selling 144,000 negroes into the Spanish Colonies +at the rate of 4,800 per year, and more could be brought in on the +payment of a small tax. This made England the greatest slave nation in +the world, and her interest demanded, and Parliament saw to it, that +nothing adverse to the use of slaves should happen in the American +Colonies. The growth of slavery in America from 1715 to 1775, and the +slave population in the Colonies at these two periods, were as follows: + + 1715 1775 + New Hampshire ........ 150 629 + Massachusetts ........ 2,000 3,500 + Rhode Island ......... 500 4,373 + Connecticut .......... 1,500 5,000 + New York ............. 4,000 15,000 + New Jersey ........... 1,500 7,600 + Pennsylvania ........} 2,500 10,000 + Delaware ............} 9,000 + Maryland ............. 9,500 80,000 + Virginia ............. 23,000 165,000 + North Carolina ....... 3,700 75,000 + South Carolina ....... 10,500 110,000 + Georgia .............. 16,000 + ------ ------- + 58,850 501,102 + +Of the half million slaves in this country at the opening of the +Revolution, 450,000 were in the Southern Colonies. The reasons for this +are found in the difference in economical conditions and political and +social customs which separated the Northern and Southern Colonies before +the Revolution. The Northern group devoted themselves mainly to fishing, +commerce and farming. The soil, especially in New England, was +unpromising for the production of great staples, and the result in the +North was concentration of the people, growth of town life, distribution +of political power, great freedom of speech and press, and a wide +discussion of political principles. The South devoted herself wholly to +the production of three great staples, rice, indigo and tobacco, and the +result in the South was just the reverse of that in the North. Great +plantations were established, few cities of any importance sprang up, +manufacturing did not thrive, the South importing almost every article +of use or luxury. Political power was in the hands of a few, and the +three great staples demanded cheap labor, working under the most +destructive conditions. Thus, influenced almost entirely by environment +and economical and political development, the North became the scene of +freedom to individuals and protection to industries, because these +things were absolutely essential to the existence and happiness of the +people; and the South, by the same necessity, was dedicated to slavery +and free trade. + +It must not be thought that the colonial period was without any +development of opposition to slavery. The German Quakers of Pennsylvania +in 1688 took a stand against the use of slaves in their community, and +they subsequently became the most active opponents to slavery and the +slave trade. Their efforts, however, had little effect except in +Pennsylvania, but it is important to mark their action as the beginning +of the abolition movement in this country. There are records in the +Southern Colonies of taxes placed upon the importation of slaves prior +to the decade before the Revolution, but it would appear that these +taxes were more for revenue than as prohibitive means, and that they +were of no value in diminishing the demand and the number of negroes +imported. However, in 1769, a distinct sentiment crystallized in +Virginia against the further importation of slaves, and the Legislature +passed a law prohibiting it, but this was vetoed by the Royal Governor, +acting under orders from the Crown; the same thing occurred in +Massachusetts two years later. In 1772 Lord Mansfield proclaimed the +law, "As soon as a slave sets foot on the soil of the British isles he +becomes free." This decision had a marked influence on the anti-slavery +sentiment, which was now strong in the Colonies, and the approach of the +Revolution, with its spirit of national independence and of individual +right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, seemed to promise +freedom to a people who had already suffered three centuries of terrible +bondage. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE EARLY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. + + +"The policy to sustain which Mr. Lincoln was elected President in 1860 +was first definitely outlined by Jefferson in 1784. It was the policy of +forbidding slavery in the National Territory." + +_John Fiske_. + + +The history of slavery from the opening scenes of the Revolution to the +meeting of the First Congress affords a curious example of the direct +influence of self-interest upon the opinions of mankind. The opening of +the Revolution saw an emphatic and unanimous expression against slavery +and the slave trade, and a general spirit of emancipation was abroad. +Two years later this had changed, for when the Declaration was +promulgated there was no mention of anti-slavery sentiments in it, and +as Independence became more and more assured, the feeling against +slavery seems to have weakened, and finally, when a serious attempt to +perfect the Union was made, the slave question was decided by expediency +and not by principle. + +In 1773 and 1774, when the colonists spoke their final defiance against +Great Britain, and the latter launched her retaliatory measures, the +climax was reached. It is to be kept in mind that at this time slavery +existed in every one of the Colonies. The First Continental Congress, +representing all the Colonies except Georgia (who agreed to concur), met +at Philadelphia in September, 1774, to determine what should be done in +this grave crisis. It turned out to be largely a Peace Congress, but a +protest, several addresses and a non-importation and non-consumption +agreement was signed. One of the Articles of this agreement provided +that "We will neither import nor purchase any slave imported after the +first day of December next, after which time we will wholly discontinue +the slave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor will +we hire our vessels or sell our commodities or manufactures to those who +are concerned in it." This important and far-reaching resolution +received the unanimous support of all the Colonies. Would that its +spirit had been kept alive! + +[Illustration: The White House, Washington, D. C.] + +Almost two years after the First Continental Congress met (the +Revolution having been started in the meantime) the Declaration of +Independence was adopted, but there was no expression in it against +slavery or the slave trade. The original draft of that instrument +contained a fierce denunciation of England's part in the slave trade: + +"He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most +sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who +never offended him; capturing and carrying them into slavery in another +hemisphere, or to incur a miserable death in their transportation +thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of Infidel Powers, is +the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep +open a market where men could be bought and sold, he has prostituted his +negative by suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or +restrain this execrable commerce." + +These burning words were from the pen of Jefferson, who had been the +most active in his opposition to slavery. They were omitted from the +Declaration, out of compliance to South Carolina and Georgia, but they +voiced unquestionably the sentiment of a large majority of the +Continental Congress. This was the first fatal concession to South +Carolina and Georgia, and we shall find them again united and +influencing the other Southern Colonies to maintain a bold stand for +slavery at the most critical period in the nation's history. + +On the same day in June, 1776, that the Committee was appointed to draft +the Declaration of Independence, Congress resolved that "A Committee be +appointed to prepare and digest the form of a Confederation to be +entered into between the Colonies." The work of this Committee was the +Articles of Confederation, which were presented in November, 1777, for +ratification by the States. These Articles contained no anti-slavery +sentiments, and we are only concerned with them in noting the unexpected +and most important results which came up before the ratification was +completed. Several of the States claimed a right to the territory west +of the Alleghanies to the Mississippi under their original charter. +Their claims were conflicting, and Maryland refused to ratify the +Articles of Confederation until the land-claiming States should +relinquish all their rights to Congress. For a number of years these +States were obdurate, but Maryland held out resolutely and bravely, and +finally, by her firm action and the magnanimity of New York and +Virginia, the question was settled by the cession of the disputed lands +to Congress. The acquisition of the Northwest Territory is one of the +great turning points in American history, for we shall see that the +subsequent development of this territory was of no less importance than +the saving of the Union from annihilation by the slave power. + +Thomas Jefferson was the most urgent against slavery of all the founders +of the nation. His statesmanship foresaw the evils negro slavery would +bring upon the nation's social and political development, and his nature +was stirred by the great moral wrong. Long before the Declaration of +Independence he worked untiringly in Virginia to bring about a sentiment +against the slave trade, and his efforts met with success. His fierce +denunciation of England's part in the slave trade was stricken from the +Declaration, but he did not give up the fight, although the material +interests of the South thwarted his plans for the moment. When, by the +unforeseen results attendant upon the ratification of the Articles of +Confederation, that imperial domain reaching from Pennsylvania to the +Mississippi and from the Ohio to the Lakes became national territory, +Jefferson, with the prescience of a mighty genius, saw an opportunity to +deal a death blow to slavery. This magnificent public domain, +subsequently to be divided into the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, +Wisconsin and Michigan, was given to the nation on condition that it +should be cut up into States, to be admitted when they had a certain +population, and that the land should be sold to pay the debts of the +United States. Throughout this vast region there were very few people, +and there had been no social, political or economical development, and +so the only opposition which could come in Congress to any measure for +the future government of the Territory would be from the original +States. No sooner had the cession been fully made than Jefferson +suggested a plan which, if it had succeeded, would have confined slavery +North and South to the mountain boundaries of the original States. His +plan for the government of this new territory, among other things, +provided that after the year 1800 slavery should be prohibited in it. He +went beyond this and advocated and urgently solicited Virginia, North +Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to cede their rights in the land +west of the Mountains, and he would have had slavery prohibited in this +territory also after the year 1800. His plan was no more or less than to +prohibit slavery after the year 1800 in all land between the Alleghanies +and the Mississippi, from the Lakes to Florida. + +On April 19, 1784, Jefferson's Ordinance came up for consideration. +North Carolina moved that the clause prohibiting slavery after 1800 be +stricken out; South Carolina seconded the motion, which was put in the +form, "Shall the words moved to be stricken out stand?" Six States voted +that the clause should stand, three were opposed to it, but as the +Articles of Confederation required the votes of nine States, the motion +was lost and the Ordinance, with the slavery clause taken out, was then +adopted. + +The following year Congress made inducements so attractive that in a +short time several companies were organized and bought large tracts in +the new National Territory; and as they purposed settling on their +purchases at once, Congress agreed upon a more elaborate plan of +government and laws than those set forth in the Ordinance of 1784. The +famous Ordinance of 1787 was the result of this agreement. Mr. Jefferson +was not present at the time of its adoption, having been sent as +Minister to France, but the influence of his work and sentiments were +felt, and his ideas were adopted in a new form. The new Ordinance +repealed the old one, and among other things provided that the Territory +should be cut up into not less than three nor more than five States, all +of which were to be admitted into the Union when they had a population +of 60,000 free inhabitants. The States which might be formed were +forever to remain a part of the United States, and it was declared that +the Ordinance was to be considered as a compact between the original +States and the people and States of the new territory, and forever to +remain unalterable unless by common consent. Most important and +far-reaching of all was the Article, + +"There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said +territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party +shall have been duly convicted; Provided always, that any person +escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed +in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully +reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or +service, as aforesaid." + +With slavery forever prohibited in such a large territory, with the +Ordinance beyond repeal, and secession condemned, the Ordinance of 1787 +stands out as one of the most remarkable and most important enactments +in American history. What the Declaration of Independence and the War +had obtained, and the Constitution was to make more perfect--the Union +--the development of the country under the Ordinance of 1787 was to +preserve. The South yielded to the strong anti-slavery clause in this +ordinance because a fugitive slave clause was added to it, and because +she had a plan of making the territory west of Virginia, North Carolina, +South Carolina and Georgia slave territory. This was done shortly +afterwards, when two years later South Carolina and North Carolina, and +Georgia in 1802, ceded their western claims to Congress on the express +condition that it should be slave soil, and Congress accepted the +territory on that condition; Kentucky being admitted as a slave State in +1792. + +While the national greatness and safety were being worked out in the +West, affairs were in a miserable condition in the East, owing to the +radical defects in the Articles of Confederation which had been in +operation since 1781. The cup of bitter national humiliation was being +drained to the dregs, but fortunately the best men of the country +finally succeeded in calling a Convention to revise the Articles. The +Convention met at Philadelphia in May, 1787, and by September had +adopted a new Constitution. + +The great struggle between the North and the South began in the +Constitutional Convention. Slavery and the conflicting commercial +interests were the difficult questions which divided the country and +resulted in the first of the Compromises that held off the Civil War for +so many years. It was decided to have an equal representation of States +in the Senate and an unequal representation in the House, based upon +population; but should slaves be counted as population? This and the +other slavery questions which came up in the Convention threatened to +disrupt the proceedings entirely. There were at this time about 675,000 +slaves in the country, of which number fully 625,000 were in the South. +South Carolina, henceforth to be so active for the interests of the +South, immediately claimed that these slaves should be considered as +population to be counted in fixing the representation in the House. The +North argued that the slaves were chattels and should not be counted, +for it was seen at a glance that if this enormous number of slaves were +to be counted on any basis, the political power of the South would be +greatly increased. South Carolina made open and repeated threats to +withdraw from the Confederacy, and the situation was serious, because, +without her and the other Southern Colonies, who would unquestionably be +influenced by her, the work of the Convention would not be ratified, and +there would be no Union. The inexorable necessity of the hour demanded a +compromise, and it was decided that in apportioning the Representatives +there should be added to the whole number of free persons three-fifths +of all other persons. This was equivalent to saying that five slaves in +the South should be counted the same as three white persons in the +North. + +In regard to the slave trade there was a sentiment in all the States +except Georgia and South Carolina against it, because five slaves +counted as three whites, and because almost all of the eminent men North +and South were at this time opposed to Slavery itself as not only a +moral wrong, but as something which would injure the development of the +country. The Southern planters insisted upon a continuation of the slave +trade, but at the same time they were fearful that the North might tax +their exports. The second great Compromise was affected, and it was +agreed that the importation of such persons as any of the States might +think proper to admit should not be prohibited by Congress prior to +1808, but a tax on each person so admitted might be imposed, not +exceeding $10, and that no tax or duty should be laid on articles +exported from any State. A Fugitive Slave Clause very similar to that +contained in the Ordinance of 1787 was also added. + +By these Compromises, especially the one giving representation for +slaves, the South was given that tremendous political power which she +wielded so long to threaten and coerce the North to her bidding. The +Slave Power was politically enthroned, not to be finally dislodged until +the election of Mr. Lincoln. At this early period, however, it was +firmly and honestly believed that in a very short time slavery would +disappear in all of the Colonies, as it was already dying out rapidly in +the North, and it was fully believed that after 1808, when the slave +trade should be prohibited, slavery would become extinct. It must be +remembered that at this time cotton was not a staple of the South, and +there was nothing seriously present or threatened, in the social or +economical development of the South, which made slavery absolutely +necessary. Nobody foresaw how greatly cotton was to add to the wealth +and standing of the South, and nobody foresaw the great injury which the +Constitution was to do the North. + +When Washington was inaugurated, April 30, 1789, the United States +reached from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, and from the Lake of the +Woods, the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence and St. Croix Rivers southward +to Florida, which then extended to the Mississippi and was owned by +Spain. + +All of the threatening phases of the slave question had been compromised +by the various provisions in the Constitution, and the common territory +of the nation had been practically partitioned between Freedom and +Slavery, with the Ohio River as the dividing line. With some exceptions +the Northern States still possessed a large number of slaves, New York +and New Jersey having the greatest number (33,000 out of the 40,000 +still in the North), but not only in these States, but throughout the +North, emancipation was making rapid progress. + +The population of the country was scattered along the Atlantic seaboard, +but the migration to the west of the Alleghanies had set in strongly +both north and south of the Ohio River; the settlers from Virginia and +the States south of her carrying with them, westward, the prejudices and +customs of their mother States, while the settlers north of the Ohio +River took with them into the wilderness the energy and thrift of the +East, and its spirit of freedom and emancipation for all individuals, +laying the foundation of those great States which, in later years, +untrammeled by the commercial conservatism of the East, were so +outspoken and sturdy in their expressions against slavery. The first +census, taken in 1790, showed a population of 3,929,827, classed and +divided between the North and South as follows: + + Free + White. Negroes. Slave. + North .......... 1,900,976 27,109 40,370 + South .......... 1,271,488 32,357 657,527 + +These figures are interesting because of the political effect that the +population of the two sections had upon the representation in the House. + +The South was still devoting herself to the raising of tobacco, rice, +indigo, and several lesser staples, but since the close of the +Revolution, owing to the dying out of the indigo plant, a new staple had +received considerable attention. Cotton had been cultivated in Virginia +by the early settlers, but little attention had been paid to it, and +only enough was produced for domestic use; but after the close of the +Revolution it gradually came to be cultivated in all the Southern +States, and it was quickly discovered that being an indigenous plant it +grew very rapidly, and the climate, soil and the great number of slaves +at hand were favorable toward making it, with some attention, a most +promising and valuable product. + +The development of cotton manufacture had been gradual but certain to +this period, which saw the triumph and use of the mechanical inventions +of Hargreave, Arkwright, Crompton and Cartwright. The steam engine was +introduced to supply motive power, and only one thing stood in the way +of an enormous production of the new staple. The separation of the seed +from the cotton fibre was a tedious and time-consuming task; one negro +could only remove the seeds from about two pounds of cotton a day, and +consequently only a small amount could be sent to market. + +In 1790 not a pound of cotton was exported from the United States. In +1793, Eli Whitney, of Massachusetts, who was temporarily in Georgia, +invented his Cotton Gin, one of the earliest and most remarkable of the +many great inventions of Americans. This invention was productive of +most important and far-reaching consequences. It caused an industrial +revolution in the South by making cotton the great staple. The +production increased by leaps and bounds, bringing great wealth and +increasing social and political power to the South. With the earlier +form of the new invention the seeds could be removed from about one +hundred pounds of cotton a day. In 1792, 192,000 pounds were exported to +Europe; in 1795, after Whitney's invention, nearly six million pounds +were exported. The value of the export in 1800 was $5,700,000; in 1820, +it was $20,000,000. These figures represented enormous wealth in those +days. + +Whatever sentiment in the South against slavery had survived the +Constitutional period now disappeared completely. Cotton brought about a +new view, and from being an evil to be eradicated in some way in the +course of time, it was now regarded as absolutely necessary to the +social and political welfare of the South. The strongest of human +passions, avarice, ambition and worldly interest now bound the South +closer than ever to slavery. The slaves produced cotton--which was +wealth--and wealth brought independence and social distinction; besides +the slave was a political advantage of great importance, because five of +them, without any voice in the matter themselves, counted as three white +persons. Under these auspices grew the Slave Power, soon to be a bold, +threatening and overbearing faction in the nation. + +While the South and the Slave Power were thus being prepared for great +wealth and political standing, circumstances were working in the North +to counteract and balance, in a way, this development. New England was +beginning to feel the first impulses of a great industrial development; +interest in commerce and manufacturing was awakening, and inventive +genius, called into action by economical necessity, was at work, and the +use of machinery and mechanical inventions was increasing. New England +was shortly to be covered with cotton and other factories. + +The war between France and England opened to the United States almost a +monopoly on the West Indies trade in 1793, and it was the North that +received the greatest benefit from this trade. Congress in 1791 had +established the United States Bank at Philadelphia, with branches in all +of the important cities, and this aided the North more than the South. +In short, the North was developing that capital, energy, ingenuity and +thrift and use of mechanical inventions, the lack of which was the +greatest weakness of the South. The settlement of the Northwest +Territory by pioneers from the northern States is also to be kept in +mind. + +This great manufacturing and commercial development, and the movement of +the population westward, also awakened in the North a lively interest in +internal improvements, and the steamboat, railroad and telegraph were +soon to add their tremendous influences and advantages to this section +of the country. The various pursuits and the development of the North +increased and attracted population, and the balance between the North +and the South, which was so nearly even in 1790, grew steadily in favor +of the North, until at the opening of the Civil War the North had +nineteen million free people against eight and one-quarter million in +the South, the South at that time having four million slaves. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE. + + +"The Missouri question marked a distinct era in the political thought of +the country ... suddenly and without warning the North and the South, +the free States and the slave States, found themselves arrayed against +each other in violent and absorbing conflict." + +_James G. Blaine_. + + +Shall there be Slave States other than Louisiana west of the Mississippi +River? This question coming suddenly before the people in 1818, laying +bare the inherent antagonisms of the North and South, aroused the entire +country to a white heat of excitement; and only after a most bitter and +alarming struggle resulted in the third great Compromise on the slavery +question. + +From the time of Whitney's invention to the Missouri Compromise, three +important events happened in the history of slavery: The first Fugitive +Slave Law passed in January, 1793; the acquisition of the Louisiana +Territory in 1803, and the abolition of the slave trade in 1807. + +The call for legislation to enforce the Fugitive Slave provision in the +Constitution came, strangely enough, from the North. A free negro had +been kidnapped in Pennsylvania in 1791 and taken to Virginia. The +Governor of Virginia refused to surrender the kidnappers, claiming there +was no law on the subject. Upon the matter being brought to the +attention of Congress by the Governor of Pennsylvania, a Fugitive Slave +Law and also an Extradition Law for fugitives from justice were enacted. +While the fugitive from justice was surrounded by the safeguards of a +requisition accompanied by a certified copy of an indictment or +affidavit charging the crime, these safeguards were not given to the +slave, but he could be forcibly seized by the owner or his agent and +taken before a magistrate. There was no trial by jury, and the only +requisite for conviction was an affidavit that he had escaped. The +harshness of this procedure was resisted from the very first by the +northern people, but this law was on the statute books until the second +and last law on the subject was passed as a part of the Compromise of +1850. + +When the time came at which Congress could abolish the slave trade, a +law was promptly passed, after considerable angry debate as to its +terms, prohibiting the slave trade after December 31, 1807. In fact, it +was necessary to even effect a compromise on this subject on the point +as to what should be done with any slaves that might be imported +contrary to the law; and it was decided that they should belong neither +to the importer nor any purchaser, but should be subject to the +regulations of the State in which they might be brought. As far as it +restrained the South, the law abolishing the slave trade proved to be +more of a dead letter than the Fugitive Slave Law did in the North, +because the slave trade was carried on with more or less openness until +the Civil War, it being estimated that about fifteen thousand slaves +were brought into the country annually. The abolition of the slave trade +caused several of the border States to devote their attention to slave +breeding, which, with the increased demand and the large advance in +prices, became a profitable industry in Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky. + +The acquisition in 1803 of the Louisiana Territory, the wonderful and +romantic exploration of it by Lewis and Clark in 1804-5, the closing of +the Indian Wars and the second war with England, and hard times in the +East, caused that tremendous rush of population to the West, which +resulted in the admission of so many new States prior to 1820, and +opened anew the slavery question. Vermont, admitted in 1791, Kentucky +1792, Tennessee 1796, Ohio 1803, Louisiana 1812, Indiana 1816, +Mississippi 1817, Illinois 1818, and Alabama 1819, had raised the number +of States to twenty-two; eleven free and eleven slave; the early custom +of admitting a free and slave State together having been strictly +followed. The admission of these States effectively partitioned all of +the territory east of the Mississippi between Freedom and Slavery, with +the exception of the Michigan Territory (subsequently divided into +Michigan and Wisconsin), and the new Territory of Florida, purchased +from Spain in 1819. West of the Mississippi only one State had been +admitted, and the rest of the land was known as the Missouri Territory. +The tide of population passing down the Ohio, or through the States, had +crossed the Mississippi into the Missouri country, and Missouri, in +1818, petitioned Congress for permission to form a Constitution and +enter the Union. Nothing was said about slavery, but it was known that +the great majority of the Missouri settlers were slave owners or +sympathizers, as those who held anti-slavery opinions were content to +remain in the States formed out of the Northwest Territory, and it was +therefore certain that Missouri would be a slave State. + +[Illustration: The Capitol, Washington, D. C.] + +The Bill authorizing Missouri to act was taken up in the House on +February 13, 1819, and immediately Mr. Tallmadge, of New York, moved +that the further introduction of slavery in Missouri be prohibited, and +that children born in the State after its admission should be free at +the age of twenty-five years. Instantly and unexpectedly an exciting, +violent debate took place between the North and South. Neither professed +to understand the position of the other, but the North was more +sincerely astonished, because for the first time she realized what the +South had intended for many years, that slavery should be made a +permanent institution in the original States, and that it should be +forced into the Missouri Territory as a matter of political necessity; +because the extension of slave area had by this time become absolutely +necessary for the interests of the South. + +It was a plain proposition that if the South lost control of the +legislative reins at Washington, slavery would eventually be doomed by +adverse legislation and by the admission of free States. At the time the +Missouri question came up, the North, by reason of her larger +population, controlled the House, but the Senate was controlled by the +South. The censuses taken in 1800 and 1810 had shown that the North was +increasing two to one in population over the South, and the coming +census, it was feared, would show a much larger increase in favor of the +North; in fact, when the census for 1820 was published the division of +the population was as follows: + + Free + White. Negroes. Slaves. + North .......... 5,030,371 99,281 19,108 + South .......... 2,831,560 134,223 1,519,017 + +With a great moral weakness to justify, the South now knew herself to be +growing physically weaker, and her skillful leaders, always alert on +every phase of slavery, saw quickly that the South must insist upon more +slave territory, not only to maintain the equilibrium in the Senate, but +to counteract the growing population in the North. Therefore the +Missouri question was pressed with violence, threat and strategy. The +South was determined that Missouri should come in as a slave State or +the South would secede from the Union; the North not only argued that +slavery was a great wrong, not to be encouraged by its extension, but +was equally determined that the South should have no more political +advantage because of her slaves. "This momentous question," wrote +Jefferson, "like a fire-bell in the night, awakened and filled me with +terror." + +With the two Sections dead-locked, nothing could take place but the most +acrimonious debates, accompanied by threats and defiances. The House +adopted the Tallmadge Amendment, but it was rejected by the Senate. +Neither branch would recede from its position, and amid scenes of the +greatest excitement in Washington and throughout the country, the +Fifteenth Congress adjourned. + +The Sixteenth Congress met on December 6, 1819, and the Missouri +question came up immediately. A compromise that the territory west of +the Mississippi should be divided in the same manner as that east of the +river was rejected by the North. Fortunately or unfortunately, there is +some difficulty in deciding which, Maine applied at this time for +admission, and the South in the Senate refused to admit Maine unless the +North would admit Missouri, and out of the situation rose the Missouri +Compromise. By a close majority the Senate joined Maine and Missouri in +the same Bill, and then Senator Jesse B. Thomas, of Illinois, moved +that, excepting Missouri, slavery should forever be prohibited in all +the Louisiana Territory north of 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, +this being the southern boundary of Missouri. The Bill was taken to the +House toward the end of January, 1820, but it refused to concur. The +Senate stood fast, and after some further angry debate the House yielded +early in March, 1820; Maine came into the Union, and Missouri was +permitted to draft a Constitution, which, if acceptable, would admit her +to statehood. + +But the difficulty was not over, for when Missouri presented her +Constitution it was found to contain a provision that the Legislature +should pass a law preventing free negroes from settling in the State. +The North violently opposed this provision and refused to admit +Missouri, and the situation was even more serious than when the original +subject was considered. The intense excitement spread from Washington +throughout the country, and many felt that the Union would be dissolved. +The debate continued until the middle of February, 1821, without +solution, and Congress was to adjourn early in March. Maine had already +been admitted, and her representatives were in Congress. The South felt +that she had been betrayed. Finally a second compromise on the Missouri +question was reached, through the efforts of Henry Clay, and Missouri +was admitted upon condition that no law should ever be passed by her to +enforce the objectionable provision in her Constitution. + +While it was true that the North received in area decidedly the best of +the bargain, the Missouri Compromise was a distinct victory and gain for +the South, because she obtained a present, tangible and important +advantage in the admission of a slave State and the establishment of +slavery in the heart of the Louisiana Territory. The North obtained +nothing but a hazy, speculative advantage, and as the subsequent history +of this Compromise proved, the South intended to keep it only as long as +it served her interests. + +On the subject of the sacredness of the various Compromises on slavery, +it is interesting to note that a strong attempt was made to set aside +the Ordinance of 1787. After Ohio had been admitted the rest of the +Northwest Territory was organized under the name of the Indiana +Territory, and as many of the settlers were slavery sympathizers, they +very early (1802), under the lead of William Henry Harrison, asked +Congress to at least temporarily suspend the operation of the Ordinance +of 1787. This was refused, but Governor Harrison and a large number of +the settlers persisted until 1807 in their efforts; fortunately Congress +took no action, and in 1816 Indiana came in as a free State. There was a +struggle to make Illinois a slave State, by amending her Constitution, +which continued until 1824. + +The Compromise of 1820 practically settled the slavery question for +twenty-five years, for the question only came up in a serious form when +new territory was acquired and the manner of its division arose. No more +States were admitted until 1836, when Arkansas became a State, to be +balanced by the admission of Michigan in 1837. From 1820 to 1845 the +main issues before the people were those relating to the Tariff, +Re-chartering the Bank of the United States, and Internal improvements. + +The greatest political excitement, having an important bearing upon the +feeling between the North and South, was the opposition of the South to +the protective Tariffs of 1824 and 1828, and to the question of Internal +improvements. As a culmination of her opposition, South Carolina passed +a Nullification Ordinance in 1832, based upon the doctrine of State +rights as advocated by John C. Calhoun, but the difficulty was settled +by Clay's Compromise Tariff Bill of 1833. The opprobrium of +nullification and secession, however, does not rest entirely with the +South; the Federal Press of New England and many Federal leaders in +Congress deliberately discussed and planned a Secession Movement in +1803-4 because they thought that the purchase of the Louisiana Territory +was unconstitutional and that it would give the South an advantage which +the North would never overcome. This movement, however, never gained +strength enough to be serious. + +One result of the Missouri Compromise, most important in its political +effect, was that it created a solid South, and divided the North into +various opinions as to what should exactly be done to meet the evil. It +was this uncertainty on the part of the North and the lack of +organization on the direct subject of slavery opposition that permitted +the South to hold out so long after she had been greatly outnumbered in +population and left far behind in material progress. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE ABOLITIONISTS. + + + "If we have whispered Truth, + Whisper no longer; + Speak as the tempest does, + Sterner and stronger." + + "Song of the Free," _Whittier_, 1836. + + +Great changes in the political and economical life of a nation seldom +take place abruptly. The forces responsible for a change or modification +of conditions are generally at work long before the final result. +Nations, like individuals, grope for the truth, forming different +opinions, trying different plans--now radical, now conservative--often +failing to see and grasp the solution when it is at hand, but all the +while bringing about conditions which, when the crisis comes, form a +solid and decisive basis for action. Such is the history of this country +with reference to slavery for the three decades prior to the Civil War. +From 1833 to the organization of the Republican Party, and after that +event to the promulgation of the Emancipation Proclamation, public +opinion was incessantly agitated by the organized efforts of the +Abolitionists, although they differed among themselves and divided as to +the best plan under which to act. + +While the Northerners grouped into the Whig and Democratic Parties, and +condemned the constant agitation of the slavery question as disturbing +the public peace and jeopardizing party success, still they could not +help recognizing the cogency of the abolition argument; and as year +after year went by, and the aggressions of the slave power continued, a +steady change went on in the North and the anti-slavery sentiment became +more and more pronounced. When active political opposition to slavery +finally began it found the North not exactly unanimous as to what should +be done, but with her mind almost made up on one point, that slavery +should at least be restricted to the territory it then occupied; it +required a great political shock, such as came in 1854, to amalgamate +this sentiment. From this standpoint the opinions in the North reached +out to the extreme views of Garrison and his followers, that slavery +should be stamped out regardless of all consequences. + +The Quakers, who, from the early colonial days, had been strongest in +their expressions against slavery, formed the first Anti-Slavery Society +in the United States at Philadelphia in 1775. The Revolution interrupted +their work, but at its conclusion they resumed their efforts patiently +and incessantly, year after year, in their attempts to arouse the public +mind to the enormity and dangerousness of the slave evil. Although other +States organized anti-slavery societies immediately after the +Revolution, the Pennsylvania Society took the leading part, and was +comparatively alone for many years in the work. In the First Congress +this Society presented a Memorial, asking Congress to exercise its +utmost powers for the abolition of slavery. The subject was the occasion +of a heated debate, and Congress decided that under the Constitution it +could not, prior to 1808, abolish the slave trade; but that it had +authority to prevent citizens of the United States from carrying on the +African slave trade with other nations (a law to this effect was +subsequently passed); and that it had no authority to interfere with the +emancipation of slaves or their treatment in any of the States. The +Pennsylvania Society watched Congress closely and worked along patiently +year after year, meeting with failure after failure. This early +Abolition movement had among its supporters the foremost men of the day +--Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Jay and Henry are some of +the illustrious names connected with the movement, just as in England +the names of Burke, Fox and Pitt are recorded against the iniquity. When +the purchase of the Louisiana Territory came before Congress, the +Pennsylvania Society petitioned that measures should be taken to prevent +slavery in the new territory, but the Federalists were more engrossed +with a discussion of Constitutional questions, and the opportune moment +went by without any action on the matter. + +The agitation connected with the Missouri question brought about the +formation of a stronger anti-slavery sentiment in the North, and a group +of fearless men sprang up to devote their lives and energies to an +Abolition movement. They were radical in their views, progressive in +their methods and absolutely fearless in their denunciations. Benjamin +Lundy, a Quaker, may be said to be the father of the Abolition movement. +In 1821 he began the publication of _The Genius of Universal +Emancipation_, the first Abolition paper; he was joined at Baltimore in +1829 by William Lloyd Garrison, henceforth to be the most zealous, +unceasing and uncompromising of all the Abolitionists. Garrison, extreme +in his views, left Lundy, and in January, 1831, at Boston, without +capital and with little help, started _The Liberator_, and placed at its +head, "The Constitution of the United States is a covenant with death +and an agreement with Hell," which declaration was printed in every +edition of the paper until President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation +went into effect, when it was changed to "Proclaim liberty throughout +the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." + +As a result of Mr. Garrison's activity many new abolition societies were +formed, and on December 4, 1833, a National Convention of them was held +at Philadelphia, and the American Anti-Slavery Society was organized, +with Beriah Green as President and Lewis Tappan and John G. Whittier as +Secretaries. This Convention decided to petition Congress to suppress +the domestic slave trade between the States, and to abolish slavery in +the District of Columbia and in every place over which Congress had +exclusive jurisdiction. It admitted that Congress had no right to +interfere with slavery in any State, but its plan was to circulate +extensively anti-slavery tracts and periodicals, not only in the North +but throughout all of the slave-holding States, and to organize +anti-slavery societies in every city and village where possible, and to +send forth its agents to lift their voices against slavery. It frowned +on the work of the American Colonization Society, which had been +organized in 1816, for the purpose of colonizing parts of Africa with +American negroes, as tending to deaden the public conscience on the +question. + +With this energetic organization the anti-slavery movement now gained +rapidly in strength, but its political work for many years was confined +to a fruitless interrogation of candidates and to sending hundreds of +petitions and memorials to Congress. Anti-slavery pamphlets and papers +were also sent broadcast North and South. On seeing _The Liberator_, +with its extreme views, and on reading the anti-slavery pamphlets, the +South was enraged beyond all bounds. A North Carolina Grand Jury +indicted Garrison, and Georgia offered a large reward for his arrest and +conviction. On July 29, 1835, all anti-slavery papers were taken from +the postoffice at Charleston, S. C., by a mob and destroyed. The +following year Mr. Calhoun, in the Senate, demanded the suppression of +the right of petition on any matter connected with slavery, and in 1838 +the House adopted the infamous Atherton Gag-Rule, "Every Petition, +Memorial, Resolution, Proposition or Paper touching or relating in any +way or to any extent whatever to slavery or the abolition thereof, +shall, on presentation and without further action thereon, be laid upon +the table without being debated, printed or referred." This remarkable +rule was adopted year after year in the House until 1844, when it was +repealed through the efforts of John Quincy Adams, who for ten years +fought nobly for the Right of Petition, although he was not entirely in +sympathy with the Abolitionists. + +During this period the sentiment against the Abolitionists was very +strong in the North. In many places mobs seized upon and destroyed their +papers and printing presses, and broke up their meetings and mobbed the +speakers. James G. Birney's paper, _The Philanthropist_, was twice +mobbed in Cincinnati. On November 7, 1837, the Abolition cause was +baptized in blood by the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy, who was shot while +defending his paper and press from the attack of a pro-slavery mob at +Alton, Illinois. The following month Wendell Phillips delivered his +first abolition speech against the aggressions of the Slave Power and +the murder of Lovejoy. The continued despotism of the Slave Power, its +attempts to muzzle the freedom of speech and press, to deny the Right of +Petition, to obstruct the mails, and to obtain an Extradition Law for +the trial of citizens in slave States on charges of circulating +anti-slavery documents, and the use of violence against all who dared +raise their voices against the slavery dogmas, aroused the abolition +societies to more radical action, and a group of Abolitionists now +formed, determined on political action. This was one of the causes of +the disruption of the American Anti-Slavery Society and the withdrawal +of Garrison and his followers, who refused to take part in any election +held under the pro-slavery Constitution. + +The great leaders of the Whigs and Democrats in the North, who were +aspirants to the presidency, dared not take any active stand against the +growing demands of the Slave Power, and both parties bowed abjectly to +the monster and passed in silence these gross violations of +constitutional rights. Both parties deprecated the slavery agitation, +especially the Whigs, who were highly incensed because it jeopardized +their candidates more than it did those of the Democrats. The failure of +the two great political parties to act led to the first political +organization of the anti-slavery sentiment. At Warsaw, New York, on +November 13, 1839, the Abolitionists held a convention and nominated +James G. Birney, of New York, for President, and Thomas Earl, of +Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. This was subsequently called the +"Liberty Party," and was the first of the three anti-slavery parties to +appear in national politics. Its platform demanded the abolition of +slavery in the District of Columbia and in the territories; stoppage of +the interstate slave trade, and opposition to slavery to the fullest +extent of Constitutional powers. Mr. Birney did not desire the +nomination, and in the election of 1840, that resulted in the defeat of +Van Buren by Harrison, the Abolitionists received only 7069 votes out of +a total of two and one-half millions. The membership of the abolition +societies at this time was about 200,000; the failure to show strength +at the polls may be accounted for by reason of the refusal of many to +vote at any election held under the Constitution, and also that many +feared the dissolution of the Union, and preferred, if they voted at +all, to remain with the Democratic or Whig Parties in the hope that +their party would take some decisive action on the question. + +While the Slave Power in the United States was making violent efforts to +perpetuate itself and stifle all opposition, all the other civilized +countries of the world were abolishing slavery. Great Britain abolished +it in all her colonies in the year 1833 at a cost of one hundred +millions of dollars; but the United States, already showing itself to be +the most progressive nation in the world, could not throw off the evil, +and it remained a cause of bitter distraction until overthrown +politically by the success of the Republican Party and removed by +Secession, War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the amendments to the +Constitution. + +Although the Abolition cause seemed hopeless after the election of 1840, +they persisted in their work, and soon a series of events happened-- +Texas Annexation, the Mexican War, and the Wilmot Proviso, which, +independent of their efforts, brought about a direct issue between the +North and South on the great question--an issue to be finally decided +only by the Civil War. The work of the early Abolitionists, however, had +an influence of inestimable value and weight on the immediate success of +the Republican Party when it was organized. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +COMPROMISE OF 1850. + + +"That, as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any +territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, neither +slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said +territory." + +_Wilmot Proviso_, _August_ 8, 1846. + + +From the campaign of 1844 to the Civil War the slavery question +dominated all others in politics, North and South. During this period +almost every legislative question was decided with reference to its +effect on slavery. Press, Pulpit and Platform felt the baleful influence +of its presence, and aspirants to the presidency and to lesser political +honors sacrificed principle, conscience, and the support of their +friends to obtain the favor of the aggressive and dominating Slave +Power. The Democratic Party during this entire period took a bold stand +on the question; an anti-slavery wing of the party appeared in the +North, but at no time was it successful in changing the party platforms. +The Whig Party, with its strong pro-slavery wing in the South, and with +its northern members desirous of party success, omitted entirely any +mention of slavery in its platforms, and although the anti-slavery +members of the party were outspoken in their private views of slavery, +they attended the party conventions and acquiesced in the platforms +until 1852, when there was a general desertion of the Whig platform and +candidate. The refusal of the Whig Party to make a direct issue of the +slavery question doomed it, sooner or later, to dissolution; and +although the party was successful in 1840 and in 1848, its +disintegration really began after the election of 1840. + +To say that the result of the "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign was a +bitter disappointment to both Democrats and Whigs is putting it mildly. +The Democrats were deeply chagrined at the defeat of their candidate by +a "clap-trap" campaign, and the disappointment of the Whigs came with +the death of President Harrison and the succession of Tyler, who played +directly into the hands of the Democrats and the Slave Power, bitterly +antagonizing the party that elected him. + +The Texas question now came up to disturb politics and again bring +slavery directly before the people. Texas had gained her independence +from Mexico, and had applied, in 1837, to be received into the Union, +but the offer was declined by President Van Buren. The tragic death of +Mr. Upshur, Secretary of State, on February 28, 1844, and the +appointment of Mr. Calhoun to that office, made possible the completion +of a long conspiracy to admit Texas, and to further extend the slave +area by a war with Mexico. A Treaty of Annexation was immediately +prepared (April 12, 1844) and presented to the Senate, but was +subsequently rejected. It then became apparent that the South intended +to make a political issue of the Texas question, and there was great +alarm in the North, for the admission of Texas meant a slave area +capable of being divided into five or six slave States. In addition, it +meant war with Mexico over disputed boundaries, and the fact that Mexico +had not fully recognized the independence of Texas, and the result of +that war would unquestionably be the acquisition of more area contiguous +to the South. + +Mr. Clay and Mr. Van Buren at this time were the only ones prominently +mentioned as possibilities for the Whig and Democratic nominations for +the presidency; both published letters in which they opposed the +annexation of Texas. Mr. Van Buren's letter cost him the Democratic +nomination, for when the Convention met at Baltimore on May 27, 1844, he +was unable to obtain a sufficient vote under the two-thirds rule, and +the South forced the nomination of James K. Polk of Tennessee. This +division on the slavery question in a Democratic Convention is of great +historical importance as a link in the chain of events which led to the +final great political division between the North and South. The +Democratic Platform was emphatic in its support of slavery and the +condemnation of the Abolitionists; it advocated the annexation of Texas +and the occupation of Oregon, and the Democrats went into the campaign +with the rallying cry of "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight," in the North--a +promise of more free soil--and in the South the "Annexation of Texas." + +Mr. Clay's letter had made him stronger than ever with his party and he +was nominated unanimously. The Whig Platform, however, was absolutely +silent about the Texas question, and there was absolutely no mention of +any opposition to slavery; the whole question was totally ignored. Mr. +Clay would have defeated Polk had he not been led into the blunder of +writing another letter on the Texas question, in which he largely +withdrew from his earlier position; this alienated great numbers of the +Northern Whigs and threw thousands of votes to the candidate of the +Liberty Party. This party, in a convention at Buffalo the preceding +year, had again nominated James G. Birney for President. Its platform +was long and elaborate, and contained strong denunciations of slavery +and pledged the party to work for its abolition. The Liberty Party +polled a total of 62,300 votes, defeating Clay, who lost New York, the +pivotal State, with its thirty-six electoral votes, by 5,106, the +Liberty Party casting 15,812 votes in that State. Texas annexation +followed the election, but the pledge in regard to Oregon was cast +aside. "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" was nothing more than a campaign cry, +never intended to be followed up, and, in truth, could not have been +without a war with England. + +With the great Texas victory achieved, the South now turned herself to +the acquisition of more territory, and war with Mexico was declared May +11, 1846. The Whig Party in the North was strongly against the Mexican +War, and a strong element also expressed itself in the northern +Democratic ranks as against it; the opposition became so threatening +that, as a new House was to be elected in the Fall of 1846, the +Administration decided to end the War, if possible, and Congress was +asked to give $2,000,000 to be used in negotiating a Treaty with Mexico, +fixing the disputed boundaries. Immediately David Wilmot, of +Pennsylvania, introduced a Proviso, which had been prepared by Jacob +Brinkerhoff, of Ohio (both Democrats, and both afterwards members of the +Republican Party), to the effect that slavery should be prohibited in +any territory acquired from Mexico. This Proviso carried in the House, +but the Senate adjourned its session without coming to a vote on it. The +Proviso appeared again often in Congress, but was never adopted; it +caused more excited debate between the North and South than anything +that had ever been introduced by the anti-slavery element in Congress. +Although defeated, it served to amalgamate the anti-slavery forces, and +from that day they rallied around it as representing the fixed and +unalterable sentiment of the North; on it the Free-Soil Party entered +the Campaign of 1848 and it was the underlying principle in the +organization of the Republican Party in 1854. As a counter-balancing +action to the Wilmot Proviso, Mr. Calhoun, in February, 1847, introduced +in the Senate a long resolution to the effect that Congress had no power +to prohibit slavery in any territory, and that any attempt to do so +would be a violation of constitutional rights and lead to a dissolution +of the Union. No vote was ever taken on this resolution, and it was +nothing more than a deliberate attempt to force the issue with the +North. + +The Thirtieth Congress met December 6, 1847, and had among its members +Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, and Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, the +former elected as a Whig and the latter as a Democrat; in the Senate +Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, took his seat for the first time in +that body. Opposition to the war was strong, and it was finally closed +by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed February 2, 1848; by its +terms vast stretches of new territory were acquired by the United +States. This land had been free soil by the Laws of Mexico since 1827, +but the South, as a matter of course, expected, and had planned, to make +it slave soil, and she was determined to oppose to the utmost any +attempt to keep slavery out of this new territory; the North was equally +determined that it should remain free. The campaign of 1848 came on with +the question undecided. The Democratic Convention nominated Lewis Cass, +of Michigan, and adopted a platform similar to those of 1840 and 1844, +but nothing was said about slavery in the new territory. The Whigs +nominated Major-General Zachary Taylor, of Louisiana, for President, and +Millard Fillmore, of New York, for Vice-President, and their Convention +adjourned without adopting any platform at all. + +The failure of the two great parties to take up the prohibition of +slavery in the new territory was regarded with great indignation by many +members of both parties in the North, especially so by the Whigs; in +addition, an element of political revenge crept into the situation to +help the anti-slavery sentiment. The defeat of Van Buren in the +Democratic Convention of '44, and the anti-slavery sentiment in the +Democratic Party, had divided it, in New York, into two factions known +as "Barnburners" and "Hunkers"; the former being those who were opposed +to the extension of the slave area, and were likened to the Dutchman who +burned his barn to rid it of rats; and the latter were "Administration +Democrats"--"Northern men with Southern principles," who "hankered" +after office. Samuel J. Tilden and Benjamin F. Butler were two of the +leading "Barnburner" leaders. When the Democratic National Convention +convened in 1848, both "Barnburners" and "Hunkers" applied for +admission; the Convention offered to permit the New York vote to be cast +between them. This was refused by the "Barnburners," and they withdrew +and held an enthusiastic meeting in New York, and soon became known as +"Free-Soil Democrats." A National Convention was called to meet at +Buffalo, August 9, 1848. The old Liberty Party had already held their +Convention in November, 1847, and had nominated John P. Hale, of New +Hampshire, for President, but Mr. Hale withdrew and the Liberty Party +joined in the new movement and attended the Free-Soil Convention. Mr. +Van Buren was nominated for President, and Charles Francis Adams, of +Massachusetts, for Vice-President. The Free-Soil Platform was, of +course, strongly antagonistic to the Slave Power, and concluded with the +stirring words, "We inscribe on our banner, 'Free Soil, Free Speech, +Free Labor and Free Men,' and under it will fight on and fight ever, +until a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions." + +The Free-Soil Party was the second predecessor of the Republican Party, +and it was a curious circumstance that in this campaign it was to have +at its head a man who had been a Democratic President. The Free-Soilers +of New York later nominated Senator John A. Dix for Governor, and the +split in the Democratic Party in that State was complete, and lost the +election for the National ticket. Many Whigs hesitated between Taylor +and Van Buren, but Horace Greeley, in the _New York Tribune_, advocated +the election of Taylor. The vote in New York, which was again the +pivotal State, was: Taylor, 218,603; Cass, 114,318; Van Buren, 120,510. +The total Free-Soil vote was 291,263. It was a strange and fateful +effect that made the Liberty Party in 1844 divide the Whigs and give the +victory to the Democrats; and in 1848 the Free-Soil Party, a successor +of the Liberty Party, divided the Democrats and gave the Whigs the +victory. + +The Campaign of '48 assumes another important aspect, in that Mr. +Lincoln took an active part in it; it fixed his ideas on slavery, and +impressed him with the utter hopelessness of reconciling the North and +South on this question. Mr. Lincoln had made his debut in the House in +December, 1847, with the famous "Spot Resolutions." In the Spring of '48 +he urged his Illinois friends to give up Clay and support Gen. Taylor. +He attended the Whig Convention at Philadelphia and was well satisfied +with the nominations and the prospects of victory. Late in July he made +a strong speech for Taylor on the floor of the House, attracting the +attention of the campaign managers to such an extent that he was sent to +New England where he delivered a number of speeches, pleading with the +New Englanders not to join the Free-Soil movement, but to vote with the +Whig Party. Here he saw the strength of the anti-slavery movement, and +what he heard made him think deeper on the great question of the hour. +After listening to one of Governor Seward's speeches at Boston, in +September, he said, "Governor Seward, I have been thinking about what +you said in your speech; I reckon you are right. We have got to deal +with this slavery question, and got to give more attention to it than we +have been doing." Later in the campaign Mr. Lincoln stumped Illinois for +Taylor. + +When the Thirty-first Congress convened for its first session, on +December 3, 1849, all was confusion and uncertainty in regard to the +situation. A great many felt that the crisis had been reached at last, +and that nothing but a civil war could result. The South feared that its +long cherished plan of more slave territory was to be frustrated, and +the anxiety in the North that the territory acquired from Mexico might +be made slave was equally great. An event now occurred that brought +matters directly to an acute crisis and necessitated a settlement or a +war. Gold had been discovered in California early in 1848, and instantly +there was a tremendous influx of population, with the result that late +in 1849 California was ready for admission into the Union, not as a +slave State, as the South fondly hoped, but as free soil. With the +convening of Congress came the President's message, and it was a severe +blow to the South, for it advocated the admission of California as a +free State. The South now indeed saw its plan rapidly weakening. Violent +opposition was at once made to the admission of California as disturbing +the equal balance between the two sections, and in addition the South +complained bitterly of the difficulty of capturing slaves who escaped +into the free States. She also complained of the constant agitation of +the slave question, and now demanded that the territories should be open +to slavery, and asserted that any attempt to enforce the Wilmot Proviso +or to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia would lead to an +immediate dissolution of the Union. + +Such was the acute situation in December, 1849, and the men, scenes and +debates which attended the solution of this grave crisis present a +remarkable and dramatic picture. All eyes now turned to Mr. Clay, the +great Compromisor, then in his seventy-third year. In January, 1850, he +began his efforts to bring about what proved to be the last compromise +between the North and the South. Four great speeches were delivered on +the resolutions introduced by him. Mr. Clay, so feeble that he had to be +assisted up the Capitol steps, spoke early in February. On March 4th Mr. +Calhoun, too weak to speak himself, had his speech, full of antagonism +and foreboding, read by a colleague. Three days after Calhoun's speech, +Webster delivered his famous "Seventh of March" speech, in which he +sacrificed the support of thousands of friends, and demoralized the +entire North by condemning the Abolitionists and advocating the passage +of the Compromise measures. On March 11th Mr. Seward delivered his +"Higher Law" speech, denouncing the Compromise. The great triumvirate, +Clay, Calhoun and Webster, appeared in this debate for the last time +before the American public. Calhoun died on the last day of March. Late +in '51 Clay resigned his seat in the Senate and died at Washington, June +29, 1852. Webster took the office of Secretary of State, received a few +votes in the Whig Convention and refused to support General Scott in the +election of 1852, and died broken-hearted October 24, 1852. + +The Compromise of 1850, as finally agreed on, provided that Utah and New +Mexico should be organized into territories without reference to +slavery; California to be admitted as a free State; $10,000,000.00 to be +paid Texas for her claim to New Mexico; a new Fugitive Slave Law; and +the slave trade to be abolished in the District of Columbia. The +compromise was viewed with great indignation by the North, and was in +many respects extremely unsatisfactory to the South, who was now certain +that her plan of extension of slave area was lost. The political leaders +of both parties now argued and pretended that the slavery question was +absolutely settled, inasmuch as there was no further territory to be +partitioned, and that Clay's Compromise had included all possible phases +of the subject. But it was apparent to those who looked beneath the +surface that the situation was not settled at all; nobody in the North, +however, looked for such a startling and rash course as was adopted by +the South in 1854, and which resulted, in that year, in the formation of +the Republican Party. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BIRTH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + + +"Resolved, That of all outrages hitherto perpetrated or attempted upon +the North and freedom by the slave leaders, and their natural allies, +not one compares in bold and impudent audacity, treachery and meanness +with this, the Nebraska Bill, as to the sum of all its villainies it +adds the repudiation of a solemn compact, held as sacred as the +Constitution itself for a period of thirty-four years." + +_Adopted at First Meeting, Ripon, Wis._, _February_ 28, 1854. + + +The new Fugitive Slave Law (passed as a part of the Compromise) was +unreasonable and extremely harsh in its terms, and did more than +anything else to continue the bitterness between the North and the +South. Opposition to it appeared in the North almost immediately after +its passage, and it was clear that, because of its terms, it would prove +to be more of a dead letter than the original law of 1793. The fact of +the matter was that the South forced its passage in the harshest terms +conceivable, with the sinister plan of compelling the North to violate +it so that bad faith could be charged; and the North did not hesitate to +violate a law so repugnant to constitutional and natural rights and +human sympathy. Personal Liberty Laws were passed in many Northern +States, practically nullifying the Act; and as a result of it, the +Underground Railroad, which had been organized about 1839 by the +Quakers, did its most effective work. This mysterious organization had a +chain of stations, leading from the slave across the free States into +Canada, to assist in the escape of fugitive slaves. Mrs. Stowe, moved by +the wrongs and sufferings of the fugitives, published "Uncle Tom's +Cabin" in the summer of 1852, and it had a telling effect in creating +and solidifying the anti-slavery sentiment in the North. + +The campaign of 1852 found the Democrats united; but the Whigs had no +promising candidate, and were sorely disorganized, with a stronger +anti-slavery element than ever before in its midst. The Democrats +nominated Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, for President, and their +platform contained the following emphatic promise: "The Democratic Party +will resist all attempts at renewing in Congress, or out of it, the +agitation of the slavery question in whatever shape or color the attempt +may be made." The Whig Party nominated General Winfield Scott, of +Virginia, for President, and their platform also contained a resolution +pledging the party to the Compromise Measures as a settlement in +principle and substance of the slavery question. The Free-Soil Party, +though it had received little support at the polls, still retained a +strong organization, and nominated John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, for +President, and George W. Julian, of Indiana, for Vice-President, and +denounced both the Whig and Democratic Parties as "hopelessly corrupt +and utterly unworthy of confidence." The electoral vote gave Pierce 254 +and Scott only 42, but the popular vote was much closer: Pierce, +1,601,474; Scott, 1,386,580; Hale, 156,667. + +President Pierce's first message went to Congress December 5, 1853, and +he congratulated the country on the settlement of the slavery question; +but in the following month, notwithstanding the express promises made in +both the party platforms of the preceding election, the event came that +stunned the North, and as the realization of its enormity grew, aroused +her to the wildest excitement and the most bitter denunciation, finally +resulting in direct and emphatic political action in the organization of +the Republican Party. + +On January 4, 1854, Senator Douglas introduced a Bill organizing the +Territory of Nebraska. Twelve days later Senator Dixon, of Kentucky, +gave notice that he would move an Amendment, repealing the Missouri +Compromise, thereby permitting slavery in the new Territory. Senator +Douglas then reported (January 23d) a new Bill, making two territories +out of the same territory of the first Bill, the southern part to be +called Kansas and the northern part to be called Nebraska, and the +Missouri Compromise, "being inconsistent with the principle of +non-intervention by Congress with slavery in the States and Territories, +as recognized by the legislation of 1850, commonly called Compromise +Measures, is hereby declared inoperative and void; it being the true +intent and meaning of the Act not to legislate slavery into any +Territory or State, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the people +thereof free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their +own way." The Bill passed the Senate March 3d, but the South was not +certain of its success in the House, and final action was postponed +until May 24th, and this iniquity became a law on May 30, 1854. While +setting forth the doctrine of non-intervention and popular sovereignty +the Bill was in effect the forcing of slavery into the Territories, and +that this was the plan became practically assured when it was discovered +that throughout the summer and fall of 1853 the people of western +Missouri had been deliberately planning to settle in the territory west +of them (now called Kansas) and to make it slave soil. The whole plot, +as revealed by the legislation to which Douglas gave his support, was to +force Kansas into the Union as a slave State, thereby counterbalancing +the admission of California, which had destroyed the equilibrium between +the two sections. + +A storm of indignation swept over the North in the opening months of +1854, gaining in intensity and fury as the baseness of the new scheme of +the Slave Power was fully realized. Thousands of letters poured in on +Congressmen protesting against the passage of the Act, and hundreds of +memorials and petitions were presented to the Senate and the House. The +newspapers all over the North, beginning late in January, contained +constant articles calling on the people to hold meetings and protest +against the Nebraska outrage, and hundreds of these meetings were held +in churches, schoolhouses and public halls, and the anti-Nebraska +sentiment dominated everything. Douglas received the brunt of all this +opprobrium, and was compared to Benedict Arnold. The foreign element was +the strongest in opposition to the Nebraska measure, and the German +newspapers and the Germans, North and South, were the most emphatic in +their denunciation, and the success which the new political party was to +have must be attributed largely to them. The Western States, Ohio, +Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, were the leaders in the +anti-Nebraska movement, and also in the organization of political +opposition. The election of 1852 had badly demoralized the Whig Party, +and now the Kansas-Nebraska measures swept it away almost entirely in +the Western States, but the Eastern States, while condemning the Douglas +Bill and adopting resolutions similar to the Republican platforms of the +West, were loath to give up their party organization, and the Whig Party +continued in several of them until after the election of 1856. During +the period between 1852 and 1854 it probably occurred to many in the +North, who watched and analyzed the popular sentiment and vote, that the +Whig Party would soon be swept away, and that the dissatisfied masses of +Abolitionists, Free-Soilers, Anti-Nebraska Whigs, Anti-Nebraska +Democrats and Know-Nothings must and would unite into a party under a +new name with a platform acceptable to the anti-slavery elements in +politics. The Douglas Bill demanded political action in the North, but +how was a new party to be formed? Who would lead it, and what would be +the success of the new movement? + +We come now to the organization and first meetings of the Republican +Party. Alvan E. Bovay was the founder of the Republican Party. Not only +were the name and early principles of the party clearly outlined and +decided on in his mind, and talked about by him long before any action +was taken by any other person, but he took the first practical steps +looking to the dissolution of existing parties, and with patience and +much difficult work brought about the first meeting and pointed out +clearly and unanswerably the course to be taken. + +[Illustration: Alvan E. Bovay, Founder of the Republican Party.] + +Mr. Bovay was born in July, 1818, at Adams, New York; graduated from +Norwich University, Vermont, and was Professor in several eastern +schools and colleges, and later was admitted to the New York bar. In +October, 1850, he went West with his family, and settled at Ripon, Fond +du Lac County, Wisconsin, and soon became the recognized leader of the +Whig Party. He studied the political situation carefully, and with his +liberal education and the principles of freedom taught by life in the +West, he imbibed a hatred for the institution of Slavery, and saw +clearly that, at least, its extension must be opposed to the utmost. He +remained with the Whig Party, "following its banners, fighting its +battles faithfully, at the same time praying for its death," as he +expressed it in later years. He was fortunate in numbering among his +close friends Horace Greeley, the editor of the _New York Tribune_, the +greatest exponent of the northern views of slavery. The _Tribune_ in +1854 had a circulation of about 150,000 per week, and therefore wielded +a vast influence on public sentiment in the North. In 1852, while the +Whig Convention was in session, Mr. Bovay dined with Mr. Greeley in New +York City, and the conversation turned to the prospects of General +Scott, the Whig nominee. Mr. Bovay predicted his overwhelming defeat, +and that the Whig Party would be utterly demoralized in the North, and +that it would become necessary to organize a new party out of the +debris. He there suggested to Greeley the name "Republican" for the new +party, but Greeley received the proposition with little enthusiasm +because he not only believed that Scott would be elected but that the +Whig Party should not be dissolved. Mr. Bovay says that he advocated the +name Republican because it expressed equality--representing the +principle of the good of all the people; that it would be attractive to +the strong foreign element in the country because of their familiarity +with the name in their native lands, and that in addition the name +possessed charm and magnetism. After the defeat of General Scott, Mr. +Bovay corresponded with Mr. Greeley often in regard to the political +situation. He was fully determined to do his utmost to organize a new +party and call it Republican, and he talked over the matter persistently +with all his neighbors in the little village of Ripon, and waited for +the time to act. That time came with the violent agitation caused by the +Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and Mr. Bovay achieved the result he had planned +so long. After talking over the matter with two friends, Jehdeiah Bowen, +a Free-Soil Democrat, and Amos Loper, a call was issued for a mass +meeting to be held in the Congregational church in Ripon, February 28, +1854, with the object of ascertaining the public sentiment. This little +frontier village had a small population, and the country around it was +sparsely settled, but so earnest was the political thought of the time +that the meeting was a great success, and the church was crowded with +men and women, and even some children, who were attracted by the +seriousness of their elders. Deacon William Dunham, of the church, acted +as Chairman of this meeting, and there was a full and free discussion of +the situation and the best action to be taken. Mr. Bovay pointed out +that the only hope of defeating the extension of slavery was to disband +the old parties and unite under a new name. Before the meeting had +progressed very far the sentiment was practically unanimous. Those who +hesitated were overcome by the enthusiasm and logical arguments of the +speakers. The name Republican was suggested at this meeting, but no +action was taken on it for the reason that this was looked upon as +merely a preliminary meeting to be followed by a later one. As the +Kansas-Nebraska Bill had not yet passed the Senate nothing further could +be done at this meeting, and after adopting the following well-worded +and prophetic resolutions, the meeting adjourned to await the action of +Congress: + +"WHEREAS, The Senate of the United States is entertaining, and from +present indications is likely to pass, Bills organizing governments for +the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, in which is embodied a clause +repealing the Missouri Compromise Act, and so admit into these +Territories the slave system with all its evils, and + +"WHEREAS, We deem that compact repealable as the Constitution itself; +therefore + +"_Resolved_, That of all outrages hitherto perpetrated or attempted upon +the North and freedom by the slave leaders and their natural allies, not +one compares in bold and impudent audacity, treachery and meanness with +this, the Nebraska Bill, as to the sum of all its other villainies it +adds the repudiation of a solemn compact, held as sacred as the +Constitution itself for a period of thirty-four years; + +"_Resolved_, That the northern man who can aid and abet in the +commission of so stupendous a crime is none too good to become an +accomplice in renewing the African slave trade, the services which, +doubtless, will next be required of him by his Southern masters, should +the Nebraska treason succeed; + +"_Resolved_, That the attempt to withdraw the Missouri Compromise, +whether successful or not, admonishes the North to adopt the maxim for +all time to come, 'No more Compromises with Slavery'; + +"_Resolved_, That the passage of this Bill, if pass it should, will be a +call to arms of a great Northern Party, such an one as the country has +not hitherto seen, composed of Whigs, Democrats and Free-Soilers, every +man with a heart in him united under the single banner cry of 'Repeal! +Repeal!' + +"_Resolved_, That the small but compact phalanx of true men who oppose +the mad scheme upon the broadest principle of humanity, as well as their +unflinching efforts to uphold the public faith, deserve not only our +applause but our profound esteem; + +"_Resolved_, That the heroic attitude of General Houston, amidst a host +of degenerate men in the United States Senate, is worthy of honor and +applause." + +The Senate, as we have already seen, passed the Kansas-Nebraska Bill on +March 3d. Mr. Bovay and his co-workers lost no time in signing and +publishing the following call for a second meeting: + +"A Bill expressly intended to extend and strengthen the institution of +Slavery has passed the Senate by a large majority, many Northern +Senators voting for it, and many more sitting in their seats and not +voting at all, and it is evidently destined to pass the House and become +a law unless its progress is arrested by a general uprising of the North +against it; + +"Therefore, we, the undersigned, believing the community to be nearly +unanimous in opposition to the nefarious scheme, would call a public +meeting of the citizens of all parties to be held in the schoolhouse at +Ripon, on Monday evening, March 20th, at 6:30 o'clock, to resolve, to +petition and to organize against it." + +Through the efforts of Mr. Bovay, the meeting on the night of March 20th +was largely attended, and the little schoolhouse on the prairie was +filled with men, all voters. "We went in," wrote Mr. Bovay, "Whigs, +Free-Soilers and Democrats; we came out Republicans, and we were the +first Republicans in the Union." It is true, however, that this meeting +did not formally adopt the name Republican, but it was discussed, as it +had been for months in the village, and was practically agreed upon, but +the meeting felt that it would be better not to use the name until a +more pretentious movement of a national character was made. The meeting +lasted well into the night, and the "cold March wind blew around the +little building and the tallow candles burned low" as these pioneers in +this frontier town made history. A motion was duly made and carried that +the Town Committees of Whigs, Free-Soilers and Democrats be dissolved +and a new Committee to represent the new party be appointed. The first +Republican Committee was composed of Alvan E. Bovay, Jehdeiah Bowen, +Amos A. Loper, Jacob Woodruff and Abraham Thomas, all courageous, +outspoken and fearless men of the West, whose very names seem towers of +strength, speaking the unalterable purpose of the new party. + +These preliminary meetings of the new party having been held and a plan +of action outlined, Mr. Bovay directed all his efforts toward having +some National recognition of the name of the party. Two days before the +first meeting at Ripon he wrote Mr. Greeley a strong letter, urging him +to publish an editorial and adopt the name. Mr. Greeley gave the matter +but little attention, and several months went by before he took any +notice of the suggestion, and then it was only taken up in a +half-hearted way, but what he said was enough to settle the matter. In +the _Tribune_ of June 24, 1854, appeared an article expressing +indifference as to what name should be chosen to represent the +Anti-Nebraska sentiment in the North, but the article concluded, "We +think some simple name like Republican would more fitly designate those +who have united to restore the Union to its true mission, the champion +and promulgator of liberty rather than the propagandist of slavery." + +Another event had occurred to strengthen the adoption of the name +Republican for the new party. On the morning after the final passage of +the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, a meeting of the Anti-Nebraska members of +Congress was held in Washington, and the general political situation and +its hopelessness was fully discussed. At this meeting the feasibility of +the new party was talked over, and the members present decided to lend +their aid to such a movement, and the name Republican was discussed and +adopted. + +In point of time, Michigan has the honor of being the first State to +hold a Convention and formally adopt a platform containing the +principles of the new party and using the name Republican. Late in May, +and throughout June, 1854, a call was published and copies circulated +for signing among the voters of Michigan, in which all citizens, +"without reference to former political association," were called to +assemble in Mass Convention on Thursday, July 6th, at 1 p. m., at +Jackson, Michigan, "there to take such measures as shall be thought best +to concentrate the popular sentiment in this State against the +aggressions of the Slave Power." The meeting was overflowing in numbers +and most enthusiastic and earnest in sentiment. A long and outspoken +platform was unanimously adopted, setting forth something of the history +of slavery, and denouncing it as a great moral, social and political +wrong. The platform condemned the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; +pledged the party to opposition to slavery extension; demanded the +repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, and demanded an Act to abolish slavery +in the District of Columbia; spoke words of cheer to those who might +settle in Kansas, and concluded: + +"_Resolved_, That, in view of the necessity of battling for the first +principles of Republican Government and against the schemes of +aristocracy, the most revolting and oppressive with which the earth was +ever cursed or man debased, we will co-operate and be known as +Republicans until the contest be terminated." + +The State Central Committee was chosen and the first Republican State +Ticket in the United States was nominated, headed by Kinsley S. Bingham +for Governor. One week later, on July 13th, chosen as the anniversary of +the day on which the Ordinance of 1787 was adopted, State Conventions of +the Anti-Nebraska members of all parties were held in Ohio, Wisconsin, +Indiana and Vermont. In Wisconsin and Vermont the name Republican was +distinctly adopted, and in these two States, as well as in the others +mentioned, platforms similar in sentiment to that of Michigan were +agreed on. In Massachusetts the Convention met on July 20th and adopted +the name Republican and an Anti-Nebraska platform, and nominated Henry +Wilson for Governor, but the peculiar political situation in this State +led to the election of the Know-Nothing candidates, but as far as +opposition to slavery was concerned, the Know-Nothings in Massachusetts +were Republican in sentiment, for they selected Henry Wilson for United +States Senator. + +Ohio was the first State to suggest a State Convention of the +Anti-Nebraska sentiment; a preliminary meeting was held at Columbus +March 22d, and was attended by Whigs, Free-Soilers and Democrats. The +political situation was thoroughly discussed, and afterwards, as the +passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill became assured, a call was issued +for a State Convention to be held on July 13th. At this Convention the +name Republican was not formally adopted, but throughout the State in +the Congressional Districts that name was common. In New York the Whigs +refused to give up their party organization, but an Anti-Nebraska +platform was adopted and the Whig candidate was elected on it. New York +joined the Republican party in 1855, and Mr. Seward took his place as a +leader of the party in that State. Maine was engrossed with local +issues, and did not adopt the Republican organization in 1854, but +returned Anti-Nebraska Congressmen. Pennsylvania also held to her old +organizations, but returned Anti-Nebraska Congressmen, and the same +situation occurred in Illinois. In Iowa the situation was peculiar, but +nevertheless emphatic for the new organization. The Whigs held their +Convention in that State on February 22d, before the Nebraska Bill had +passed the Senate, and before the sentiment in the North had reached an +acute stage. But before the election in August the Whig candidate, John +W. Grimes, declared himself in favor of the Republican platform and +name, and he was practically elected as a Republican Governor, the first +in the United States. The South, of course, was solid for the Democratic +Party, and no attempt at a Republican organization was made in the +Southern States. In the other Northern States not already mentioned the +sentiment gradually, but with some slowness, solidified in favor of the +new party. + +The presence of the American, or Know-Nothing Party, which had come into +politics in 1852 as a secret organization, with the prevailing principle +of "America for Americans," and which obtained its popular name of +"Know-Nothing" because of the invariable answer of its members that they +"knew nothing" of the organization, confused the political situation in +1854 and 1855, and makes it difficult to correctly analyze and state the +political situation. + +It is seen that the Republican Party was strong in the States which had +been organized out of the Northwest Territory, but that the East and New +England, while fully endorsing the platforms of the new party, entered +reluctantly into the movement to adopt its name and organization. In the +East there were four distinct parties, the Whigs, Democrats, +Know-Nothings and Republicans, but in the West there were but two, the +Democratic and Republican. There can be no question, however, that the +sentiment of the Know-Nothing Party, which controlled many of the +elections in the East during 1854 and 1855, was strongly Anti-Nebraska, +and the success of that party in the North may safely be counted as +expressing the sentiment of the new party. + +The close of 1855 found the Republican Party well organized in Michigan, +Ohio, Wisconsin, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Iowa, Maine, +Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and Indiana. In the several other +States not mentioned it was rapidly gaining strength, and the prospects +for the presidential campaign of 1856 looked fairly bright, and if the +remnants of the Whig Party would retire from the field, and if the +Anti-Nebraska Know-Nothings would vote with the new party, the chances +for victory were exceedingly good. The struggle in Kansas between the +free settlers from the North and the pro-slavery citizens from Missouri +was now growing in bitterness, and reports of violence and blood-shed, +which came from the scene of the conflict, set the North on fire with +indignation and tended materially to solidify sentiment in favor of the +Republican Party. + +[Illustration: Schoolhouse at Ripon, Wisconsin, where the Republican Party +was born.] + +The Thirty-fourth Congress, which had been elected the preceding year, +convened December 3, 1855, and the extent of the great political +revolution which had taken place in the North was seen more clearly. The +proud Democratic majority of 89 in the preceding House had been swept +away, and the Thirty-fourth Congress, as near as it could be classified, +which was indeed difficult, was made up of one hundred and seventeen +Anti-Nebraska members, seventy-nine Democrats, and thirty-seven +Pro-Slavery Whigs and Know-Nothings. After a contest of nine weeks, +Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts, was chosen Speaker over the +Southern candidate, and although during this first session of the +Thirty-fourth Congress the opponents of slavery were without a party +name or organization, the election of Banks was clearly a victory for +the young party. Altogether the progress of the party in a period of +less than two years had been most satisfactory, and if a strong +presidential candidate could be obtained, and if great party leaders +would appear, it was evident that the new party would stand an even +chance of succeeding in the presidential election of 1856, and early +preparations were made for the first great national political contest +over the slavery question; a contest certain to be exciting and bitter +in its events and portentous in results. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FIRST REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. + + +"Free Soil, Free Men, Free Speech, Fremont." + +_Republican Rallying Cry_, 1856. + + +The opening of 1856 found the country in a turmoil of political +excitement and anxiety. Late in January, President Pierce, in a special +message, recognized the pro-slavery Legislature of Kansas, and called +the attempt to establish a Free-state Government in that Territory an +act of rebellion. This continued subserviency of the Administration to +the Slave Power so aroused the North that two days later the +Anti-Nebraska members in the House forced through a resolution by a vote +of one hundred and one to one hundred, declaring that the Missouri +Compromise ought to be restored, but nothing further could be done with +the resolution. The House at this time was dead-locked over the election +of a Speaker, which was not settled, as we have seen, until February 2d. +The situation in Kansas was daily growing more acute, and had the +natural effect of creating great bitterness both in the North and the +South, and this general unsettled and threatening state of affairs and +public opinion confronted the political parties on the eve of another +presidential campaign. + +The Republican State leaders had decided on an attempt at a National +Organization and Convention, and on January 17, 1856, the following call +was issued: + + "_To the Republicans of the United States:_ + + "In accordance with what appears to be a general desire of the + Republican party, and at the suggestion of a large portion of the + Republican Press, the undersigned, Chairmen of the State Republican + Committees of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, + Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin, hereby invite the Republicans of + the Union to meet in informal Convention at Pittsburg on the 22d of + February, 1856, for the purpose of perfecting the National Organization, + and providing for a National Delegate Convention of the Republican Party + at some subsequent day, to nominate candidates for the Presidency and + Vice-Presidency, to be supported at the election in November, 1856. + + "A. P. STONE, of Ohio, + "J. Z. GOODRICH, of Massachusetts, + "DAVID WILMOT, of Pennsylvania, + "LAWRENCE BRAINARD, of Vermont, + "WILLIAM A. WHITE, of Wisconsin." + +Because of lack of time the names of the other State Chairmen mentioned +in the body of the call were not obtained, but they all approved it by +letter. The Pittsburg Convention was to be merely preliminary to the +National Convention, but it developed unexpected enthusiasm, and it was +seen by the friends of freedom that at last a great National Party was +in the field, determined to oppose slavery to the utmost, and to remain +until the victory should be won. + +Twenty-four States, sixteen free and eight slave, sent their +representatives to the Pittsburg meeting. Lawrence Brainard, of Vermont, +called the Convention to order, and the delegates chose John A. King, of +New York, for temporary Chairman. After a prayer by Owen Lovejoy, +brother of the murdered Abolitionist, the Committee on Permanent +Organization reported the venerable Francis P. Blair, of Maryland, for +President of the Convention, who accepted the honor and read an +elaborate paper on the situation, which was listened to with marked +attention. The names of eighteen prominent Republicans were presented +for Vice-Presidents and five for Secretaries. A Committee was appointed +to draft an address to the people of the country. Earnest, hopeful and +enthusiastic speeches were made by Horace Greeley, Zachariah Chandler, +Preston King, David Wilmot, Joshua R. Giddings, George W. Julian, and +others, and a strong Freedom letter was read from Cassius M. Clay. The +Committee on Resolutions reported a lengthy address to the people of the +United States, setting forth the crimes and continued aggressions of the +Slave Power, and closing with three Resolutions, demanding the repeal, +and pledging the party to labor for the repeal, of all laws which +allowed the introduction of slavery into territory once consecrated to +freedom, and declared its purpose to resist by all constitutional means +the existence of slavery in any of the Territories of the United States; +pledging the Republicans to the support, by every lawful means, of the +brethren in Kansas, and to use every political power to obtain the +immediate admission of Kansas as a free State; and denounced the +National Administration and pledged the party to oppose and overthrow +it. A National Committee, headed by Edwin D. Morgan, of New York, was +then chosen and the preliminary Convention adjourned on February 23d to +await the call of the National Committee. + +From Washington, on March 29, 1856, the National Committee issued this +call for the First National Convention: + +"The people of the United States, without regard to past political +differences or divisions, who are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri +Compromise, to the policy of the present Administration, to the +extension of slavery into the Territories, in favor of the admission of +Kansas as a free State, and restoring the action of the Federal +Government to the principles of Washington and Jefferson, are invited by +the National Committee, appointed by the Pittsburg Convention on the 22d +of February, 1856, to send from each State three delegates from every +Congressional District, and six delegates at large, to meet at +Philadelphia on the 17th day of June next, for the purpose of +recommending candidates to be supported for the offices of President and +Vice-President of the United States." + +Pursuant to this call, the first Republican National Convention convened +at Philadelphia, in the Musical Fund Hall, on June 17, 1856, the +anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill, and was called to order by +Edwin D. Morgan, Chairman of the National Committee. Every Northern +State, and also Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia, and the +Territories of Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and the District of +Columbia, were represented by full delegations, and there were probably +between eight hundred and one thousand delegates in attendance. Robert +Emmet, of New York, formerly a Democrat, was made temporary chairman, +and accepted the honor in an eloquent and stirring speech. After prayer, +Committees on Credentials, Resolutions and Permanent Organization were +then appointed. The latter committee reported Henry S. Lane, of Indiana, +as President of the Convention, and the names of twenty-four +Vice-Presidents and a number of Secretaries. The first National Platform +of the Republican Party was then reported by David Wilmot and was +adopted with thunders of applause and amid scenes of the highest +enthusiasm. + +REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM, 1856. + +This convention of delegates, assembled in pursuance of a call addressed +to the people of the United States, without regard to past political +differences or divisions, who are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri +Compromise, to the policy of the present administration, to the +extension of slavery into free territory; in favor of admitting Kansas +as a free State, of restoring the action of the Federal government to +the principles of Washington and Jefferson; and who purpose to unite in +presenting candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President, +do resolve as follows: + +_Resolved_, That the maintenance or the principles promulgated in the +Declaration of Independence and embodied in the Federal Constitution is +essential to the preservation of our Republican institutions, and that +the Federal Constitution, the rights of the States, and the union of the +States, shall be preserved. + +_Resolved_, That, with our Republican fathers, we hold it to be a +self-evident truth, that all men are endowed with the unalienable rights +of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that the primary +object and ulterior designs of our federal government were to secure +these rights to all persons within its exclusive jurisdiction; that, as +our Republican fathers, when they had abolished slavery in all our +national territory, ordained that no person should be deprived of life, +liberty or property without due process of law, it becomes our duty to +maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to +violate it for the purpose of establishing slavery in any Territory of +the United States, by positive legislation prohibiting its extension +therein; that we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial +legislature, of any individual or association of individuals, to give +legal existence to slavery in any territory of the United States while +the present Constitution shall be maintained. + +_Resolved_, That the Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power +over the territories of the United States for their government, and that +in the exercise of this power it is both the right and the duty of +Congress to prohibit in the territories those twin relics of barbarism-- +polygamy and slavery. + +_Resolved_, That while the Constitution of the United States was +ordained and established by the people in order to form a more perfect +union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the +common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of +liberty, and contains ample provisions for the protection of life, +liberty and property of every citizen, the dearest Constitutional rights +of the people of Kansas have been fraudulently and violently taken from +them; their territory has been invaded by an armed force; spurious and +pretended legislative, judicial and executive officers have been set +over them, by whose usurped authority, sustained by the military power +of the government, tyrannical and unconstitutional laws have been +enacted and enforced; the right of the people to keep and bear arms has +been infringed; test oaths of an extraordinary and entangling nature +have been imposed as a condition of exercising the right of suffrage and +holding office; the right of an accused person to a speedy and public +trial by an impartial jury has been denied; the right of the people to +be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against +unreasonable searches and seizures, has been violated; they have been +deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law; the +freedom of speech and of the press has been abridged; the right to +choose their representatives has been made of no effect; murders, +robberies and arsons have been instigated and encouraged, and the +offenders have been allowed to go unpunished; that all these things have +been done with the knowledge, sanction and procurement of the present +administration; and that for this high crime against the Constitution, +the Union and humanity, we arraign the administration, the President, +his advisers, agents, supporters, apologists and accessories, either +before or after the fact, before the country and before the world; and +that it is our fixed purpose to bring the actual perpetrators of these +atrocious outrages and their accomplices to a sure and condign +punishment hereafter. + +_Resolved_, That Kansas should immediately be admitted as a State of the +Union, with her present free constitution, as at once the most effectual +way of securing to her citizens the enjoyment of the rights and +privileges to which they are entitled, and of ending the civil strife +now raging in her territory. + +_Resolved_, That the highwayman's plea that "Might makes right," +embodied in the Ostend circular, was in every respect unworthy of +American diplomacy, and would bring shame and dishonor upon any +government or people that gave it their sanction. + +_Resolved_, That a railroad to the Pacific Ocean, by the most central +and practicable route, is imperatively demanded by the interests of the +whole country, and that the Federal government ought to render immediate +and efficient aid in its construction; and, as an auxiliary thereto, to +the immediate construction of an emigrant route on the line of the +railroad. + +_Resolved_, That appropriations by Congress for the improvement of +rivers and harbors of a national character, required for the +accommodation and security of our existing commerce, are authorized by +the Constitution and justified by the obligation of government to +protect the lives and property of its citizens. + +_Resolved_, That we invite the affiliation and co-operation of freemen +of all parties, however differing from us in other respects, in support +of the principles herein declared, and believing that the spirit of our +institutions, as well as the Constitution of our country, guarantees +liberty of conscience and equality of rights among citizens, we oppose +all legislation impairing their security. + +The time now came to ballot for a candidate for President, but he had +been practically decided on some time before the Convention met. The +merits of four men had been thoroughly discussed in connection with this +honor--Salmon P. Chase and Judge John McLean of Ohio, William H. +Seward, of New York, and John C. Fremont of California. Senator Chase +had been too open in his opposition to slavery to be available, and his +name was withdrawn; Mr. Seward, influenced by Thurlow Weed, did not wish +the nomination, and this fact became known several months before the +Convention. McLean, of the United States Supreme Court, was strongly +favored by many, because it was felt that he alone of the candidates +mentioned could carry Pennsylvania, which had already been figured as +the pivotal State. The candidate deemed most available was John C. +Fremont, whose political experience had been brief, a term from +California in the United States Senate, and he would therefore arouse no +bitter personal antagonism by reason of his political record. He had +been a Democrat, but was in accord with the principles of the Republican +Party; in addition, he had a good record in the Army, and was widely +known for his explorations in the Rockies. His wife was the daughter of +Senator Thomas C. Benton, of Missouri, and altogether he was an +attractive and, it appeared at the time, a shrewdly selected candidate. + +[Illustration: John C. Fremont, First Republican Candidate for President.] + +There were no formal nominating speeches, but the names of all who had +been discussed as candidates had been mentioned in the many enthusiastic +speeches which were made during the Convention. An informal ballot gave +Fremont 359; McLean 190; Sumner 2; Seward 1. A formal ballot was then +immediately taken and Fremont received the entire vote of the Convention +except 37 for McLean, 1 for Seward, and the Virginia vote, which was not +cast because its delegation was not organized; the nomination was then +made unanimous. The next day an informal ballot was taken for +Vice-President. William L. Dayton, of New Jersey, received 253 votes; +Abraham Lincoln, 110; N. P. Banks, 46; David Wilmot, 43; Charles Sumner, +35, and some votes each for Henry Wilson, Jacob Collamer, Joshua R. +Giddings, Cassius M. Clay, Henry C. Carey, John A. King, Thomas Ford, +Whitefield S. Johnson, Aaron S. Pennington and Samuel C. Pomeroy. Mr. +Lincoln was not a candidate for the office, and was named without his +knowledge, and he was greatly surprised, several days later, when he +learned of it. When his name was put in nomination--the second +mentioned--inquiries as to who he was came from all parts of the hall. +Mr. Lincoln's speech before the Bloomington Convention, in Illinois, had +turned the eyes of the Republican Party in that State to him as its +leader, and the Illinois Delegation to the National Convention knew well +enough who he was, but his time had not yet come. Mr. Dayton received +the nomination for Vice-President on the formal ballot and it was made +unanimous. After appointing a committee, headed by Henry S. Lane, of +Indiana, to notify the candidates of their nominations, and listening to +a number of enthusiastic speeches, the Convention adjourned on June +19th. In one of the speeches reference was made to "Free Speech, Free +Press, Free Soil, Free Kansas," when one of the delegates interrupted, +"and Fremont"; the utterance and its amendment, with some abridgment, +became one of the rallying cries of the campaign. + +The selection of Mr. Fremont had also been influenced by the fact that +he was looked upon with favor by those delegates who withdrew from the +American or Know-Nothing Convention. The Know-Nothings had held their +Convention on February 22d, and had nominated Millard Fillmore for +President and A. J. Donelson for Vice-President. The delegates from New +England, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Iowa, being unable to secure +an Anti-Slavery Extension Plank in the Platform, seceded and soon +afterwards nominated Fremont for President, and William F. Johnston, of +Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. + +On September 17th the remnant of the Whig Party met at Philadelphia and +adopted the nominees of the American Party, Fillmore and Donelson. This +Convention and their votes in the ensuing election marked the last +appearance of the Whig Party in politics. + +The Democrats held their Convention in Cincinnati on June 3d, before the +Republican Convention was held, and nominated James Buchanan, of +Pennsylvania, for President, and John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for +Vice-President. President Pierce and Senator Douglas were both +candidates for the presidential nomination, but were withdrawn on the +fifteenth and sixteenth ballots because the South had already selected a +candidate. Mr. Buchanan had been absent as Minister to England during +the turmoil over the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. In addition, he +came from a Northern State, and was therefore doubly attractive as a +candidate; for the South, with its 112 electoral votes, needed 37 more +votes to elect their candidate, and Pennsylvania, with 27 votes, was +looked on as the pivotal State. + +The Democratic Platform, as usual, denounced the Abolitionists, and +repeated its hollow promise of 1852, that the party would resist all +attempts at renewing the agitation of the slavery question. It denounced +the Republican Party as "sectional, and subsisting exclusively on +slavery agitation," and it contained the following remarkable and +artfully worded plank: + +"_Resolved_, That we recognize the right of the people of all the +Territories, including Kansas and Nebraska, acting through the legally +and fairly expressed will of a majority of actual residents, and +whenever the number of their inhabitants justifies it, to form a +Constitution, with or without domestic slavery, and be admitted into the +Union upon terms of perfect equality with other States." +The ambiguous part of this plank was the insertion of the right of the +inhabitants to form a Constitution with or without domestic slavery. Mr. +Douglas and the other Democratic speakers argued in the North that this +meant that the people of the Territory had the right to decide for or +against slavery, but the South looked upon it as fully protecting +slavery in any Territory until a Constitution could be formed. In the +North and South the plank obtained votes for the party, but the votes +were cast in the respective sections on diametrically opposed grounds. + +The political situation in this campaign was somewhat complicated at +first by the presentation of so many candidates, for, in addition to the +candidates already named, the Abolitionists presented a ticket, as did +also a number of Americans, who seceded from the second convention of +that party, but the situation gradually resolved itself into a contest +between Buchanan, Fremont and Fillmore. No electoral tickets were +presented for Fremont in the slave States, and the fact that Fillmore +could not carry any of the free States weakened him in the South, and it +was seen that Buchanan would receive the solid electoral vote of the +South, and that the contest would therefore be between Buchanan and +Fremont for the Northern electoral votes. + +The struggle in Kansas was inseparably connected with the campaign of +1856. That struggle was virtually the opening of the Civil War, and +while the North and South fought out the issue with bullets in Kansas, +in the other States of the two sections the contest was no less bitter, +although the means were less destructive. Before either of the great +political conventions were held, Lawrence, Kansas, was captured and +sacked by the Pro-Slavery Party, and on the following day (May 22d) +Charles Sumner was struck down in the Senate by Preston S. Brooks, of +South Carolina, because of his speech, "The Crime against Kansas." These +events picture the feeling between the North and South which existed +during this campaign. The South had probably already felt that if they +went into the campaign solely on their cause they would be defeated, +hence the nomination of a Northern Democrat from a necessary State, and +the artful construction of their platform. The enthusiasm of the +Republicans was probably more for their cause than for the candidate. +The Democrats in the North evaded the issue of slavery as much as +possible, and denounced the candidacy of Fremont as sectional, and that +his success would mean the dissolution of the Union, a weighty argument +with thousands of voters, especially those who were attached to the +South by financial and commercial bonds. The speeches of the Southern +leaders and the press of the South abounded in threats of disunion in +the event of Fremont's election. The Republicans, unhampered by a +southern wing and advocating the restriction of a great moral wrong, +went into the campaign with the earnestness and enthusiasm of a +religious crusade. They carried on a clean campaign of education, and +tons of political literature were scattered broadcast over the country. + +The young men of the North were especially attracted to the Republican +Cause, and it was recognized that their vote would be a great aid; and +the influence of the women of the country was distinctly with the new +party. The clergy, the religious press and most of the eminent +professors and educated men of the North also lent their potent forces +to the new party. + +The issues presented in the campaign of 1856, like those of 1860, were +the most remarkable in our political history, and a canvass attended by +such circumstances and so portentous in results could not but be +exciting in the highest degree, and the bitterness of the situation grew +in intensity as the days of the fall elections approached. All eyes now +turned with anxiety on the few State elections which were to be held in +the North prior to the presidential election in November, because they +would unquestionably foreshadow the final result. Iowa came first, and, +in August, went Republican, and was joined in September by Maine and +Vermont, both overwhelmingly Republican. These successes were to the +highest gratification of the members of the new party, and now came the +final test, the October elections in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio. The +first of these States, with its twenty-seven electoral votes, was the +most important. Thousands of dollars were poured into the campaign funds +of the State by both sides, the Democratic Committee having the greater +amount to spend and having the better organization. Several hundred +speakers, representing both sides, traversed the State in all +directions. The Democrats used the disunion argument with great effect, +and added to it the campaign cry of "Buck, Breck and Free Kansas," and +on October 14th Pennsylvania went Democratic by a very narrow majority. +Ohio, as was expected, went Republican, but Indiana was lost, and the +result of the presidential issue was thus practically known before the +election, on November 4th. Fremont received the electoral votes of +Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, +New York, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin, one hundred and fourteen +in all. Buchanan received the vote of all the slave States and +Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois and California, a total of +one hundred and seventy-four votes; the eight votes of Maryland going to +Fillmore, the only State won by the Know-Nothings. The popular vote gave +Buchanan 1,838,169; Fremont 1,341,264; Fillmore 874,534. The popular +vote of South Carolina is not included, as the electors in that State +were chosen by her Legislature. + +When the first wave of bitter disappointment passed away, the +Republicans saw the enormous headway that had been made and they +immediately began to prepare for the national contest four years hence. +The Democrats had lost ten States which they carried in 1852, and their +electoral vote of 254 in 1852 had shrunken to 174. The South elected +Buchanan, and he became the tool of the Slave Power, and, as subsequent +events developed, it was fortunate that the Republicans were not +successful in the campaign. + +[Illustration: William H. Seward.] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES. + + +"Can the people of a United States territory in any lawful way, against +the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery from its +limits prior to the formation of a State Constitution?" + +_Lincoln to Douglas_, _Freeport Debate_, _August_ 27, 1858. + + +The Buchanan Administration began on March 4, 1857, and the Slave Power, +through the Democratic Party, found itself in complete and absolute +control of every branch of the Government, legislative, executive and +judicial. Two days after the inauguration came the famous Dred Scott +decision. The arguments in this case had been heard before the election, +but the court adjourned until after the election. The decision, +delivered by Chief Justice Taney, fixed the legal status of the negro in +the United States, and declared that he could not claim any of the +rights and privileges of a citizen, and "had no rights which the white +man was bound to respect, and that the negro might justly and lawfully +be reduced to slavery for his benefit." Then, traveling out of the +record, the Court declared that the Missouri Compromise was unauthorized +by the Constitution, and was null and void, and that Congress had no +right to keep slavery out of any Territory. It was apparent at once that +this decision completely nullified Douglas' doctrine of popular +sovereignty, and the South lost no time in abandoning that doctrine, and +declaring that she would insist as a Constitutional right that slaves +taken into any Territory must be protected like any other property. The +North was stunned for the moment by this sweeping decision; the South +was jubilant beyond all bounds, and instantly prepared to take advantage +of the new dogma to the utmost. While under this decision the Slave +Power seemed all triumphant, it was, in fact, to produce its +destruction, and slavery was to lose its power by the very thing which +seemed to strengthen it. The Dred Scott decision was bound to produce a +split in the Democratic Party and the moment that occurred the success +of the Republican Party was assured. The South spread thousands of +copies of the decision throughout the country, and when the North +recovered from the shock and saw what a revolution the decision would +cause in the Democratic Party, it joined in giving it the utmost +publicity. + +The attempt to force Kansas into the Union as a slave State under the +infamous Lecompton Constitution now began. In that Territory the +Free-State settlers had rapidly been gaining in strength, and the Slave +Power, in desperate straits, resorted to trickery. Several attempts of +the Free-State Legislature to meet were prevented by the Federal troops, +but finally, in 1857, the Free-State men voted at the regular election +and obtained control of the Territorial Legislature; but before they +could act, a pro-slavery Convention, previously chosen, concluded its +work at Lecompton and submitted the Lecompton Constitution to the +people, not permitting them, however, to vote for or against the +Constitution, but "For the Constitution with Slavery," or "For the +Constitution without Slavery." The Free-State men refused to vote at +this election, and the Lecompton Constitution was adopted, with Slavery. + +When Congress assembled, on December 7, 1859, President Buchanan, in his +message, approved the Lecompton Constitution, and recommended the +admission of Kansas under it. It had been rumored for some time that +Senator Douglas would oppose the Administration in its attempt to force +the Lecompton Constitution upon the people of Kansas, and this, indeed, +proved to be true, when, on December 9th, Douglas announced his +opposition to the action of the Administration as contrary to his +doctrine of popular sovereignty. It is unnecessary to go into the +motives that actuated Senator Douglas, but it may be stated that his +re-election to the Senate was to depend on the election in Illinois in +1858, and unless he did something to counteract the feeling against him +he was almost certain of defeat. The apostasy of Douglas was as a +thunderbolt to the South, but the North received it with great delight, +and in the early months of 1858 Douglas was easily the most popular man +in the North. The new Legislature in Kansas met in December and ordered +another election at which the people of the Territory could vote for or +against the Lecompton Constitution, and on January 9, 1858, that +Constitution was rejected by ten thousand majority. Notwithstanding this +emphatic condemnation by the people of the Territory, the Administration +persisted in its course to force Kansas in under the Lecompton +Constitution. The Senate was for the admission of Kansas, but the House +opposed it, and in a joint conference the infamous English Bill was +agreed on, in which the people of Kansas were offered a bribe in the +form of large land grants if they would accept the Lecompton +Constitution. This they subsequently refused to do by a large majority, +and Kansas remained a Territory until 1861. The Dred Scott decision and +the attempt to force in Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution helped +the Republican Party greatly, and its prospects were brighter in 1858 +than they had been in 1857, in which year there was a reaction from the +enthusiasm created by the presidential campaign of the preceding year. + +A legislature was to be chosen in Illinois in 1858 which would select +the successor to Senator Douglas. Douglas' action in opposing the +Administration had aroused public interest in him in the North, and many +of the Republican leaders desired that he should have no opposition in +Illinois, but the Republicans of that State were not of that opinion. +The Democratic Convention in Illinois met in April and endorsed Douglas; +the Republican Convention, on June 16th, resolved "That Abraham Lincoln +is the first and only choice of the Republicans of Illinois for the +United States Senate, as the successor of Stephen A. Douglas." In his +speech that evening to the Convention Mr. Lincoln made the remarkable +and daring statement, "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I +believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half +free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved; I do not expect the +house to fall; but I expect it will cease to be divided. It will become +all one thing or all the other." + +Senator Douglas reached Chicago on July 9th, and, amid the plaudits of +his friends, delivered an elaborate speech, which was listened to with +great interest by Mr. Lincoln, who was present; on the next evening Mr. +Lincoln answered in the presence of a large and enthusiastic audience. +Senator Douglas then spoke at Bloomington, and was answered by Mr. +Lincoln at Springfield, and the public interest that had been aroused, +not only in Illinois but throughout the country, caused the Republican +leaders to induce Mr. Lincoln to challenge Senator Douglas to a series +of debates on the great question of the hour. Privately Senator Douglas +was averse to meeting Mr. Lincoln in this manner, but publicly he +promptly accepted the challenge and named seven places in different +Congressional Districts in which neither had spoken, as the places where +the debates were to be held. These great debates began at Ottawa on +August 21, 1858, and were followed by meetings at Freeport, Jonesboro, +Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and concluded on October 15th at Alton, +the entire State having been traversed. + +As they read and pondered on the arguments of Mr. Lincoln, it gradually +dawned upon the people of the North that a great leader had been found, +for it was early seen and felt that Senator Douglas was not holding his +own. No greater or clearer exposition of the Northern views of slavery +and the questions connected with it had ever been pronounced than Mr. +Lincoln's, and the great contest in Illinois was watched with eagerness +and interest by the entire North, and Mr. Lincoln, from a comparatively +unknown State leader, became a great national character. + +At Freeport, Mr. Lincoln, contrary to the advice of all his friends, +asked the question which forced Douglas into a labored attempt to +reconcile his doctrine of popular sovereignty with the Dred Scott +decision. It was plain that the question, "Can the people of a United +States Territory in any lawful way, against the wish of any citizen of +the United States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the +formation of a State Constitution?" could not be answered without +antagonizing either the North or the South. There was absolutely no +middle ground on which Senator Douglas could stand for any length of +time. + +Mr. Lincoln was willing to lose the Senatorial contest if Douglas could +be defeated for the Presidency, and he gained his point, although his +friends did not immediately see the strength of it. Senator Douglas, in +an artful reply to this searching question, put forward his doctrine of +Popular Sovereignty by asserting that the people could, by "unfriendly +legislation," effectually prevent the introduction of slavery into their +midst. When the South read this declaration, so contrary to the decision +of the Supreme Court, Douglas' fate was sealed as a presidential +candidate. Owing to a totally unfair apportionment of the Senatorial +Districts, which had been made by a Democratic Legislature, Mr. Lincoln +lost the contest with Senator Douglas, who had a majority of eight on +the joint ballot in the new Legislature, but the Republican Ticket won +in the popular vote by 4000. + +Mr. Lincoln was forty-nine years old and Senator Douglas forty-five when +they met in these memorable debates. They had been thrown together for +more than twenty years by a most remarkable combination of +circumstances. They had both wooed the same woman, Mary Todd, and +Lincoln won; both craved for success in politics, and as Douglas +belonged to the dominant party in Illinois, he met with early success, +and ran the gamut of political honors and was a great national figure +before Lincoln was known. Douglas had been Attorney-General, Secretary +of State and Judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois; in 1843 he was +elected to the National House of Representatives and served until 1847, +when he was sent to the Senate, where he served until 1861; his name had +been presented for the presidential nomination to the Democratic +Conventions of 1852 and 1856. Compared to this series of political +successes those of Lincoln were indeed meagre. He had served in the +Illinois Legislature; in 1847 was sent to Congress, but served only one +term, and from 1849 to 1854 he had devoted himself, with the exception +of some canvassing done for Scott in the Campaign of 1852, almost +exclusively to his law practice. It was Senator Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska +Bill that brought Lincoln again into politics, with emphatic protests +and strong arguments against the outrage. When Mr. Douglas returned to +Illinois in 1854, he attempted, with much difficulty, to justify his +action, and the debates between him and Mr. Lincoln really began in that +year. Lincoln met his arguments, and after a few speeches Mr. Douglas +was ready to quit, and made an agreement with Mr. Lincoln that neither +of them should speak again in the campaign. In 1854 Mr. Lincoln was the +choice for United States Senator, but yielded his place to Lyman +Trumbull. He took an active part in the formation of the Republican +Party in Illinois, and at the Bloomington Convention in 1856, which +chose delegates to the first Republican National Convention, he made a +strong speech that attracted the attention of the Republicans of +Illinois to him and made him the State leader. He labored earnestly in +Illinois for the success of Fremont and Dayton. Throughout 1857 he grew +stronger with the party, with the result that he was the unanimous and +only choice in 1858 as the successor to Douglas. + +Douglas secured the shadow of a victory, but Mr. Lincoln, and the +Republican Party throughout the North, had the substance, and the fall +elections in 1858 were decidedly in favor of the Republicans. The Autumn +campaigns of 1859 were of the utmost importance, and the Democrats made +great efforts in the North, especially in Ohio. Senator Douglas went +personally into that State, and at the earnest invitation of the +Republican Committee, Mr. Lincoln spoke at Columbus on September 16th +and at Cincinnati on September 17th. Mr. Dennison, the Republican +candidate in Ohio, was elected, and the Republicans were successful in +Pennsylvania and Iowa. + +A few days after the October elections the entire country was thrown +into a state of great excitement by John Brown's invasion of Virginia +and his capture of the United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry. He had +hoped for a general uprising of the slaves, but it did not occur, and +Brown was captured by Robert E. Lee, then a Colonel in the United States +Army, and after a trial on a charge of murder and treason against the +State of Virginia, was found guilty and hanged December 2, 1859. This +affair aroused the Slave Power to a frenzy of excitement, and they +immediately demanded an investigation, and strong attempts were made to +fix the conspiracy on members of the Republican Party, but it signally +failed. + +Three days after John Brown's execution, the Thirty-sixth Congress +assembled. In the Senate there were thirty-eight Democrats, twenty-five +Republicans, and two Americans; the Republicans had gained five +Senators. In the House there were one hundred and nine Republicans, +eighty-eight administration Democrats, thirteen anti-Lecompton +Democrats, and twenty-seven Americans, all of the latter, except four, +from the South. The contest for the Speakership developed the deep +animosity felt by the South, and threats of disunion and personal +violence abounded throughout the session. The Republicans generally +remained silent, only taking part in the debates when absolutely +necessary. On the first ballots the Republicans divided their votes +between Galusha A. Grow, of Pennsylvania, and John Sherman, of Ohio; Mr. +Grow having received the fewer number of votes, withdrew, under an +agreement, and the contest continued between Mr. Sherman and Mr. Bocock, +of Virginia. On January 4, 1860, Sherman was within three votes of an +election, but he finally withdrew in favor of William Pennington, a +Republican, of New Jersey, who was elected on February 1, 1860, and the +House secured a Republican organization. During the debate attendant +upon this election, Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, declared, "We will never +submit to the inauguration of a black Republican President," and this +remark, with others of a like nature, was often repeated. Many of the +members of Congress attended the session fully armed, and it often +appeared that the Civil War would probably begin in the House of +Representatives. + +In the decade between 1840 and 1850, the number of slaves in the South +increased 800,000; and in the decade between 1850 and 1860, 700,000. The +increase of white population in the South was very small compared to +that of the North. The census of 1850 showed the population of the +country to be 23,191,876, divided as follows: + + White. Free Black. Slave. + North ......... 13,269,149 196,262 262 + South ......... 6,283,965 238,187 3,204,051 + +The tremendous increase of slave population and the rapid gain of the +North over the South in free population is shown by a comparison of the +census of 1850 with that of 1860, when the total population was +31,443,322, divided between the two sections as follows: + + White. Free Black. Slave. + North ......... 18,791,159 225,967 64 + South ......... 8,182,684 262,003 3,953,696 + +Owing to the large crops in the South the demand for slaves exceeded the +supply, and the market price of negroes in the decade between 1850 and +1860 was very high. Three results followed the increased demand and the +high prices--the Domestic Slave Trade between the States was largely +increased; attempts to smuggle in slaves contrary to the Slave Trade +Laws were numerous and often successful, and the South began, in +Buchanan's administration, to consider the re-establishment of the +African slave trade. + +During the last years of Buchanan's administration politics were +dominated by virtually three parties: the Republicans with their +opposition to slavery extension--the leaders being Mr. Lincoln and Mr. +Seward; the Northern Democrats, led by Senator Douglas, with his idea of +Popular Sovereignty; and the Southern Democrats, with their purpose of +slavery extension and protection under the decision of the Supreme Court +and the Acts of Congress, their leader being Jefferson Davis, of +Mississippi. The schism in the Democratic Party was seen more clearly +late in February, 1859, when Senators Douglas and Davis, representing +the opposite principles advocated by the Democratic Party, engaged in a +bitter debate, which forecasted clearly a division in the Democratic +Party in 1860, and the probable election of a Republican President, but +who would he be, and what would be the course of the South on his +election? + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +LINCOLN. + + +"Since the November of 1860 his horizon has been black with storms. By +day and by night, he trod a way of danger and darkness. On his shoulders +rested a government dearer to him than his own life ... Even he who now +sleeps has, by this event, been clothed with new influence. Dead, he +speaks to men who now willingly hear what before they refused to listen +to ... Four years ago, O Illinois, we took from your midst an untried +man and from among the people. We return him to you a mighty conqueror. +Not thine any more, but the nation's; not ours, but the world's." + +_Henry Ward Beecher_, _April_ 16, 1865. + + +In 1860 the curtain rolled up on the beginning of the last act in the +great drama of the struggle between Freedom and Slavery. Because of the +events already narrated, a division in the Democratic Party was almost +certain if Douglas persisted in being a candidate, and that division +would mean the success of the Republican Party. A greater anxiety and +fear than perhaps ever before or since in the history of the country +pervaded the political situation in the early months of 1860. What would +transpire at the Conventions of the great parties? All eyes turned to +the first Convention, that of the Democratic Party, which assembled at +Charleston, S. C., April 23, 1860. Senator Douglas was a candidate. +There was almost an immediate disagreement on the slavery question, and +a group of extreme Southern Democrats, unable to agree with their +Northern brethren who adopted a Douglas platform, withdrew from the +Convention. This first group of seceders held a separate meeting, and +after adopting a Platform, adjourned to meet at Richmond, Va., on June +11th. In the main Convention opposition to Douglas was still strong, and +after fifty-seven ballots, without being able to nominate any candidate, +the main Convention adjourned to meet at Baltimore on June 18th. The +bolters from the Charleston Convention met in Richmond on June 11th, but +immediately adjourned again until June 28th, which was to be ten days +after the adjourned meeting of the main Convention. The main Convention +duly assembled at Baltimore on June 18th, and as it was apparent that +Douglas would be nominated, there was another withdrawal of Southern +Democrats accompanied by some of their Northern brethren. Those who +remained nominated Stephen A. Douglas for President and Benjamin +Fitzpatrick of Alabama for Vice-President. Mr. Fitzpatrick afterwards +declined, and the National Democratic Committee named Herschel V. +Johnson, of Georgia, for Vice-President. The second group of bolters +unanimously nominated John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for President, +and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President, and adopted the platform +which had been agreed upon by the bolters from the Charleston +Convention. The Charleston bolters, when they met again on June 28th, +ratified the nominations of Breckinridge and Lane. The Douglas +Democratic platform affirmed the Cincinnati platform of 1856, and stated +that the party would abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on +questions of Constitutional Law, and it denounced the Personal Liberty +Laws as revolutionary. The Breckinridge Democratic platform also adopted +the Cincinnati platform, but with explanatory resolutions to the effect +that neither Congress or any Territorial Legislature had a right to +interfere with slavery, pending the formation of a State Constitution, +and that it was the duty of the Federal Government to protect slavery at +all times. This platform also denounced the Personal Liberty Laws. The +Democratic Party had won in 1856 on an ambiguous plank in their +platform, relating to slavery in the Territories, that enabled them to +secure votes in the North and South by arguments irreconcilable with the +political thought of the two sections, and now, in 1860, they were +dissipating their strength by disagreeing on an explanation among +themselves of that ambiguous plank; it was a just political retribution. + +A temporary political party appeared in 1860, known as the +Constitutional Union Party; their convention was held at Baltimore on +May 9th, and John Bell, of Tennessee, was named for President, and +Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President. The Platform of +this party declared for "The Constitution of the country, the Union of +the States and the enforcement of the Laws." It was an attempt to divert +the voters from the geographical and sectional parties, and polled a +large popular vote. + +The second Republican National Convention convened at Chicago on +Wednesday, May 16, 1860, in the "Wigwam," a vast pine board structure +specially built for the occasion by the Chicago Republican Club. The +split in the Democratic Party, although the adjourned sessions of that +Party had not yet been held, gave increased hope of Republican success +this year, and it was felt by a great majority of the delegates and +spectators that the Convention would name the next President of the +United States. This strong probability added an importance and dignity, +not unmingled with awe, to the work of the Convention. Edwin D. Morgan, +of New York, called the Convention to order and faced an audience of +about ten thousand people, only four hundred and sixty-six of whom were +delegates. All of the free States were represented, as well as Delaware, +Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Texas and Virginia, and the Territories of +Kansas and Nebraska and the District of Columbia. Mr. Morgan named David +Wilmot for Temporary Chairman, and committees on Permanent Organization, +on Credentials, and on Rules were then severally appointed. George +Ashmun, of Massachusetts, was reported a Chairman of the Convention, and +one Vice-President and one Secretary from each State and Territory were +named. A Platform Committee was then appointed, after which the +Convention decided, after some debate over the admission of "delegates" +from the Slave States, some of whom had never seen their States, to +admit all delegates, and this included Horace Greeley, "of Oregon," who +had not desired and had not been sent with the New York delegation. A +virtual attempt to fasten the two-thirds nominating rule on the +Convention was defeated, and it was decided that a majority of the whole +number of votes should nominate. Judge William Jessup, of Pennsylvania, +reported the platform, and it was adopted with the utmost enthusiasm. +The platform on which Mr. Lincoln was elected should be read by every +Republican and every citizen interested in the history and development +of the nation. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1860. + +_Resolved_, That we, the delegated representatives of the Republican +electors of the United States, in convention assembled, in discharge +of the duty we owe to our constituents and our country, unite in the +following declarations: + +1. That the history of the nation during the last four years has fully +established the propriety and necessity of the organization and +perpetuation of the Republican party, and that the causes which called +it into existence are permanent in their nature, and now, more than ever +before, demand its peaceful and constitutional triumph. + +2. That the maintenance of the principles promulgated in the Declaration +of Independence and embodied in the Federal Constitution, "That all men +are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain +inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit +of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted +among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," +is essential to the preservation of our republican institutions; and +that the Federal Constitution, the rights of the states, and the union +of the states must and shall be preserved. + +3. That to the union of the states this nation owes its unprecedented +increase in population, its surprising development of material +resources, its rapid augmentation of wealth, its happiness at home and +its honor abroad; and we hold in abhorrence all schemes for disunion, +come from whatever source they may; and we congratulate the country that +no Republican member of Congress has uttered or countenanced the threats +of disunion so often made by Democratic members, without rebuke and with +applause from their political associates; and we denounce those threats +of disunion, in case of a popular overthrow of their ascendancy, as +denying the vital principles of free government, and as an avowal of +contemplated treason, which it is the imperative duty of an indignant +people sternly to rebuke and forever silence. + +4. That the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the states, and +especially the right of each state to order and control its own domestic +institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to +that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our +political fabric depends; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed +force of the soil of any state or territory, no matter under what +pretext, as among the gravest of crimes. + +5. That the present Democratic administration has far exceeded our worst +apprehensions, in its measureless subserviency to the exactions of a +sectional interest, as especially evinced in its desperate exertions to +force the infamous Lecompton constitution upon the protesting people of +Kansas; in construing the personal relations between master and servant +to involve an unqualified property in persons; in its attempted +enforcement everywhere, on land and sea, through the intervention of +Congress and of the federal courts, of the extreme pretensions of a +purely local interest; and in its general and unvarying abuse of the +power intrusted to it by a confiding people. + +6. That the people justly view with alarm the reckless extravagance +which pervades every department of the federal government; that a return +to rigid economy and accountability is indispensable to arrest the +systematic plunder of the public treasury by favored partisans, while +the recent startling developments of frauds and corruptions at the +federal metropolis show that an entire change of administration is +imperatively demanded. + +7. That the new dogma--that the Constitution, of its own force, carries +slavery into any or all of the territories of the United States--is a +dangerous political heresy, at variance with the explicit provisions of +that instrument itself, with contemporaneous exposition, and with +legislative and judicial precedent; is revolutionary in its tendency and +subversive of the peace and harmony of the country. + +8. That the normal condition of all the territory of the United States +is that of freedom; that, as our republican fathers, when they had +abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that "no +person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due +process of law," it becomes our duty, by legislation, whenever such +legislation is necessary, to maintain this provision of the Constitution +against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the authority of +Congress, of a territorial legislature, or of any individuals, to give +legal existence to slavery in any territory of the United States. + +9. That we brand the recent reopening of the African slave trade, under +the cover of our national flag, aided by perversions of judicial power, +as a crime against humanity and a burning shame to our country and age; +and we call upon Congress to take prompt and efficient measures for the +total and final suppression of that execrable traffic. + +10. That in the recent vetoes, by their federal governors, of the acts +of the legislatures of Kansas and Nebraska, prohibiting slavery in those +territories, we find a practical illustration of the boasted Democratic +principle of non-intervention and popular sovereignity, embodied in the +Kansas-Nebraska bill, and a demonstration of the deception and fraud +involved therein. + +11. That Kansas should of right be immediately admitted as a state under +the constitution recently formed and adopted by her people and accepted +by the House of Representatives. + +12. That, while providing revenue for the support of the general +government by duties upon imports, sound policy requires such an +adjustment of these imposts as to encourage the development of the +industrial interests of the whole country; and we commend that policy +of national exchanges which secures to the workingmen liberal wages, +to agriculture remunerative prices, to mechanics and manufacturers +an adequate reward for their skill, labor and enterprise, and to +the nation commercial prosperity and independence. + +13. That we protest against any sale or alienation to others of the +public lands held by actual settlers, and against any view of the +free-homestead policy which regards the settlers as paupers or +suppliants for public bounty; and we demand the passage by Congress +of the complete and satisfactory homestead measure which has already +passed the House. + +14. That the Republican party is opposed to any change in our +naturalization laws, or any state legislation by which the rights of +citizens hitherto accorded to immigrants from foreign lands shall be +abridged or impaired; and in favor of giving a full and efficient +protection to the rights of all classes of citizens, whether native or +naturalized, both at home and abroad. + +15. That appropriations by Congress for river and harbor improvements of +a national character, required for the accommodation and security of an +existing commerce, are authorized by the Constitution and justified by +the obligation of government to protect the lives and property of its +citizens. + +16. That a railroad to the Pacific Ocean is imperatively demanded by +the interests of the whole country; that the federal government ought +to render immediate and efficient aid in its construction; and that, +as preliminary thereto, a daily overland mail should be promptly +established. + +17. Finally having set forth our distinctive principles and views, we +invite the co-operation of all citizens, however differing on other +questions, who substantially agree with us in their affirmance and +support. + +An exciting incident occurred when Joshua R. Giddings moved to embrace +the principles of the Declaration of Independence in the platform, and, +when voted down, withdrew from the Convention; but what he proposed was +afterwards accomplished by George William Curtis, of New York, and +became the second plank of the platform, and Mr. Giddings returned to +the Convention. + +Two days were consumed in organizing and adopting the platform. The +second night of the Convention, that which intervened between Thursday +and Friday, was given up to remarkable exertions in behalf of the +several candidates. William H. Seward, of New York, was the most +prominent candidate before the Convention, and would probably have been +named had the nominations been made on the first or second day of the +Convention. The other candidates were Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois; +Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania; Salmon P. Chase and John McLean, of +Ohio; Edward Bates, of Missouri; William L. Dayton, of New Jersey, and +Jacob Collamer, of Vermont. There was a strong opposition to Mr. Seward, +based on the ground of his availability, as it was felt by Henry S. +Lane, of Indiana, and A. G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, who were the +candidates for Governor in their respective States, that Mr. Seward +could not carry those States. Mr. Greeley was also doing his utmost to +defeat Mr. Seward, but was advocating the nomination of Edward Bates, of +Missouri. The Illinois delegation had been instructed for Mr. Lincoln, +and soon added Indiana to his support, and they also obtained promises +of a majority vote of the New Hampshire, Virginia and Kentucky +delegations on the first ballot, with some scattering votes from other +States. Mr. Lincoln's candidacy was very promising, but not entirely +certain of success, as, to many, the strength of Mr. Seward appeared +invincible; but Mr. Lincoln's supporters were certain that if he could +obtain a good vote on the first ballot it would be largely increased on +the second ballot by votes from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Vermont. On the +third day of the Convention, Friday morning, May 18th, the nominations +were made. William M. Evarts presented the name of William H. Seward, +and was immediately followed by Norman B. Judd, of Illinois, who +nominated Mr. Lincoln. Others were named, and a number of seconding +speeches were made, Mr. Lincoln's name being seconded by Caleb B. Smith, +of Indiana, and Columbus Delano, of Ohio. The cheers and noisy +enthusiasm which attended the various speeches were terrifying in +volume, and it was apparent that the Lincoln shouters had the advantage +in volume of sound, and the influence of the vast assemblage and the +great pressure of environment unquestionably increased Mr. Lincoln's +chances for the nomination. The balloting began and proceeded amid +intense excitement; two hundred and thirty-three votes were necessary to +a choice, and three ballots were taken, with the following result: + + 1st 2d 3d + Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. + Seward ......... 173-1/2 184-1/2 180 + Lincoln ........ 102 181 231-1/2 + Cameron ........ 50-1/2 2 + Chase .......... 49 42-1/2 24-1/2 + Bates .......... 48 35 22 + Dayton ......... 14 10 + McLean ......... 12 8 5 + Collamer ....... 10 + +Scattering votes were also cast for Benjamin F. Wade, John M. Reed, +Charles Sumner, John C. Fremont, and Cassius M. Clay. + +At the completion of the third ballot, Mr. Lincoln lacked one and +one-half votes of the nomination. There was a momentary lull, and then +David K. Cartter, of Ohio, mounted his seat, caught the attention of the +Chairman, and, in the breathless excitement, announced that Ohio changed +four votes from Mr. Chase to Mr. Lincoln. There was a moment's silence +until it could all be appreciated, and then pandemonium for more than +twenty minutes. The immense crowd outside the "Wigwam" was soon apprised +of the result and the news spread like wildfire. Mr. Evarts moved the +nomination be made unanimous. + +There were two prominent candidates for Vice-President, Hannibal Hamlin, +of Maine, and Cassius M. Clay, of Kentucky. Others mentioned for this +honor were John Hickman and Andrew H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania, and +Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts. Two ballots were taken, and Mr. +Hamlin was nominated on the second: + + 1st Ballot. 2d Ballot. + Hamlin ..... 194 367 + Clay ....... 101-1/2 86 + Hickman .... 58 13 + Reeder ..... 51 + Banks ...... 38 + +Others who received complimentary votes on the first ballot were +Samuel Houston, William L. Dayton, Henry W. Davis, John M. Reed, +Andrew H. Reeder and John Hickman. + +During the entire Convention Mr. Lincoln remained at Springfield; there +he received the telegraphic news of his nomination, and thither went the +Notification Committee, composed of many brilliant men, most of whom had +never met him. On May 23d Mr. Lincoln wrote an admirable letter of +acceptance, and the campaign was on in earnest, notwithstanding that the +Democrats had not yet presented their ticket. In the Western States, +where his name and history appealed to the people, Mr. Lincoln's +nomination was received with the utmost delight; but in the Eastern +States the first feeling over the defeat of Mr. Seward was one of bitter +disappointment, but Mr. Seward and the other great leaders promptly and +manfully gave their whole support to Mr. Lincoln, and there was never +any question that the party would not be united in his support. The +Democratic press vented its snobbishness by constant articles calling +attention to Mr. Lincoln's poverty, and asserting that he was not a +gentleman, and had "never traveled and had no pedigree." + +The Republican Campaign of 1860 consisted of a liberal use of political +literature and of a systematic stumping of the country by the great men +of the party, prominent among whom were Seward, Schurz, Clay, Greeley, +Stevens, and many others, and hundreds of other Republican speakers of +less prominence who traversed the Northern States. Bands of +"Wide-Awakes" were organized everywhere in the North and participated in +the parades with torches and a simple uniform. There were many great +State rallies for the Republican ticket. In the North it was apparent +that the vote would be cast for either Lincoln, Douglas or Bell, and in +the slave States for Breckinridge. From the end of May to November the +work went on and the Republicans gained rapidly in strength, +notwithstanding the threats of the South to secede if the Federal +Government should ever pass into the "treacherous hands of the Black +Republican Party." Mr. Lincoln remained at Springfield during the entire +campaign, going about his usual affairs, and meeting the hundreds of +curious and otherwise who came to see him. He maintained a strict +silence on the great problem of the hour, but watched the campaign +closely, and often gave sound advice to the managers. On August 8th the +greatest State rally held in the North took place at Springfield, and it +was estimated that fully 75,000 people were present. + +After some desperate campaigning Senator Douglas gave up all hope of +success, and announced that he would go South to urge upon all the duty +of submitting to the result of the election, and he steadfastly asserted +his intention of standing by the Union. + +The only danger was that Mr. Lincoln might not receive a majority of the +electoral vote, which would throw the election into the House of +Representatives, but this was dispelled when Pennsylvania and Indiana +went Republican in October, and the result of the election on November +6th was conceded. Mr. Lincoln received the electoral votes of +California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, +Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, all Northern States, +and casting 180 out of 303 electoral votes. Breckinridge carried +Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, +Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, all slave States, +and casting seventy-two electoral votes. Bell carried Kentucky, +Tennessee and Virginia, thirty-nine votes; and Douglas only carried one +State, Missouri, with nine votes, but also received three of the seven +votes of New Jersey, the remainder going to Mr. Lincoln. The popular +vote was as follows: + + Lincoln ........... 1,866,352 Breckinridge ........ 847,514 + Douglas ........... 1,375,157 Bell ................ 587,830 + +This does not include the popular vote of South Carolina, where the +electors were chosen by the Legislature. + +[Illustration: Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861.] + +The Slave Power lost no time in carrying into effect its threats of +disunion. South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860, and by the end of +the year had seized the United States arsenals and other government +property in the State, but Fort Sumter was not molested. By February, +1861, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas had +also withdrawn. Virginia did not secede until April 17th. On February +4th a Confederate Congress met at Montgomery, Alabama, and on February +9th Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, became President, and Alexander H. +Stephens, of Georgia, became Vice-President of the Confederate States of +America. + +The breaking up of the Union did not go on without some attempts at +compromising the situation, but all such efforts failed. The House and +the Senate appointed special committees, who were either unable to agree +or whose conclusions were not adopted. On December 18th the Crittenden +Compromise Measures were introduced, and after long debate were rejected +March 2, 1861. Dramatic withdrawals from Congress were made by the +Southern Senators and Representatives, and this enabled Kansas to be +admitted, on January 29, 1861, as a free State. + +Far from attempting to stop this breaking up of the Union, Buchanan's +Administration did everything it could to aid it. Treason ran free in +Washington; the Navy was scattered and rendered unavailable; the Army +was demoralized, and thousands of stands of arms and other military +equipment were removed from the Northern arsenals and sent South; and +President Buchanan, through his Cabinet, announced the remarkable +doctrine that any State could strike at the Union, appropriate the arms +and property of the Government, and that nothing could be done to stop +it. It was not treason for South Carolina to act as she did, but it +would be treason to attempt to stop her course. + +Such was the situation when Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, +1861; seven States were out of the Union, a Southern Confederacy had +been established with an organized Government, and its President +inaugurated; the Army and Navy were crippled, the Treasury drained, and +treason and assassination threatened on all sides. From the east portico +of the Capitol, with Senator Douglas standing behind holding Mr. +Lincoln's hat, the President delivered his first Inaugural Speech. Calm, +clear, wise and firm were the words. It concluded, "I am loath to close. +We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion +may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic +cords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to +every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet +swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will +be, by the better angel of our nature." + +The bombardment of Ft. Sumter, which began on the morning of April 12, +1861, was the event that unified both the North and the South, and +henceforth the issue was to be decided solely by War. In the North, +party lines were forgotten, and the President received promises of +hearty support on all sides. On April 15th, the President declared the +South to be in a state of rebellion, and called for 75,000 troops to +recover the Government forts and property, and also called an +extraordinary session of Congress, to meet on July 4th. This history is +not directly concerned with the trying and bloody events of the Civil +War. The tremendous strain on President Lincoln during this period +perhaps will never be fully appreciated by the generations which follow +it; it was all a horrible nightmare through which the country safely +passed under the guidance of President Lincoln and the Republican Party. + +On April 16, 1862, Slavery was abolished in the District of Columbia, +and on June 19th was forever prohibited in the Territories. On September +22d President Lincoln issued his preliminary Proclamation of +Emancipation, declaring all slaves forever free in territory which might +still be in rebellion on January 1, 1863. This act, and what was +believed to be the failure of the Administration in conducting the War, +turned thousands of Democrats in the North away from the President, and +in the Fall elections of 1862 large Democratic gains were made. Ohio, +Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey and Wisconsin went +Democratic; New York elected a Democratic Governor, Horatio Seymour; but +New England, the Border States and the Western States not mentioned, +stood firm for the President, and the Administration was assured of a +good working majority in the House. + +Before passing to the presidential campaign of 1864, mention must be +made of several great legislative acts of the Republican Party during +the first few years of its control of the Government. The Morrill +Protective Tariff Bill was made a law on March 2, 1861, and became the +foundation of the Republican Tariff Bills of later years; the Legal +Tender Act of February 25, 1862, was a great turning point in the +financial history of the nation; the Homestead Act of May 20, 1862, +opened up the western country to actual settlers, and contributed +greatly to the development of the West; the Internal Revenue Act of July +1, 1862, and a National Banking system, established by the Act of +February 25, 1863, were most important, the latter removing the conflict +between the national currency and the currency of the state banks, and +marked the beginning of a sound and stable financial system, the +importance of which, in the remarkable physical development of the +country, cannot be too strongly asserted. + +Although throughout 1863 a strong radical element in the Republican +Party worked against the renomination of President Lincoln in 1864, on +the ground of his alleged timidity in handling the question of the Civil +War, this movement gradually dwindled in strength and had almost +disappeared with the opening of the presidential year of 1864, when an +election was to be held with a war in progress and the country divided. +Throughout the winter of 1863 and 1864 Mr. Chase made active efforts to +secure the presidential nomination, but the Ohio Legislature demanded +Mr. Lincoln's renomination, and Mr. Chase had to withdraw. State +Legislatures throughout the North now demanded the renomination of the +President, and they were joined in their resolutions by large numbers of +clubs and public meetings, and it was apparent to those in the party who +were antagonistic to the President that no other candidate would have +any chance. But the Copperhead element was still rampant, and the +Democrats denounced the President in unmeasured terms, declaring the war +to be a failure, and demanding peace. + +The radical element of the Republican Party held their Convention first, +at Cleveland, Ohio, on May 31, 1864, and nominated John C. Fremont for +President and John Cochrane for Vice-President, but these candidates +withdrew on September 2d, and no further notice of this meeting is +necessary. The regular Republican Convention, or National Union +Convention, as it was called, was held at Baltimore on June 7 and 8, +1864, in the Front Street Theater. The Convention was again called to +order by Edwin B. Morgan, of New York, who, after a short speech, +proposed the name of Robert J. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for temporary +Chairman. Mr. Breckinridge accepted the honor, and said that he did not +enter the deliberations of the Convention as a Republican, nor as a Whig +or Democrat, but as a Union man. There was some debate over the seating +of loyal delegates from the Confederate States, which was settled by +admitting them; thirty-one States, including eight of the slave States, +were represented. The usual committees on Credentials, Permanent +Organization and Resolutions were appointed. The Committee reported the +name of William Dennison, of Ohio, for permanent Chairman. The platform +was reported by Henry J. Raymond, of New York, and enthusiastically +adopted. The Republican Platform of 1864, framed while a great Civil War +was in progress, is a most interesting document. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1864. + +1. _Resolved_, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen to +maintain against all their enemies the integrity of the Union and the +paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States; +and that, laying aside all differences of political opinion, we pledge +ourselves as Union men, animated by a common sentiment and aiming at a +common object, to do everything in our power to aid the government in +quelling by force of arms the rebellion now raging against its +authority, and in bringing to the punishment due to their crimes the +rebels and traitors arrayed against it. + +2. _Resolved_, That we approve the determination of the government of +the United States not to compromise with rebels, or to offer them any +terms of peace except such as may be based upon an unconditional +surrender of their hostility and a return to their just allegiance to +the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that we call upon +the government to maintain this position and to prosecute the war with +the utmost possible vigor, to the complete suppression of the rebellion, +in full reliance upon the self-sacrificing patriotism, the heroic valor, +and the undying devotion of the American people to the country and its +free institutions. + +3. _Resolved_, That as slavery was the cause and now constitutes the +strength of this rebellion, and as it must be always and everywhere +hostile to the principles of republican government, justice and the +national safety demand its utter and complete extirpation from the soil +of the republic; and that while we uphold and maintain the acts and +proclamations by which the government, in its own defense, has aimed a +death-blow at this gigantic evil, we are in favor, furthermore, of such +an amendment to the Constitution, to be made by the people in conformity +with its provisions, as shall terminate and forever prohibit the +existence of slavery within the limits of the jurisdiction of the United +States. + +4. _Resolved_, That the thanks of the American people are due to the +soldiers and sailors of the army and navy who have periled their lives +in defense of the country and in vindication of the honor of its flag; +that the nation owes to them some permanent recognition of their +patriotism and their valor, and ample and permanent provision for those +of their survivors who have received disabling and honorable wounds in +the service of the country; and that the memories of those who have +fallen in its defense shall be held in grateful and everlasting +remembrance. + +5. _Resolved_, That we approve and applaud the practical wisdom, the +unselfish patriotism, and the unswerving fidelity to the Constitution +and the principles of American liberty with which Abraham Lincoln has +discharged, under circumstances of unparalleled difficulty, the great +duties and responsibilities of the presidential office; that we approve +and indorse, as demanded by the emergency and essential to the +preservation of the nation, and as within the provisions of the +Constitution, the measures and acts which he has adopted to defend the +nation against its open and secret foes; that we approve especially the +proclamation of emancipation and the employment as Union soldiers of men +heretofore held in slavery; and that we have full confidence in his +determination to carry these and all other constitutional measures +essential to the salvation of the country into full and complete effect. + +6. _Resolved_, That we deem it essential to the general welfare that +harmony should prevail in the national councils, and we regard as worthy +of public confidence and official trust those only who cordially indorse +the principles proclaimed in these resolutions, and which should +characterize the administration of the government. + +7. _Resolved_, That the government owes to all men employed in its +armies, without regard to distinction of color, the full protection of +the laws of war; and that any violation of these laws, or of the usages +of civilized nations in time of war, by the rebels now in arms, should +be made the subject of prompt and full redress. + +8. _Resolved_, That foreign immigration, which in the past has added so +much to the wealth, development of resources, and increase of power to +the nation--the asylum of the oppressed of all nations--should be +fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy. + +9. _Resolved_, That we are in favor of the speedy construction of the +railroad to the Pacific coast. + +10. _Resolved_, That the national faith, pledged for the redemption of +the public debt, must be kept inviolate, and that for this purpose we +recommend economy and rigid responsibility in the public expenditures, +and a vigorous and just system of taxation; and that it is the duty of +every loyal state to sustain the credit and promote the use of the +national currency. + +11. _Resolved_, That we approve the position taken by the government, +that the people of the United States can never regard with indifference +the attempt of any European power to overthrow by force, or to supplant +by fraud, the institutions of any republican government on the western +continent; and that they will view with extreme jealousy, as menacing to +the peace and independence of their own country the efforts of any such +power to obtain new footholds for monarchial governments, sustained by +foreign military force, in near proximity to the United States. + +After the adoption of the platform, Simon Cameron introduced a +resolution declaring for Lincoln and Hamlin as the unanimous choice of +the Convention for President and Vice-President; but this resolution was +divided so that the Convention could vote separately on the two offices. +On the first ballot Mr. Lincoln received the vote of every delegation +except Missouri, which voted for Ulysses S. Grant, but changed +immediately as soon as the ballot had been announced, and made Mr. +Lincoln's nomination unanimous. The interest of the delegation and the +spectators throughout the Convention had been centered on the nomination +for Vice-President. A number of names were mentioned, the most prominent +being Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, and +Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York. Mr. Johnson was a War Democrat. The +sentiment in the Convention was in favor of recognizing this element in +the party, and Mr. Johnson was nominated on the first ballot; the vote +as cast gave Johnson 200, Hamlin 150, Dickinson 108, and 61 scattering +votes, but before the final result was announced many changes were made, +and the final vote stood, Johnson 490, Dickinson 17, Hamlin 9. + +[Illustration: From New York Herald, Saturday, April 15, 1865.] + +The Democratic Convention did not meet until August 29th; George B. +McClellan, of New Jersey, was nominated for President, and George H. +Pendleton, of Ohio, for Vice-President. The platform called Mr. +Lincoln's Administration "four years of failure to restore the Union by +the experiment of war," and demanded immediate efforts for cessation of +hostilities and for peace. Gen. McClellan accepted the nomination, but +repudiated the platform, saying, "I could not look in the faces of my +gallant comrades of the Army and Navy and tell them that their labors +and the sacrifice of so many of our slain and wounded brethren had been +in vain." The candidate was nobler than the party. + +The President's homely expression, "It is not wise to swap horses while +crossing a stream," was the basis of the great trend of political +thought in the North, and there was little doubt of the result, although +an animated campaign was conducted. The great military victories of the +Union forces made the position of the President's opponents absurd. At +the election on November 8, 1864, Lincoln and Johnson carried twenty-two +States, receiving 212 of the total electoral vote of 233. McClellan and +Pendleton carried three States, Delaware, Kentucky and New Jersey. The +popular vote, including the Army vote (many States having made provision +for taking the vote of the soldiers in the field), was, Lincoln +2,330,552, McClellan 1,835,985. Eleven States did not vote at this +election. + +The Government was now making rapid strides for the complete abolition +of slavery. In June, 1864, the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was repealed; +in July the Coastwise Slave Trade was forever prohibited, and on January +31, 1865, the Joint Resolution proposing the Thirteenth Amendment to the +Constitution, abolishing slavery, passed the House. + +On March 4, 1865, President Lincoln was inaugurated for the second time. +The beautiful words closing his inaugural will live forever: "With +malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as +God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we +are in, to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have +borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may +achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with +all Nations." + +Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, +on April 9, 1865. On April 14th, the Stars and Stripes were again raised +over Ft. Sumter, and the glad news swept over the North that the war was +over. On the same evening the President was shot in Ford's Theater by +John Wilkes Booth, and died the next morning. "Now he belongs to the +ages," said Stanton, at the death-bed. The death of the President meant +that Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat, would be made President, and from +the overwhelming shock of Mr. Lincoln's death the Republicans turned +with misgiving and fear to the new Executive. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +RECONSTRUCTION AND THE NATIONAL DEBT. + +"By these recent successes, the reinauguration of the national +authority, the reconstruction of which has had a large share of +thought from the first, is pressed much more closely upon our +attention. It is fraught with great difficulty. Nor is it a small +additional embarrassment that we, the loyal people, differ among +ourselves as to the mode, manner and measure of reconstruction." + +_A. Lincoln_, _April_ 11, 1865. _From his last speech before death._ + + +Mr. Lincoln died at 7:22 o'clock a. m. on April 15, 1865; four hours +later Vice-President Johnson took the oath of office as President. +Before him were two gigantic problems, the solution of which was fraught +with the greatest difficulty. In what manner and under what restrictions +should the recently rebellious States--eleven in number--be allowed to +resume the exercise of their civil functions, and when should their +Senators and Representatives be seated in Congress? This was the first +problem--Reconstruction. And in what manner should the enormous war +debt be handled so that the credit of the Government would be thoroughly +re-established and maintained; and how should the enormous paper +currency (legal tenders) be managed so that the commercial interests of +the country would not be disturbed? These two problems--Reconstruction +and the National Debt--were ultimately to be worked out by the party +that saved the Union, though now a War Democrat was in charge of the +Executive Department, and friction and disagreement was almost certain. +It was most unfortunate that no definite plan of Reconstruction had been +agreed upon by the Legislative and Executive Departments before Mr. +Lincoln's death. Such an understanding would have avoided, probably, the +bitter conflict that shortly came on between President Johnson and +Congress; and the history of the few years following the Rebellion would +have presented a record of greater national progress, a quicker welding +of the Union, and a prompter re-establishment of national sentiment +between the two sections. + +While it is true that Mr. Lincoln's plan of Reconstruction did not meet +with the approval of Congress, yet it is almost certain that if he had +lived there would have been an agreement of some kind; either the party +would have followed Mr. Lincoln or Mr. Lincoln would have followed the +party. Ultimate harmony between a Republican President and a Republican +Congress was certain, although they might temporarily disagree; but +harmony between a Republican Congress and a Democratic President once +disturbed would scarcely be restored; neither would ever again +completely trust the other. + +Mr. Lincoln's work of Reconstruction began in 1863 when the Union army +had regained Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. His message to Congress +in December, 1863, was accompanied by a Proclamation of Amnesty to those +who had taken part in the Rebellion in these States, upon their taking +an oath to support the Constitution and all federal laws; and upon so +doing there was to be a restoration of property, except slaves. From +this pardon were excepted six enumerated classes of persons whose +treason had been most offensive. State Governments could be established +by those who took the oath, provided their numbers were one-tenth as +large as the total number of voters in the State at the presidential +election of 1860, and any Government so established would be recognized +by the President, but the right of Congress to admit or reject Senators +and Representatives was recognized. Louisiana was the first to make +preparations to re-enter into the possession of all its State powers +under this proclamation, and in the early months of 1864 a State +Government was duly completed and an anti-slavery Constitution adopted. +Arkansas followed the same course, but when her Senators and +Representatives applied to Congress for their seats, they were denied +admittance, and it was apparent that there was a distinct disagreement +between the President and Congress on the subject of Reconstruction. +Congress did not approve of the President's proceeding without asking +its advice, and did not approve of his plan, and a Bill was introduced +and passed embodying its views on the subject. In this Bill the +President was directed to appoint a Provisional Governor for each of the +rebellious States, and after military occupation had ceased, the +Governor was to enroll the white male citizens who would take an oath to +support the Constitution; after a majority had done so an election of +delegates to a Constitutional Convention was to follow, and the +Constitution was to contain prohibitory clauses on the subject of +slavery, the Confederate debt and the right of certain persons to vote. +If this Constitution was adopted by a majority of the popular vote, then +the President, with the consent of Congress, could recognize the State +Government, and it would be permitted to send its Representatives to +Congress. This Bill was passed July 2, 1864, on the last day of the +session, but it never became a law because the President did not sign +it, and did not return it before Congress adjourned. Several days after +the adjournment the President issued a Proclamation in which he laid the +Congressional plan before the people and declared that he was not in +favor of any one scheme of Reconstruction, and that he was also not +prepared to set aside the loyal governments which had been formed in +Louisiana and Arkansas. By the time Congress met again the President had +been re-elected, and it would seem that in some degree there was an +endorsement not only of his War Policy but of his plan of +Reconstruction. However, the matter was not pressed, and his message to +Congress in December, 1864, was silent on the subject. There was no +present occasion to bring forward the matter, but the President still +adhered to his original plan as far as Louisiana and Arkansas were +concerned, and so expressed himself in his last speech before his death. + +So the matter of Reconstruction stood when Andrew Johnson became +President. There was not much question about the general course he would +pursue, because, as War Governor of Tennessee, he had, early in 1865, +practically reconstructed that State under Mr. Lincoln's "ten percent" +plan. As Congress was not in session, and would not convene until +December, the President had the alternative of either calling an extra +session of Congress or proceeding in the matter of Reconstruction +according to his own ideas and the suggestions of his Cabinet, he having +retained the Cabinet left by Mr. Lincoln. The latter course was pursued, +and after some delay President Johnson began to act. An Executive Order +swept away all laws and decrees of the Confederacy, raised the blockade +and opened the southern ports to trade. + +On May 29, 1865, the President issued a Proclamation of Amnesty and +Pardon to all who had participated in the Rebellion upon their taking a +registered oath to support the Constitution and the Union, but the +Proclamation excepted a large number of persons of specified classes, +whose treason was deemed to be too great to allow them to again +participate in the Government. By the middle of July, Provisional +Governors had been appointed by the President in North Carolina, +Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Florida; the +authority of the United States had already been established in Virginia +early in May, and Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee had been +reconstructed under Mr. Lincoln's plan. The President's policy was that +as soon as these Governors took charge, any white person, except the +classes specified, could regain his citizenship by an oath to support +the Constitution and the Union. The taking of this oath by a sufficient +number was followed by Reconstruction Conventions, which were held in +the Southern States, and Legislators and Representatives to Congress +were chosen. The work of these Reconstruction Conventions and +Legislatures, although they repudiated the debts of the Confederacy and +recognized the Thirteenth Amendment, was highly displeasing to the +Republicans in the North, who were greatly interested in the fate of the +negroes, and who now saw them, by various laws passed by the Southern +Legislatures, deprived of all civil rights and reduced to a new form of +servitude. + +The first session of the Thirty-ninth Congress convened on December 4, +1865, with a large majority of Republicans in both House and Senate, and +both bodies in a very angry mood over the action of the President in +proceeding with the Reconstruction without their advice or consent, and +they were more enraged with the extreme and rash policies adopted by the +Southern Legislatures. To add to this bitter feeling came the +application of the Southern Senators and Representatives, many of whom +less than a year before had been engaged in active rebel-loin, to be +admitted to their seats. These applicants were refused admission by both +branches of Congress. The House and Senate appointed Reconstruction +Committees, and the debate immediately began on the great question. It +was seen at once that the Republican Party would totally ignore the +President's policy and all that had been done under it. The breach +widened between the President and Congress, when an Act to enlarge the +provisons of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill (passed March 3, 1865) came up. +The object of this Bill was to provide for the destitute and suffering +refugees and freedmen and their wives and children. The new Bill was +promptly passed, but on February 19, 1866, was vetoed by the President; +the Senate failed to pass the Bill over the veto, but later in the year +(July, 1866) the measure went through Congress in a slightly altered +form, was vetoed by the President and passed over his veto. The Civil +Rights Bill, to secure to the freed negroes in the South all of the +rights enjoyed by the white man, except suffrage, was also vetoed by the +President on March 27, 1866, and on April 9th was passed over his veto. + +[Illustration: Andrew Johnson.] + +The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, had been declared a part +of the Constitution on December 18, 1865, and the great work of the +Emancipation Proclamation was thus completed. The Reconstruction +Committee now reported the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, +fixing the status of citizens, the basis of representation, etc., and +also a Bill declaring that when the Amendment had become part of the +Constitution any of the late Confederate States, upon ratifying it, +would be allowed representation in Congress, to all of which the +President expressed his disapproval. The various presidential vetoes +completely broke off any possible chance of harmony between the +President and Congress, and in addition to them, the President indulged +in a number of rash speeches in which Congress was condemned in no very +elegant terms. On February 22, 1866, the President, in a speech at the +White House, denounced Congress bitterly for its opposition, and +referred in an abusive way to several prominent Republican leaders by +name, and he followed this up during the late Summer months by several +coarse speeches in Western cities while he was on his way to the +dedication of a monument to Stephen A. Douglas at Chicago. + +During the autumn of 1866 Congressional elections were to be held, and +there was naturally an absorbing interest in the result. These elections +were of the greatest importance, for if the President's course was +approved by the election of a Democratic Congress, almost the entire +result of the Civil War would have been undone, and the strife between +the North and South might have been renewed and continued in a more +serious form. By this time the South, encouraged by the President's +opposition, had rejected the Fourteenth Amendment, and were taking a +bold stand to maintain their policy. In October, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and +Pennsylvania went Republican, and in November were joined by New York, +which went overwhelmingly Republican, and the Republicans in the North +were everywhere victorious, and they were thus upheld in their +Reconstruction policy by the popular sentiment. + +The second session of the Thirty-ninth Congress convened on December 3, +1866. The South, during the recess of Congress, had refused to adopt the +Fourteenth Amendment, this having been made, as already stated, a +condition precedent to the enjoyment of the full privileges of +Statehood, and now nothing remained but for Congress to establish a +Government over the Southern States until they should see fit to comply +with the conditions laid down by Congress. The ten Southern States +(Tennessee had been readmitted by joint resolution July 24, 1866) were +divided into five Military Districts, under the supervision of Regular +Army Officers, who were to have control over all the people in their +Districts, for their peace and protection, until the States recognized +the Fourteenth Amendment. This Bill was passed March 2, 1867, over the +President's veto, and on the same day, over the President's veto, was +passed the Bill "To regulate the tenure of Civil offices." The object of +the latter Bill was to prevent the President from removing Republicans +from office. No person in civil office who had been appointed with the +consent of the Senate was to be removed until his successor was +appointed in a like manner. + +Efforts to impeach the President were first begun in the House on +January 7, 1867, and the Judiciary Committee, to which the matter was +referred, reported in March that it was unable to conclude its +investigations, and it recommended a continuance of the proceedings. +President Johnson now took the step that ultimately brought about his +impeachment. In August, 1867, he suspended Mr. Stanton, the Secretary of +War; the suspension was not approved by the Senate in January, 1868, but +the President, holding that the Tenure of Office Act was +unconstitutional, removed (February 21, 1868) Mr. Stanton from office +and appointed Adjutant-general Lorenzo Thomas. This act was declared +illegal by the Senate and a second impeachment was immediately reported +in the House and adopted February 24, 1868. The House selected John A. +Bingham, Geo. S. Boutwell, James F. Wilson, Benjamin F. Butler, Thomas +Williams, John A. Logan and Thaddeus Stevens, all Republicans, as +managers of the impeachment proceedings. The counsel for the President +were no less eminent: Henry Stanbery, Benjamin R. Curtis, William M. +Evarts and William S. Groesbeck. On May 11, 1868, the Senate voted +thirty-five "guilty" to nineteen "not guilty," and the impeachment +failed by one vote. Had the President been impeached, Benjamin F. Wade, +of Ohio, would have become President. The result was deeply +disappointing to the Republicans, and for many years there was +considerable feeling against the seven Republicans who voted with the +twelve Democrats against the impeachment, but lapse of time has brought +about a view that the interests of the country were best served by the +failure of the impeachment, not that President Johnson's policy and the +action of the South under it are to be adopted, but because it is +believed that the issues caused by the war were more speedily settled by +the failure to impeach. + +So bitter was the feeling of Congress against the President, and so +great was the distrust of him, that when the Thirty-ninth Congress +adjourned on March 4, 1867, the Fortieth Congress convened on the same +day, and a series of adjourned meetings were held during the months +until December, so that the President would not have undisputed sway +during the recess which usually came between March and December. + +The question of the National Debt, while not arousing the bitter +antagonism that marked the attempt to settle the Reconstruction +question, was nevertheless of equal, if not greater importance, because +it affected the prosperity and business of the entire country. The total +debt of the United States on October 31, 1865, was $2,808,549,437.55, of +which debt $454,218,038.00 was in United States notes (legal tenders or +greenbacks, as they were called) and fractional currency, in active +circulation with the National Bank currency. When the Thirty-ninth +Congress convened for the first session it had to consider the +disposition of this enormous debt, most of which had been incurred at a +high war rate of interest; and to decide what, if anything, should be +done with this vast volume of fiat currency, and to consider the matter +of reducing the Internal Revenue. The greenbacks were, of course, not on +a par with coin, as the action of the Government in declaring these +notes legal tender had destroyed our credit abroad and had driven all +coin out of circulation, and the value of these notes fluctuated almost +daily with the market value of coin. The plan of the Secretary of the +Treasury, Mr. McCulloch, was to contract the currency so as to lead to a +resumption of specie payment and again establish our credit abroad. The +situation was without precedent in financial history and there was some +excuse for what has since been deemed a wrong step in the beginning. +After considerable debate, in which some opposition was shown to the +policy of Contraction--this opposition being led by John Sherman, who +was, in fact, almost alone in his contention--a Bill was passed (April +12, 1866) allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to redeem a certain +amount of legal tenders with Bonds, a course which naturally increased +the bonded interest-bearing indebtedness and reduced the volume of +circulating medium. The people of the country speedily complained of the +contraction of the currency, and attributed the failure of business +enterprises and the lack of money to it. This sentiment resulted later +in the formation of a new but ephemeral political party, the Greenback +Party, which went so far as to advocate the unlimited issue of legal +tenders and the payment of all the indebtedness of the United States in +United States notes. The public disapproval of contraction showed itself +strongly, and this led to a Bill, passed on February 4, 1868, suspending +the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to reduce the currency. +The total amount of greenbacks had by this time been reduced to +$356,000,000. This practically settled the question of Currency +Contraction, although the Greenback Party, created by this agitation, +was in existence until the resumption of specie payments in 1879. + +As the requirements of the Treasury gradually became less, Congress +rapidly amended the Internal Revenue laws, and the Federal taxes on the +people, as a result of the war, gradually became less burdensome, and +notwithstanding the enormous reduction in the revenue of the Government, +the National Debt was reduced nearly three hundred million dollars in +the four years following the war. To add to the brightness of this +financial history, large sums were paid out toward the construction of +the Union and Central Pacific Railroads, and on July 27, 1868, Alaska +was purchased from the Russian Government for $7,200,000. + +The entire course of this financial history cannot be claimed to be +entirely satisfactory, yet the achievements of the Republican Party +during this period, acting in many instances without precedent, were +indeed remarkable. + +While the exciting scenes connected with the impeachment of the +President were going on during the early months of 1868, the South was +ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment, and by June, 1868, the long struggle +over the Reconstruction question was practically closed by the admission +of the Southern States, and in July the Fourteenth Amendment was +declared a part of the Constitution. Throughout this long contest the +Democrats, North and South, joined in vigorous support of the President +because the course of the Republicans was absolutely fatal to their +political prospects. The great contest had retarded the progress of the +South, and was unfortunate in continuing the bitterness between the two +sections of the country. Both sides hailed its conclusion with +thanksgiving, and the Republicans now looked forward to the presidential +election in the Fall of 1868, which would replace, probably with a +Republican, a President whose person and course were so obnoxious to the +party. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GRANT. + + +" ... I endorse their resolutions, and, if elected to the office of +President of the United States, it will be my endeavor to administer all +the laws in good faith, with economy, and with a view of giving peace, +quiet and protection everywhere... Peace, and universal prosperity, its +sequence, with economy of administration, will lighten the burden of +taxation, while it constantly reduces the national debt. Let us have +peace." + +_Ulysses S. Grant's Letter of Acceptance_, _May_ 29, 1868. + + +The impeachment of President Johnson had not been finally disposed of +in the Senate when the Fourth Republican National Convention assembled +in Crosby's Opera House, Chicago, on May 20, 1868, for the purpose of +nominating one whom, it was confidently believed, would succeed +President Johnson and thus end the long controversy between the +President and Congress, and between the North and the South. There was +absolutely no question as to who would be the presidential nominee, for +the overwhelming sentiment of the party had long since crystallized in +favor of a man whose wonderful career and talents had made him +pre-eminently the strongest candidate in the party. + +[Illustration: Ulysses S. Grant.] + +Ulysses S. Grant was born in Ohio in 1822, and had graduated from West +Point in 1843. He took part in the Mexican War, and was brevetted +Captain for gallant services. A few years after the close of that war he +resigned his commission and engaged in business until the call to arms +in 1861. His great success in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson +brought him the rank of Major General and made him at once one of the +most prominent and promising of the Union Generals. His subsequent +successes in Tennessee, the capture of Vicksburg and the opening of the +Mississippi caused him to be appointed to the revived rank of +Lieutenant-General, and taking personal command of the campaign against +Richmond, he had, by his dogged persistence, brought success and ended +the great conflict. He continued to remain at the head of the Army, and +in the bitter contest between the President and Congress during the +reconstruction period, though placed in a most trying position, he had +displayed rare qualities of tact and judgment, and had gained the +confidence of the entire party, and indeed of the American people. Such, +briefly, was the career of the man who was now called to accept a +presidential nomination. + +The assembling at Chicago of a great convention of soldiers and sailors +at the same time the Republican Convention met, made the latter even +more enthusiastic than the convention of 1860, and the number in +attendance was much larger. The Soldiers' Convention met before the +Republican Convention, and amid scenes of the wildest enthusiasm, +nominated Gen. Grant for the presidency, and condemned the seven +Republicans--"traitors" as they were then called--who had voted +against the impeachment of President Johnson. At noon, May 20th, the +Republican Convention was called to order by Governor Marcus L. Ward, of +New Jersey. He named Carl Schurz, of Wisconsin, as temporary Chairman. +The temporary Secretaries were B. R. Cowen, of Ohio, Luther Caldwell, of +New York, and Frank S. Richards, of Tennessee. Committees on +Credentials, Permanent Organization, Resolutions and Rules were then +appointed, each of the committees, with some few exceptions, having on +it a representative from each of the States. The name of Joseph R. +Hawley was reported for President of the Convention, and the names of +one representative from each State as Vice-President, and also +thirty-six secretaries. A delegation from the Soldiers' and Sailors' +Convention now presented a resolution nominating Gen. Grant for +President, and it caused great enthusiasm. Such a procedure was contrary +to the rules of the Convention, but the delegates were almost unanimous +in desiring the nomination to be made at once, but order was finally +restored. After some debate it was decided to give representation in the +Convention to the Territories, and to the States not yet reconstructed. +The Convention then adjourned until the following morning at ten +o'clock, at which time, on assembling, impatient attempts were again +made to nominate Gen. Grant contrary to the rules, but the Convention +finally quieted down and listened to speeches delivered by F. Hassaurek, +John M. Palmer and John W. Forney. The platform, reported by Richard W. +Thompson, of Indiana, was adopted with many cheers. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1868. + +The National Republican Party of the United States, assembled in +national convention in the City of Chicago on the 21st day of May, +1868, make the following declaration of principles: + +1. We congratulate the country on the assured success of the +reconstruction policy of Congress, as evinced by the adoption, in the +majority of the states lately in rebellion, of Constitutions securing +equal civil and political rights to all; and it is the duty of the +government to sustain those institutions and to prevent the people of +such states from being remitted to a state of anarchy. + +2. The guaranty by Congress of equal suffrage to all loyal men at +the South was demanded by every consideration of public safety, of +gratitude, and of justice, and must be maintained; while the question +of suffrage in all the loyal states properly belongs to the people of +those states. + +3. We denounce all forms of repudiation as a national crime; and the +national honor requires the payment of the public indebtedness in the +uttermost good faith to all creditors at home and abroad, not only +according to the letter, but the spirit of the laws under which it was +contracted. + +4. It is due to the labor of the nation that taxation should be +equalized, and reduced as rapidly as the national faith will permit. + +5. The national debt, contracted as it has been for the preservation of +the Union for all time to come, should be extended over a fair period +for redemption; and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of +interest thereon whenever it can be honestly done. + +6. That the best policy to diminish our burden of debt is to so improve +our credit that capitalists will seek to loan us money at lower rates of +interest than we now pay, and must continue to pay, so long as +repudiation, partial or total, open or covert, is threatened or +suspected. + +7. The government of the United States should be administered with the +strictest economy; and the corruptions which have been so shamefully +nursed and fostered by Andrew Johnson call loudly for radical reform. + +8. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic death of Abraham +Lincoln, and regret the accession of the Presidency of Andrew Johnson, +who has acted treacherously to the people who elected him and the cause +he was pledged to support; who has usurped high legislative and judicial +functions; who has refused to execute the laws; who has used his high +office to induce other officers to ignore and violate the laws; who has +employed his executive powers to render insecure the property, the +peace, the liberty and life of the citizen; who has abused the pardoning +power; who has denounced the national legislature as unconstitutional; +who has persistently and corruptly resisted, by every means in his +power, every proper attempt at the reconstruction of the states lately +in rebellion; who has perverted the public patronage into an engine of +wholesale corruption; and who has been justly impeached for high crimes +and misdemeanors, and properly pronounced guilty thereof by the vote of +thirty-five senators. + +9. The doctrine of Great Britain and other European powers, that because +a man is once a subject he is always so, must be resisted at every +hazard by the United States, as a relic of feudal times, not authorized +by the laws of nations, and at war with our national honor and +independence. Naturalized citizens are entitled to protection in all +their rights of citizenship as though they were native born; and no +citizen of the United States, native or naturalized, must be liable to +arrest and imprisonment by any foreign power for acts done or words +spoken in this country; and, if so arrested and imprisoned, it is the +duty of the government to interfere in his behalf. + +10. Of all who were faithful in the trials of the late war there were +none entitled to more especial honor than the brave soldiers and seamen +who endured the hardships of campaign and cruise, and imperilled their +lives in the service of the country; the bounties and pensions provided +by the laws for these brave defenders of the nation are obligations +never to be forgotten; the widows and orphans of the gallant dead are +the wards of the people--a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation's +protecting care. + +11. Foreign immigration, which in the past has added so much to the +wealth, development, and resources, and increase of power to this +republic--the asylum of the oppressed of all nations--should be +fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy. + +12. This convention declares itself in sympathy with all oppressed +people struggling for their rights. + +13. That we highly commend the spirit of magnanimity and forbearance +with which men who have served in the rebellion but who now frankly +and honestly co-operate with us in restoring the peace of the country +and reconstructing the Southern state governments upon the basis of +impartial justice and equal rights, are received back into the communion +of the loyal people; and we favor the removal of the disqualifications +and restrictions imposed upon the late rebels in the same measure as the +spirit of disloyalty will die out, and as may be consistent with the +safety of the loyal people. + +14. That we recognize the great principles laid down in the immortal +Declaration of Independence as the true foundation of democratic +government; and we hail with gladness every effort toward making these +principles a living reality on every inch of American soil. + +Nominations now being in order, John A. Logan, in a few words remarkable +for their force and beauty, nominated Ulysses S. Grant for President. +After the enthusiasm had abated the roll of the States was called, and +the unanimous vote of the delegates, 650 in number, was given to Gen. +Grant, and the audience went wild with delight. The great contest of the +Convention now came over the nomination for Vice-President. Henry +Wilson, Schuyler Colfax, Benjamin F. Wade, Reuben E. Fenton, James +Speed, Andrew G. Curtin, Hannibal Hamlin, James Harlan, S. C. Pomeroy, +J. A. J. Creswell and William D. Kelley were nominated. The leading +candidates were Benj. F. Wade, of Ohio, Mr. Colfax, of Indiana, Mr. +Curtin, of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, and Mr. Fenton, +of New York, all of whom had rendered the most conspicuous services to +the party. Five ballots were taken as follows: + + 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th + Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot + Wade .......... 147 170 178 206 38 + Wilson ........ 119 114 101 87 + Colfax ........ 115 145 165 186 541 + Fenton ........ 126 144 139 144 69 + Curtin ........ 51 45 40 + +Only the votes for the leading candidates are here given. Mr. Colfax was +therefore nominated on the fifth ballot, and it was felt that his name +added great strength to the ticket. He was then Speaker of the House, to +which he had been elected with the organization of the party in 1854, +and had served with great ability for six terms. + +The Democratic Convention met in New York in Tammany Hall on July 4, +1868. It was a gathering composed principally of Southern leaders and +Generals and Northern Copperheads. After a troubled session of six days +the Chairman of the Convention, Horatio Seymour, of New York, was +nominated for President on the twenty-second ballot, and Francis P. +Blair, Jr., of Missouri, was nominated for Vice-President. The platform +advocated the payment of the national debt in depreciated currency, the +overthrowing of all that had been done under the reconstruction policy +of Congress and the taxing of Government bonds. The platform practically +doomed the party to defeat before the campaign had really opened. The +canvass was exciting, but the October States practically decided the +contest, and the election on November 3d registered what had long been +conceded. Grant and Colfax received the 214 electoral votes of +twenty-six States; Seymour and Blair only carrying eight States, New +York among them, with their 80 electoral votes. The popular vote gave +Grant and Colfax 3,012,833, and Seymour and Blair 2,703,249. + +The third session of the Fortieth Congress assembled on December 7, +1868. One phase of the slavery question still remained unsettled, that +of giving the negro the right of suffrage. For several years a strong +sentiment had shown itself in the North in favor of granting this right, +and Congress had already recognized this sentiment by giving the negro +the right to vote in the District of Columbia, which act was passed over +President Johnson's veto. The great injustice of freeing the negro and +withholding from him the means of protecting his freedom by the right of +suffrage was not generally felt, and it remained now for a Republican +Congress to crown with a great act of justice the long labors of the +party, to remove all the evils of insufferable bondage, and to complete +the work of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth and +Fourteenth Amendments. + +On February 27, 1869, Congress proposed, through the Department of +State, the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution: + +"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied +or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on account of race, +color or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have power +to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." +This Amendment, after submission to the States, was proclaimed a part +of the Constitution in 1870. + +In his message to Congress in December, 1868, President Johnson said: + +"The holders of our securities have already received upon their bonds +a larger amount than their original investment, measured by the gold +standard. Upon this statement of facts it would seem but just and +equitable that the six percent interest now paid by the Government +should be applied to the reduction of the principal in semi-annual +installments, which in sixteen years and eight months would liquidate +the entire national debt." +The policy of repudiation advocated by the Democratic Party in the +campaign of 1868 and the repudiation now advocated by President Johnson, +were promptly rejected by the Republican Congress, and both branches +passed resolutions of condemnation. + +General Grant was inaugurated on March 4, 1869, and the Fortieth +Congress adjourned on the same day. The Forty-first Congress immediately +convened and elected James G. Blaine, of Maine, Speaker by 105 votes to +57 votes for Michael C. Kerr, of Indiana. Mr. Blaine was also elected +Speaker of the Forty-second Congress when it met on March 4, 1871. On +the 18th of March, 1869, Congress decided by the "Act to strengthen the +public credit," to remove as far as possible the damage done at home and +abroad by the repudiation platform of the Democratic Party, and the +repudiation message of President Johnson. This Act pledged the +Government at the earliest practicable moment to pay in coin or its +equivalent all obligations, notes and bonds except those where the law +authorizing their issue stipulated that payment might be made in lawful +money. + +May 10, 1869, witnessed the opening for traffic of the Union Pacific +Railroad, which had first been advocated by the Republican Party in its +platform in 1856, and which was now brought to a successful opening by +necessary subsidies of money and land given the railroad by Republican +Congresses. The war had resulted in a wonderful development of the +physical wealth of the North and West, and the railroad was opened at a +most opportune moment to connect the East and West, and make possible +the development of all the wonderful resources of the nation. It was +unfortunate, however, that unwise management of the bonds and credit of +the Western Railroads led to such a disastrous climax in the fall of +1873. + +In the decade between 1860 and 1870 the admission of four new States-- +Kansas in 1861, West Virginia in 1863, Nevada in 1864, and Nebraska in +1867--had raised the total number of States to thirty-seven. In +addition, six new Territories had been organized--Colorado and Dakota +in 1861, Idaho and Arizona in 1863, Montana in 1864, and Wyoming in +1868. The admission of these new States, the completing of the railroad, +the discovery of precious metals, and the general awakening of the North +caused a large increase in the population, especially in the West. The +total population of the country in 1870 was 38,558,371, of which +4,880,009 were negroes, about 4,400,000 of them living in the Southern +States. + +The second session of the Forty-first Congress met December 6, 1869. The +President in his message advocated the refunding of the National Debt, +and this was done by the Act of July 14, 1870, which authorized the +refunding of the debt at five, four and one-half and four percent, +payable in coin and exempt from taxation. + +The sentiment in favor of a general amnesty of all persons who had +engaged in the rebellion was now growing in the North, and in December, +1869, and March, 1870, Acts were passed removing legal and political +disabilities from a large class of persons in the South, but a full +pardon was not yet extended to all. The South at this time was most +bitter against negro suffrage, and the opposition was shown in a series +of most violent outrages and murders perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klans +and other similar organizations formed for the purpose of preventing the +negro from voting and the "carpet bagger" from living in the community. +The outrages and murders done by these organizations became so flagrant +that Congress passed a special Act on April 20, 1871 (the Ku Klux Act), +to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment. + +The other events of Gen. Grant's administration were chiefly of a +diplomatic nature, and it is not necessary to dwell upon them in these +pages. With the opening of 1872 came the year for another presidential +campaign, and the only serious issue was the threatened split in the +Republican Party over the question of the treatment of the South. The +Democrats were demoralized and had no candidate, and the situation was +the most peculiar and abnormal in the history of presidential campaigns. +A group of Republicans in Missouri were in favor of a more liberal +policy toward the South, and President Grant was roundly condemned for +his military rule. This movement became known as the Liberal Republican +movement, and a convention was called to meet in Cincinnati on May 1st. +This year also witnessed the organization for political action of the +Prohibition Party and the Labor Reform Party. The latter held the first +of the political conventions and met at Columbus, Ohio, February 22, +1872. Judge David Davis, of Illinois, was nominated for President, and +Judge Joel Parker, of New Jersey, for Vice-President; both subsequently +withdrew, and in August this party nominated Charles O'Conor for +President, who also declined. The platform of the Labor Reform Party +demanded lower interest on and taxation of government bonds; the repeal +of the law establishing the national banks and withdrawal of the +national bank notes; the issue of paper money based on the faith and +resources of the nation to be legal tender for all debts; exclusion of +the Chinese; no more land grants to corporations, and the organization +of a National Labor Reform party. The National Prohibition Convention +also met in Columbus, Ohio, on February 22d, and nominated James Black, +of Pennsylvania, for President, and Rev. John Russell, of Michigan, for +Vice-President. + +The National Liberal Republican Convention met at Cincinnati, Ohio, May +1, 1872. It was a mass convention, and Carl Schurz presided as Permanent +Chairman. The prominent candidates for the presidency were Judge David +Davis, Lyman Trumbull, Chas. Francis Adams, B. Gratz Brown and Horace +Greeley, whose name had not been seriously considered until the +Convention assembled, and who, on May 3d was nominated on the sixth +ballot for President, and B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri, was nominated for +Vice-President. The platform demanded universal amnesty and a liberal +policy, no more land grants to corporations, and denounced repudiation. +The Republicans met in their Fifth National Convention at Philadelphia, +June 5th, in the Academy of Music. There was no question but that +President Grant would be renominated, and the only contest was that +between Henry Wilson and Schuyler Colfax for the nomination for +Vice-President. William Claflin, of Massachusetts, called the meeting to +order and named Morton McMichael as temporary Chairman. The usual +committees were appointed, and while they were deliberating the +convention listened to a number of stirring speeches, several by colored +men, who appeared as representatives in a national convention for the +first time. Thomas Settle, of North Carolina, was reported as permanent +chairman. On the following day, after some preliminary business had been +disposed of, Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, nominated President Grant +for a second term, and the vote, 752, was made unanimous. Henry Wilson, +Schuyler Colfax, John F. Lewis, Edmund J. Davis, and Horace Maynard were +nominated for Vice-President. One ballot was cast and resulted in the +nomination of Henry Wilson, who received 364-1/2 votes to 321-1/2 for Colfax, +26 for Maynard, 16 for Davis, and one each for Jos. R. Hawley and E. F. +Noyes. The fifth Republican platform, which was now adopted, read as +follows: + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1872. + +The Republican Party of the United States, assembled in national +convention in the city of Philadelphia on the 5th and 6th days of +June, 1872, again declares its faith, appeals to its history, and +announces its position upon the questions before the country. + +1. During eleven years of supremacy it has accepted with grand courage +the solemn duties of the time. It suppressed a gigantic rebellion, +emancipated four millions of slaves, decreed the equal citizenship of +all, and established universal suffrage. Exhibiting unparalleled +magnanimity, it criminally punished no man for political offenses, and +warmly welcomed all who proved loyalty by obeying the laws and dealing +justly with their neighbors. It has steadily decreased with firm hand +the resultant disorders of a great war and initiated a wise and humane +policy toward the Indians. The Pacific Railroad and similar vast +enterprises have been generously aided and successfully conducted, the +public lands freely given to actual settlers, immigration protected and +encouraged, and a full acknowledgment of the naturalized citizens' +rights secured from European powers. A uniform national currency has +been provided, repudiation frowned down, the national credit sustained +under the most extraordinary burdens, and new bonds negotiated at lower +rates. The revenues have been carefully collected and honestly applied. +Despite annual large reductions in the rates of taxation, the public +debt has been reduced during General Grant's presidency at the rate of a +hundred millions a year; great financial crises have been avoided, and +peace and plenty prevail throughout the land. Menacing foreign +difficulties have been peacefully and honorably composed, and the honor +and power of the nation kept in high respect throughout the world. This +glorious record of the past is the party's best pledge for the future. +We believe the people will not intrust the government to any party or +combination of men composed chiefly of those who have resisted every +step of this beneficent progress. + +2. The recent amendments to the National Constitution should be +cordially sustained because they are right, not merely tolerated +because they are law, and should be carried out according to their +spirit by appropriate legislation, the enforcement of which can +safely be entrusted only to the party that secured those amendments. + +3. Complete liberty and exact equality in the enjoyment of all civil, +political and public rights should be established and effectually +maintained throughout the Union, by efficient and appropriate state and +federal legislation. Neither the law nor its administration should admit +any discrimination in respect of citizens by reason of race, creed, +color, or previous condition of servitude. + +4. The national government should seek to maintain honorable peace with +all nations, protecting its citizens everywhere, and sympathizing with +all people who strive for greater liberty. + +5. Any system of the civil service under which the subordinate positions +of the government are considered rewards for mere party zeal is fatally +demoralizing, and we therefore favor a reform of the system by laws +which shall abolish the evils of patronage and make honesty, efficiency +and fidelity the essential qualifications for public positions, without +practically creating a life-tenure of office. + +6. We are opposed to further grants of the public lands to corporations +and monopolies, and demand that the national domain be set apart for +free homes for the people. + +7. The annual revenue, after paying current expenditures, pensions, and +the interest on the public debt, should furnish a moderate balance for +the reduction of the principal, and that revenue, except so much as may +be derived from a tax on tobacco and liquors, should be raised by duties +upon importations, the details of which should be so adjusted as to aid +in securing remunerative wages to labor, and promote the industries, +prosperity, and growth of the whole country. + +8. We hold in undying honor the soldiers and sailors whose valor saved +the Union. Their pensions are a sacred debt of the nation, and the +widows and orphans of those who died for their country are entitled to +the care of a generous and grateful people. We favor such additional +legislation as will extend the bounty of the government to all our +soldiers and sailors who were honorably discharged, and who in the line +of duty became disabled, without regard to the length of service or the +cause of such discharge. + +9. The doctrine of Great Britain and other European powers concerning +allegiance--"Once a subject always a subject"--having at last, through +the efforts of the Republican party, been abandoned, and the American +idea of the individual's right to transfer allegiance having been +accepted by European nations, it is the duty of our government to guard +with jealous care the rights of adopted citizens against the assumption +of unauthorized claims by their former governments, and we urge +continued careful encouragement and protection of voluntary immigration. + +10. The franking privilege ought to be abolished and the way prepared +for a speedy reduction in the rates of postage. + +11. Among the questions which press the attention is that which concerns +the relations of capital and labor, and the Republican party recognizes +the duty of so shaping legislation as to secure full protection and the +amplest field for capital, and for labor, the creator of capital, the +largest opportunities and a just share of the mutual profits of these +two great servants of civilization. + +12. We hold that Congress and the President have only fulfilled an +imperative duty in their measures for suppression of violent and +treasonable organizations in certain lately rebellious regions, and +for the protection of the ballot-box; and therefore they are entitled +to the thanks of the nation. + +13. We denounce repudiation of the public debt, in any form or disguise, +as a national crime. We witness with pride the reduction of the +principal of the debt, and of the rates of interest upon the balance, +and confidently expect that our excellent national currency will be +perfected by a speedy resumption of specie payment. + +14. The Republican party is mindful of its obligations to the loyal +women of America for their noble devotion to the cause of freedom. Their +admission to wider fields of usefulness is viewed with satisfaction; and +the honest demand of any class of citizens for additional rights should +be treated with respectful consideration. + +15. We heartily approve the action of Congress in extending amnesty to +those lately in rebellion, and rejoice in the growth of peace and +fraternal feeling throughout the land. + +16. The Republican party proposes to respect the rights reserved by the +people to themselves as carefully as the powers delegated by them to the +state and to the federal government. It disapproves of the resort to +unconstitutional laws for the purpose of removing evils by interference +with rights not surrendered by the people to either the state or +national government. + +17. It is the duty of the general government to adopt such measures as +may tend to encourage and restore American commerce and ship-building. + +18. We believe that the modest patriotism, the earnest purpose, the +sound judgment, the practical wisdom, the incorruptible integrity, +and the illustrious services of Ulysses S. Grant have commended him +to the heart of the American people, and with him at our head we +start to-day upon a new march to victory. + +19. Henry Wilson, nominated for the Vice-Presidency, known to the whole +land from the early days of the great struggle for liberty as an +indefatigable laborer in all campaigns, an incorruptible legislator, and +representative man of American institutions, is worthy to associate with +our great leader and share the honors which we pledge our best efforts +to bestow upon them. + +It is important also to note that Grant and Wilson had already been +nominated by the Workingmen's National Convention in New York on May +23d. + +The Democratic National Convention met at Baltimore on July 9th and +endorsed the Liberal Republican nominees, Greeley and Brown, and the +Liberal Republican platform. A convention of "straight-out" Democrats +met at Louisville, Kentucky, September 3d to 5th, and repudiated the +Baltimore convention, nominating Charles O'Conor, of New York, for +President, and John Q. Adams, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President, who +both declined, but the convention, unable to secure other candidates, +left the ticket as named. A Colored Liberal Republican Convention at +Louisville on September 25th also nominated Greeley and Brown. In +addition to these various conventions, the Liberal Republican Revenue +Reformers' Convention met in New York June 25th, and nominated William +S. Groesbeck, of Ohio, for President, and F. L. Olmstead, of New York, +for Vice-President. + +The contest between Grant and Greeley was a remarkable one, and at its +opening there was considerable doubt as to the outcome; but as the +summer months went by it was seen that the coalition between the Liberal +Republicans and the Democrats was working out unsatisfactorily. The +October States went Republican, and indicated clearly what could be +expected in November. The election on November 5th was an overwhelming +victory for the Republicans; Grant and Wilson carried 29 States with +their 286 electoral votes out of a total electoral vote of 366, Arkansas +and Louisiana not being counted for either side. The popular vote gave +Grant 3,597,132, Greeley 2,834,125, O'Conor 29,489, Black 5,608. The +election was followed in a few weeks by the death of Mr. Greeley; +broken-hearted by the death of his wife a few days before the election, +and exhausted by the tremendous strains of the campaign, and +disappointed by the result, the great editor closed one of the most +remarkable careers in American history. + +The hostility of England to the North during the Civil War led to the +filing of the Alabama Claims, which were adjusted by the Geneva +Tribunal, and the United States, on September 14, 1872, was awarded +$15,500,000 in gold in full payment of these claims. + +The third session of the Forty-second Congress began December 2, 1872, +and immediately, on motion of Mr. Blaine, a committee was appointed to +investigate the Democratic charges made during the preceding +presidential campaign, that the Vice-President, the Secretary of the +Treasury, Speaker of the House, and other prominent Republicans, had +accepted, in return for political influence, stock in the Credit +Mobilier, a company originally engaged in the construction of the Union +Pacific. The result of this committee's investigation was the clearing +of the prominent men charged, but a vote of censure was passed on +Representatives Oakes Ames and James Brooks for connection with the +scandal. + +An Act went into effect on February 12, 1873, the provisions of which, +it was afterwards argued, caused the "demonetization" of silver. This +demonetization had already occurred in 1853, when nothing was said in +the Act of that year as to the silver dollar piece which had for some +years entirely disappeared from circulation. The Act of 1873 simply +recognized a condition which had been present for more than twenty years +when it provided for the coinage of ten, twenty-five and fifty-cent +silver pieces and omitted the dollar. The Act of 1873 was passed because +all coin had been driven out of circulation by the United States notes +and fractional currency issued during the War, and the Treasury +Department, deeming the time appropriate for the issuance of subsidiary +silver coins and revision of the coinage laws, suggested, after +consultation with experts, the Act of 1873. The Act was, in fact, an +important step toward specie resumption. This law also provided for a +trade dollar for use in trade with China and Japan. This dollar was to +weigh 420 grains, so as to give it the advantage over the Mexican dollar +of 416 grains. It was made legal tender for a limited amount only, and +several years afterwards was withdrawn from circulation. + +President Grant was reinaugurated on March 4, 1873, and the Republican +Party seemingly had a prospect of a long lease of power, for the +strength of all opposition seemed to have been dissipated by the +campaign of 1872; but before the year of the reinauguration had passed, +circumstances occurred absolutely beyond the control of the party, the +result of which caused a complete change of the political aspect of the +country. In September, 1873, while business affairs were in a good +condition and labor well employed, a sudden financial panic engulfed the +country and brought demoralization to almost all industries. The direct +cause of this panic was the abuse of credit in the enormous building of +railroads which had been going on for several years prior to 1873. The +market had been flooded with railroad bonds, and as the old portions of +the Western railroads did not earn enough to pay for new construction, +the railroads gradually began to default in the payment of interest on +their bonds, and the New York bankers became overburdened with them; the +natural result was that they were compelled to call in their loans, +money became tight, and the storm broke in September, 1873, when the +great financial house of Jay Cooke & Co. closed its doors. By the end of +October the panic was over, but the effects were felt long afterwards in +thousands of ruined enterprises. It gave new arguments to the champions +of fiat currency, and the whole situation told against the success of +the Republican Party. When the first session of the Forty-third Congress +opened on December 1, 1873 (James G. Blaine elected Speaker), arguments +for currency inflation were advanced on all sides, and resulted in the +passage of a bill on April 14, 1874, to inflate the currency +$44,000,000. President Grant wisely vetoed the measure and it failed of +passage over his veto. The Congressional elections in the fall of 1874 +showed the influence of the disastrous industrial conditions upon +politics, for the Democrats obtained control of the House for the first +time in fifteen years. That a great political revulsion was in progress +was apparent when Ohio in 1873 and New York in 1874 elected Democratic +Governors. When the Forty-fourth Congress convened on December 6, 1875, +Michael C. Kerr, Democrat, of Indiana, was chosen Speaker by 173 votes +over James G. Blaine, who received 106. This practically showed the +party strength in the House. + +The most important Act of President Grant's second term was the +Resumption of specie payment, which was provided for in the bill +reported to the Senate December 21, 1874, by John Sherman. By this Act +there was to be a coinage of ten, twenty-five and fifty-cent silver +pieces, which were to be exchanged for fractional currency until it was +all redeemed. There was to be an issue of bonds, and the surplus revenue +was to be used to buy coin. So much of the Act of 1870 which limited the +amount of national bank notes to $350,000,000 was repealed, and these +banks were now authorized to issue more bills; but for every $100.00 +issued the Secretary of the Treasury must call in $80.00 of the +greenbacks until but $300,000,000 of them remained. The total amount of +paper currency in the United States at this time was $780,000,000, +divided into $382,000,000 U. S. notes, $44,000,000 fractional currency +and $354,000,000 national bank notes, and each dollar of this paper +currency was worth about eighty-nine cents in coin. The Act further +provided that after January 1, 1879, the Secretary of the Treasury was +to redeem in coin all United States legal tender notes then outstanding, +on presentation. President Grant approved this bill January 14, 1875, +with a special message to Congress. + +The spring of 1876 witnessed the opening of the Centennial Exposition at +Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, by President Grant and Emperor Dom Pedro +II, of Brazil. In this year a successor was to be chosen to President +Grant, and for the first time in the history of the party since 1860 +there was to be a contest over the presidential nomination. The long +continuance in power of the party had its natural effect of creating +factions, and this, together with the recent Democratic successes, made +necessary a most careful selection of a candidate and of a platform for +this campaign. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HAYES. + + +" ... and to put forth my best efforts in behalf of a civil policy which +will forever wipe out in our political affairs the color line and the +distinction between North and South, to the end that we may have, not +merely a united North or a united South, but a united country." + +_Rutherford B. Hayes_, _Inaugural Address_, _March_ 5, 1877. + + +The Sixth Republican National Convention met at Cincinnati, Ohio, June +14, 1876, and, as already noted, for the first time since 1860 there was +to be a contest for the presidential nomination. James G. Blaine was +most prominently mentioned during the months preceding the Convention, +and was unquestionably the favorite of a majority of the delegates when +they met. His friends were united and enthusiastic, but there was a +factional opposition, led by Mr. Conkling, of New York, that united on +the seventh ballot and resulted in the nomination of a candidate who had +received comparatively little attention before the Convention met. The +next strongest candidates after Mr. Blaine seemed to be Oliver P. +Morton, of Indiana, and Benjamin H. Bristow, of Kentucky, both of whom +had rendered conspicuous services to the party and to the country. Other +candidates were Roscoe Conkling, of New York, Rutherford B. Hayes, of +Ohio, and John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania. The Convention was called +to order by Edwin D. Morgan, who named Theodore M. Pomeroy, of New York, +temporary Chairman. The usual committees were appointed and Edward +McPherson, of Pennsylvania, was reported as permanent Chairman. Gen. +Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut, reported the following platform: + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1876. + +When in the economy of Providence, this land was to be purged of human +slavery, and when the strength of government of the people, by the +people, and for the people was to be demonstrated, the Republican party +came into power. Its deeds have passed into history, and we look back to +them with pride. Incited by their memories to high aims for the good of +our country and mankind, and looking to the future with unfaltering +courage, hope and purpose, we, the representatives of the party, in +national convention assembled, make the following declaration of +principles: + +1. The United States of America is a nation, not a league. By the +combined workings of the national and state governments, under their +respective constitutions, the rights of every citizen are secured, at +home and abroad, and the common welfare promoted. + +2. The Republican party has preserved these governments to the hundredth +anniversary of the nation's birth, and they are now embodiments of the +great truth spoken at its cradle: "That all men are created equal; that +they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among +which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that for the +attainment of these ends governments have been instituted among men, +deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Until +these truths are cheerfuly obeyed, or, if need be, vigorously enforced, +the work of the Republican party is unfinished. + +3. The permanent pacification of the southern section of the Union and +the complete protection of all its citizens in the free enjoyment of all +their rights, is a duty to which the Republican party stands sacredly +pledged. The power to provide for the enforcement of the principles +embodied in the recent constitutional amendments is vested by those +amendments in the Congress of the United States, and we declare it to be +the solemn obligation of the legislative and executive departments of +the government to put into immediate and vigorous exercise all their +constitutional powers for removing any just causes of discontent on the +part of any class, and for securing to every American citizen complete +liberty and exact equality in the exercise of all civil, political, and +public rights. To this end we imperatively demand a Congress and a Chief +Executive whose courage and fidelity to these duties shall not falter +until these results are placed beyond dispute or recall. + +4. In the first act of Congress signed by President Grant the national +government assumed to remove any doubts of its purpose to discharge all +just obligations to the public creditors, and "solemnly pledged its +faith to make provisions, at the earliest practicable period, for the +redemption of the United States notes in coin." Commercial prosperity, +public morals, and the national credit demand that this promise be +fulfilled by a continuous and steady progress to specie payment. + +5. Under the Constitution the President and heads of departments are to +make nominations for office; the Senate is to advise and consent to +appointments, and the House of Representatives is to accuse and +prosecute faithless officers. The best interest of the public service +demands that these distinctions be respected; that Senators and +representatives who may be judges and accusers should not dictate +appointments to office. The invariable rule in appointments should have +reference to the honesty, fidelity and capacity of the appointees, +giving to the party in power those places where harmony and vigor of +administration require its policy to be represented, but permitting all +others to be filled by persons selected with sole reference to the +efficiency of the public service, and the right of all citizens to share +in the honor of rendering faithful service to the country. + +6. We rejoice in the quickening conscience of the people concerning +political affairs, and will hold all public officers to a rigid +responsibility, and engage that the prosecution and punishment of all +who betray official trusts shall be swift, thorough and unsparing. + +7. The public-school system of the several states is the bulwark of +the American Republic, and with a view to its security and permanence +we recommend an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, +forbidding the application of any public funds or property for the +benefit of any schools or institutions under sectarian control. + +8. The revenue necessary for current expenditures and the obligations of +the public debt must be largely derived from duties upon importations, +which, so far as possible, should be adjusted to promote interests of +American labor and advance the prosperity of the whole country. + +9. We reaffirm our opposition to further grants of the public lands to +corporations and monopolies, and demand that the national domain be +devoted to free homes for the people. + +10. It is the imperative duty of the government so to modify existing +treaties with European governments that the same protection shall be +afforded to the adopted American citizen that is given to the native +born; and that all necessary laws should be passed to protect +immigrants, in the absence of power in the states for that purpose. + +11. It is the immediate duty of Congress to fully investigate the effect +of the immigration and importation of Mongolians upon the moral and +material interests of the country. + +12. The Republican party recognizes with approval the substantial +advances recently made toward the establishment of equal rights for +women, by the many important amendments effected by Republican +legislatures, in the laws which concern the personal and property +relations of wives, mothers and widows, and by the appointment and +election of women to the superintendence of education, charities, and +other public trusts. The honest demands of this class of citizens for +additional rights, privileges, and immunities should be treated with +respectful consideration. + +13. The Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power over the +territories of the United States for their government, and in the +exercise of this power it is the right and duty of Congress to prohibit +and extirpate, in the territories, that relic of barbarism, polygamy; +and we demand such legislation as shall secure this end and the +supremacy of American institutions in all the territories. + +14. The pledges which the nation has given to her soldiers and sailors +must be fulfilled, and a grateful people will always hold those who +imperilled their lives for the country's preservation in the kindest +rememberance. + +15. We sincerely deprecate all sectional feeling and tendencies. We +therefore note with deep solicitude that the Democratic party counts, as +its chief hope of success, upon the electoral vote of a united South, +secured through the efforts of those who were recently arrayed against +the nation; and we invoke the earnest attention of the country to the +grave truth that a success thus achieved would reopen sectional strife +and imperil national honor and human rights. + +16. We charge the Democratic party with being the same in character and +spirit as when it sympathized with treason with making its control of +the House of Representatives the triumph and opportunity of the nation's +recent foes; with reasserting and applauding in the National Capitol the +sentiments of unrepentant rebellion; with sending Union soldiers to the +rear and promoting Confederate soldiers to the front; with deliberately +proposing to repudiate the plighted faith of the government; with being +equally false and imbecile upon the overshadowing financial question; +with thwarting the ends of justice by its partisan mismanagements and +obstruction; with proving itself, through the period of its ascendancy +in the Lower House of Congress utterly incompetent to administer the +government; and we warn the country against trusting a party thus alike +unworthy, recreant and incapable. + +17. The national administration merits commendation for its honorable +work in the management of domestic and foreign affairs, and President +Grant deserves the continued hearty gratitude of the American people +for his patriotism and his eminent services, in war and in peace. + +18. We present as our candidates for President and Vice-President of +the United States two distinguished statesmen, of eminent ability and +character, and conspicuously fitted for those high offices, and we +confidently appeal to the American people to intrust the administration +of their public affairs to Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler. + +On the second day the nominations were made of the above-named +candidates, with stirring speeches, the most remarkable of which were +the three delivered for Mr. Blaine. Robert G. Ingersoll, in presenting +Mr. Blaine's name, uttered the eloquent words which caused his +celebrated effort to become known as the "Plumed Knight Speech"; near +its conclusion he said, "Like an armed warrior, like a plumed knight, +James G. Blaine marched down the halls of the American Congress and +threw his shining lance full and fair against the brazen foreheads of +the defamers of his country and the maligners of his honor. For the +Republicans to desert this gallant leader now is as though an army +should desert their General upon the field of battle." This nomination +was seconded by Henry M. Turner, colored, and William P. Frye, of Maine. +Gov. Hayes was nominated by Edwin F. Noyes, seconded by Benjamin F. +Wade. The various nominating speeches concluded the second day's +business and the balloting began on the opening of the third day of the +Convention. The number of votes necessary for a choice was 378, and +seven ballots were taken, with the following result for the leading +candidates: + + 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. + Blaine ......... 285 290 293 292 286 308 351 + Morton ......... 125 120 113 108 95 85 + Bristow ........ 113 114 121 126 114 111 21 + Conkling ....... 99 93 90 84 82 81 + Hayes .......... 61 64 67 68 104 113 384 + Hartranft ...... 58 63 68 71 69 50 + +Scattering votes were also cast for Messrs. Wheeler, Jewell and +Washburne. At the close of the seventh ballot, Mr. Hayes' nomination was +made unanimous on motion of William P. Frye. During the sixth ballot the +unit rule was decided against and each delegate allowed to vote as he +pleased, and this became the rule of all subsequent conventions of the +party, although in the convention of 1880 the supporters of Gen. Grant +made a strong effort to fasten the unit rule on that convention. The +candidates for the vice-presidential nomination were Wm. A. Wheeler, +Marshall Jewell, Stewart L. Woodford, Jos. R. Hawley and F. T. +Frelinghuysen, but after the first ballot had proceeded as far as South +Carolina the nomination of Mr. Wheeler was made unanimous. + +The nomination of Mr. Hayes was a great surprise to the country and +consequently, at first, created little enthusiasm in the party, but it +was shortly seen that he was in fact a strong candidate, and the party +united solidly behind him and took up the canvass with considerable +enthusiasm. Rutherford B. Hayes was born at Delaware, Ohio, October 4, +1822, and graduated at Kenyon College in 1842. He studied law, and +practiced for a short time at Fremont, Ohio, afterwards moving to +Cincinnati, where he became the City Solicitor. He volunteered in the +Civil War, distinguished himself in many important engagements, and rose +from the rank of Major to brevet Major-General. The War over, he entered +Congress (1865), and at the close of his term was twice elected +Governor, serving from 1868 to 1872; was defeated for Congress in 1872, +but his election in 1875 to the Governorship, over the Democratic +Governor, William Allen, in a remarkable honest-money campaign, brought +him into greater national prominence, and now resulted in his nomination +for the Presidency. His nomination was a bitter disappointment to the +many friends of Mr. Blaine, but they promptly ratified it. + +The Republican Platform of 1876, already given, was strong in expression +and lofty in its sentiments, which were in keeping with those engendered +by the Centennial Year. + +The Democratic Convention assembled at St. Louis, Mo., June 27th. The +nomination of Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, was almost a foregone +conclusion before the Convention met, and he was nominated on the second +ballot. Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana, who was the strongest opponent +of Tilden for the presidential nomination, was named for Vice-President +by a unanimous vote. The Democratic platform of 1876 was a lengthy and +remarkable one, containing "the sustended arguments of a stump speech." +Its planks, with few exceptions, began with "we denounce" or "reform is +necessary," and it was a general arraignment of the entire course of the +Republican Party while in power, and stated near its conclusion, "reform +can only be had by peaceful, civic revolution. We demand a change of +system, a change of administration, and a change of parties, that we may +have a change of measures and men." + +The other political conventions of this year were the Prohibition +Convention held at Cleveland, Ohio, on May 17th, at which Green Clay +Smith, of Kentucky, was nominated for President, and G. T. Stewart, of +Ohio, for Vice-President. The Independent National or Greenback Party +met at Indianapolis May 18th, and nominated Peter Cooper, of New York, +for President, and U. S. Senator Newton Booth, of California, for +Vice-President, who declined and was replaced by Samuel F. Cary, of +Ohio. Its platform demanded the immediate repeal of the Specie +Resumption Act of January 14, 1875, and the issuance of United States +notes, convertible on demand into United States obligations, bearing a +rate of interest not exceeding one cent a day on each $100.00, and +exchangeable for United States notes at par, as being the best +circulating medium that could be devised. It insisted that bank paper +must be suppressed, and it protested against the further issuance of +gold bonds for sale in foreign markets, and against the sale of +government bonds for the purpose of purchasing silver to be used as a +substitute for fractional currency. At the election in November the +Greenback Party polled a total of 81,737 votes, not influencing the +electoral vote of any State, with the possible exception of Indiana, +which Tilden carried with 213,526 votes to 208,011 for Hayes, Cooper +receiving 17,233 in this State. The total Prohibition vote this year was +9,522. The Democrats, throughout the campaign, had high hopes of +success; the hard times which had followed the panic of 1873, the +factional disturbances in the Republican Party, charges of official +dishonesty, and dissatisfaction of some Republicans with the financial +policy of the party, and the success of the Democrats in several of the +Northern States all indicated an exceedingly close election. The +Republican campaign was largely in the hands of Zachariah Chandler, of +Michigan, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, as Mr. Hayes +took little part in the details or organization of the canvass. +Colorado, admitted in August of this year, raised the number of States +to thirty-eight, with a total electoral vote of 369, making 185 votes +necessary for an election. The October States did not indicate anything +decisive for either side; Ohio going Republican and Indiana Democratic +by small majorities. The election was held on Nevember 7th, and a few +hours after the polls were closed it was found that Tilden and Hendricks +had carried Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Indiana, and if they +had received the vote of the solid South it would give them 203 of the +electoral votes and consequently the election. But Mr. Chandler, on +information received, sent out a telegram from headquarters in +Washington saying that the Republicans had been successful in South +Carolina, Louisiana and Florida, and that Hayes and Wheeler were elected +by a majority of one. A general outline of the remarkable contest that +now followed, and its decision, must suffice for these pages. Each party +sent a number of its prominent members to the capitals of the disputed +States to witness the count. The legal canvassing boards in all of these +States decided in favor of Hayes and Wheeler. Then followed, as it was +afterwards discovered, many attempts to bribe an elector in the disputed +States to vote for Mr. Tilden, but when the electors met in the various +States on December 6th, the vote was 185 for Hayes and Wheeler and 184 +for Tilden and Hendricks. As hostile sets of electors were present in +four States--Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and Oregon--it was +therefore of the highest importance to know who would count the votes +when Congress jointly assembled for that purpose. The Senate and its +presiding officer were Republicans, the House was Democratic, and it was +apparent that with so much at stake neither would make any concession to +the other. This was a state of affairs unprovided for in the +Constitution or in any laws that had been passed, and the result was +that for four months after the election nobody knew who would be +inaugurated as President in March, 1877. The difficulty was temporarily +solved by the Electoral Commission Law, which became effective January +29, 1877. It provided that any electoral votes from any State from which +but one return had been received should not be rejected except by the +affirmative vote of the two Houses, but if more than one return was +received from any State it should be referred to a Commission, to be +composed of five members of the Senate, five members of the House and +five Supreme Court Justices, and the decision of a majority of this +Commission was to decide unless otherwise ordered by a concurrent vote +of both Houses. Senators Oliver P. Morton, George F. Edmunds, F. T. +Frelinghuysen, Republicans, and Allan G. Thurman and Thomas F. Bayard, +Democrats, were chosen to represent the Senate; Josiah G. Abbott, Eppa +Hunton and H. B. Payne, Democrats, and James A. Garfield and George F. +Hoar, Republicans, represented the House; four Justices of the Supreme +Court had been designated by the law to act, and these were Nathan +Clifford and Stephen J. Field, Democrats, and William Strong and Samuel +F. Miller, Republicans; they were to choose the fifth Justice, and +Joseph P. Bradley, Republican, was selected. By a strict party vote the +Commission decided, 8 to 7, all questions in favor of the Republicans. +These decisons, as already noted, could not be set aside without the +concurrent vote of both Houses, which manifestly could not be obtained, +and at 4:10 a. m. March 2, 1877, it was declared by Mr. Ferry, President +pro tem. of the Senate, that Hayes and Wheeler had been elected by 185 +votes to 184 for Tilden and Hendricks. The popular vote at the November +election was Tilden 4,285,992 and Hayes 4,033,768. + +[Illustration: Rutherford B. Hayes.] + +Before passing to the events of President Hayes' administration, it is +interesting to note that when the second session of the Forty-fourth +Congress met on December 4, 1876, an election was held to fill the +position of Speaker, left vacant by the death of Mr. Kerr. Samuel J. +Randall, Democrat, was elected by 162 votes to 82 votes for James A. +Garfield, and it is therefore seen that President Hayes would enter upon +his term with one branch of Congress Democratic. + +Mr. Hayes was publicly inaugurated March 5, 1877, the 4th falling upon +Sunday. The striking declaration of his inaugural address was the +paragraph setting forth the policy that he would pursue in the Southern +question, and this policy was exactly the reverse of that of his +predecessor. He withdrew the military protection to the colored voter +and entered upon a policy of pacification by putting the whites of the +South on their honor. This was practically turning over the entire South +to the Democrats, and they were not slow to seize the advantage, and +they immediately began to work for a "solid South," which became an +assured fact when the results of the election of 1880 were known. This +policy was extremely unsatisfactory to most of the members of the +Republican Party, and considerable antagonism to the President was +shown. Lapse of time, however, has vindicated President Hayes, and it is +now felt that while his administration was not brilliant, still it was +safe, progressive and satisfactory. The President also had his ideas on +the subject of Civil Service Reform, and on June 22, 1877, he issued an +order that no officer of the Government should be required or permitted +to take part in the management of political organizations or election +campaigns. + +The first session (extra) of the Forty-fifth Congress opened October 15, +1877. The most important business of this session, and indeed of +President Hayes' administration, was the legislation on the silver +question, which came up before the House suddenly on November 5, 1877, +on motion of Mr. Richard P. Bland, of Missouri, that the rules be +suspended so as to permit the introduction of a bill for the free +coinage of the standard silver dollar. The motion was carried, and had +the effect of cutting off all debate and amendment. The bill, as passed +in the House, provided for the coinage of the standard silver dollar +(412-1/2 grains), to be legal tender at face value for all debts public and +private, and any owner of silver bullion might deposit it in any United +States mint and have it coined into dollars for his own benefit. The +Bland bill was thus a remonetization of silver on absolutely a free +coinage basis, and if passed by the Senate and approved by the President +in its original form it would unquestionably have had a serious effect +upon the credit of the Government. Its introduction and passage in the +House caused a flurry in the money market, and distinctly affected the +refunding of the public debt, but fortunately it was amended in the +Senate so as to deprive it largely of its destructive effect on the +national credit. Mr. Allison (Republican), of the Committee on Finance +in the Senate, reported an amendment, striking out the free coinage +provision, and providing that the Secretary of the Treasury should +purchase at the market price not less than $2,000,000 nor more than +$4,000,000 per month of silver bullion to be coined into dollars, any +gain to be for the benefit of the Treasury. The House accepted the +Allison amendment, but President Hayes vetoed the bill and it was passed +over his veto February 28, 1878. + +A strong but unsuccessful attempt had been made to repeal the specie +resumption act, but now, after seventeen years of suspension of specie +payment, which had seriously affected the public credit during all these +years, the time approached for resumption. John Sherman was Secretary of +the Treasury under President Hayes, and the great act of resumption took +place quietly under his direction on January 1, 1879. Mr. Sherman had +fought for resumption in both Houses of Congress, and was now permitted, +by his official position, to bring about the execution of the law. Its +effect on the public credit had been marked for several months before +the statutory time of resumption by a better feeling throughout the +country in financial circles. The manner in which the entire subject had +been treated reflected the greatest credit on the ability of Mr. +Sherman, and ranked him with Alexander Hamilton as a great financier. + +The Chinese Immigration question had been growing in prominence for +several years, and it resulted in a bill to restrict this immigration. +The bill passed the House and the Senate, but was vetoed by President +Hayes, and its supporters were unable to obtain the necessary vote to +pass it over the veto. As the Forty-fifth Congress had adjourned without +making the necessary appropriations for the legislative, executive and +judicial departments, President Hayes was forced to call an extra +session of the Forty-sixth Congress, which met March 18, 1879. In the +House Mr. Randall was re-elected Speaker by 143 votes to 125 for James +A. Garfield, and for the first time since 1857 the Democratic Party was +in complete control of both branches of Congress. + +As the time approached for another national campaign the merits of +several possible candidates were thoroughly discussed. President Hayes +was not a candidate, and the contest for the nomination was seemingly +between General Grant and James G. Blaine, with John Sherman as a +possible compromise candidate. Several interesting elements entered into +the situation and made it extremely doubtful who would be successful, +and the result was the most remarkable contest the party had had in any +of its previous conventions, and was solved by the selection, on the +thirty-sixth ballot, of one whose name had not even been placed in +nomination. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +GARFIELD AND ARTHUR. + + +"The doctrines announced by the Chicago Convention are not the temporary +devices of a party to attract votes and carry an election; they are +deliberate convictions, resulting from a careful study of the spirit of +our institutions, the events of our history, and the best impulses of +our people ... If elected, it will be my purpose to enforce strict +obedience to the Constitution and the laws, and to promote, as best I +may, the interest and honor of the whole country, relying for support +upon the wisdom of Congress, the intelligence and patriotism of the +people, and the favor of God." + +_James A. Garfield_, _Letter of Acceptance_. +_Mentor_, _Ohio_, _July_ 10, 1880. + + +General Grant arrived at San Francisco in December, 1879, from his +triumphal tour of the world, and his journey eastward was made the +occasion of a great popular welcome and ovation. This wide-spread +enthusiasm lent encouragement to those who were intent upon his +nomination for a third term, and they proceeded to strengthen his +prospects. Senators Conkling, of New York, Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and +Logan, of Illinois, formed a powerful combination in favor of General +Grant, and they were successful in their preliminary work of forcing the +adoption of the unit rule on the delegations of their States, but it +soon became apparent that many of the delegates would vote as they saw +fit, and would appeal, if necessary, to the convention to sustain them. +James G. Blaine was the next strongest candidate, and to his standard +rallied a strong host of supporters, many of whom were opposed to a +third term for any person. As near as the preliminary figuring could be +done it showed the strength of Grant and Blaine to be nearly the same, +and this gave hope to the friends of John Sherman that he might be +decided on as a compromise candidate, if it became impossible to +nominate either Grant or Blaine. + +The Seventh Republican National Convention met in the Exposition Hall at +Chicago, Ill., on Wednesday, June 2, 1880, and was called to order by +Senator J. Donald Cameron, of Pennsylvania, Chairman of the National +Committee. George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, was chosen temporary +Chairman, the various committees were then appointed, but owing to +contests among the delegates from several States, nothing further could +be done, and the convention adjourned early in the afternoon. On the +following morning Mr. Hoar was reported as permanent president, and the +usual number of vice-presidents and secretaries were also reported. +Owing to the delay in the report of the Committee on Credentials nothing +further of any moment was done on this day, and the convention adjourned +about 7:30 p. m., after an unsuccessful attempt, on motion of Mr. +Henderson, of Iowa, to force the Committee on Rules to report. In the +vote on a substitute to this motion a most important ruling was made-- +the vote of Alabama was reported in full for the substitute, but one of +the delegates protested and asked the right to cast his vote against it. +This was permitted by the president, and the ruling was allowed to stand +by the convention, and was thus a condemnation of the unit system of +voting. Upon the opening of the third day of the convention (Friday), +Mr. Conkling offered a resolution that as the sense of the convention +every member of it was bound in honor to support its nominee, no matter +who was nominated, and that no man should hold a seat who was not ready +to so agree. Out of a total of 719 votes, three (all from West Virginia) +were cast against the resolution, whereupon Mr. Conkling offered a +second resolution that these delegates did not deserve and had forfeited +their votes. The delegates explained that they did not wish it +understood that they would not support the nominee, but they simply +desired to register their disapproval of the expediency of the +resolution. This incident is of the greatest importance in the history +of this convention, because it brought Mr. Garfield to his feet in a +brief but weighty speech, in which he defended those who had voted in +the negative, and finally induced Mr. Conkling to withdraw his second +resolution. This speech attracted the attention of the entire +convention, and Mr. Garfield from that moment became one of the great +leaders in the convention. Mr. Garfield then reported the rules which +were adopted, with one amendment, after considerable debate. The great +contest of the convention next to the presidental nomination was the +report of the Committee on Credentials, in which it was attempted by the +friends of Gen. Grant to force the unit rule on the convention. The +majority report of this committee favored district representation, and +at last this was decided on after a long and remarkable debate extending +through Friday until 2 o'clock in the morning and all of the Saturday +session until 5 p. m. + +Edwards Pierrepont, of New York, reported the platform, which was +adopted after one amendment inserting a civil service reform plank. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1880. + +The Republican Party, in national convention assembled, at the end of +twenty years since the federal government was first committed to its +charge, submits to the people of the United States this brief report +of its administration: + +It suppressed a rebellion which had armed nearly a million of men to +subvert the national authority; it reconstructed the union of the states +with freedom instead of slavery as its corner stone; it transformed +4,000,000 human beings from the likeness of things to the rank of +citizens; it relieved Congress of the infamous work of hunting fugitive +slaves, and charged it to see that slavery does not exist. + +It has raised the value of our paper currency from thirty-eight per cent +to the par of gold; it has restored, upon a solid basis, payment in coin +of all national obligations, and has given us a currency absolutely good +and equal in every part of our extended country; it has lifted the +credit of the nation from the point of where six percent bonds sold at +eighty-six to that where a percent bonds are eagerly sought at a +premium. + +Under its administration railways have increased from 31,000 miles in +1860 to more than 82,000 miles in 1879. + +Our foreign trade increased from $700,000,000 to $1,150,000,000 in the +same time, and our exports, which were $20,000,000 less than our imports +in 1860, were $265,000,000 more than our imports in 1879. + +Without resorting to loans, it has, since the war closed, defrayed the +ordinary expenses of government, besides the accruing interest on the +public debt, and has disbursed annually more than $30,000,000 for +soldiers' and sailors' pensions. It has paid $880,000,000 of the public +debt, and, by refunding the balance at lower rates, has reduced the +annual interest charge from nearly $150,000,000 to less than +$89,000,000. + +All the industries of the country have revived, labor is in demand, +wages have increased, and throughout the entire country there is +evidence of a coming prosperity greater than we have ever enjoyed. + +Upon this record the Republican Party asks for the continued confidence +and support of the people, and the convention submits for their approval +the following statement of the principles and purposes which will +continue to guide and inspire its efforts. + +1. We affirm that the work of the Republican Party for the last twenty +years has been such as to commend it to the favor of the nation; that +the fruits of the costly victories which we have achieved through +immense difficulties should be preserved; that the peace regained should +be cherished; that the Union should be perpetuated, and that the liberty +secured to this generation should be transmitted undiminished to other +generations; that the order established and the credit acquired should +never be impaired; that the pensions promised should be paid; that the +debt, so much reduced, should be extinguished by the full payment of +every dollar thereof; that the reviving industries should be further +promoted, and that the commerce, already increasing, should be steadily +encouraged. + +2. The Constitution of the United States is a supreme law, and not a +mere contract. Out of confederated states it made a sovereign nation. +Some powers are denied to the nation, while others are denied to the +states; but the boundary between the powers delegated and those reserved +is to be determined by the national, and not by the state tribunal. + +3. The work of popular education is one left to the care of the several +states, but it is the duty of the national government to aid that work +to the extent of its constitutional ability. The intelligence of the +nation is but the aggregate of the intelligence in the several states, +and the destiny of the nation must be guided, not by the genius of any +one state, but by the average genius of all. + +4. The Constitution wisely forbids Congress to make any law respecting +the establishment of religion, but it is idle to hope that the nation +can be protected against the influence of secret sectarianism which each +state is exposed to its domination. We therefore recommend that the +Constitution be so amended as to lay the same prohibition upon the +legislature of each state, and to forbid the appropriation of public +funds for the support of sectarian schools. + +5. We reaffirm the belief avowed in 1876, that the duties levied for the +purpose of revenue should so discriminate as to favor American labor; +that no further grants of the public domain should be made to any +railway or other corporation; that slavery having perished in the +states, its twin barbarity--polygamy--must die in the territories; +that everywhere the protection accorded to a citizen of American birth +must be secured to citizens by American adoption; that we deem it the +duty of Congress to develop and improve our seacoast and harbors, but +insist that further subsidies to private persons or corporations must +cease; that the obligations of the Republic to the men who preserved its +integrity in the day of battle are undiminished by the lapse of fifteen +years since their final victory--to do them honor is and shall forever +be the grateful privilege and sacred duty of the American people. + +6. Since the authority to regulate immigration and intercourse between +the United States and foreign nations rests with the Congress of the +United States and the treaty-making power, the Republican Party, +regarding the unrestricted immigration of Chinese as a matter of grave +concernment under the exercise of both these powers, would limit and +restrict that immigration by the enactment of such just, humane and +reasonable laws and treaties as will produce that result. + +7. That the purity and patriotism which characterized the earlier career +of Rutherford B. Hayes in peace and war, and which guided the thoughts +of our immediate predecessors to him for a presidential candidate, have +continued to inspire him in his career as Chief Executive; and that +history will accord to his administration the honors which are due to an +efficient, just and courteous discharge of the public business, and will +honor his vetoes interposed between the people and attempted partisan +laws. + +8. We charge upon the Democratic Party the habitual sacrifice of +patriotism and justice to a supreme and insatiable lust for office and +patronage; that to obtain possession of the national government and +control of the place, they have obstructed all efforts to promote the +purity and to conserve the freedom of the sufferage, and have devised +fraudulent ballots and invented fraudulent certification of returns; +have labored to unseat lawfully elected members of Congress, to secure +at all hazards the vote of a majority of the states in the House of +Representatives; have endeavored to occupy by force and fraud the places +of trust given to others by the people of Maine, rescued by the courage +and action of Maine's patriotic sons; have, by methods vicious in +principle and tyrannical in practice, attached partisan legislation to +appropriation bills upon whose passage the very movement of the +government depended; have crushed the rights of the individual; have +advocated the principles and sought the favor of the rebellion against +the nation, and have endeavored to obliterate the sacred memories and to +overcome its inestimably valuable results of nationality, personal +freedom, and individual equality. + +The equal, steady, and complete enforcement of the laws and the +protection of all our citizens in the enjoyment of all the privileges +and immunities guaranteed by the Constitution, are the first duties of +the nation. + +The dangers of a "Solid South" can only be averted by a faithful +performance of every promise which the nation has made to the citizen. +The execution of the laws, and the punishment of all those who violate +them, are the only safe methods by which an enduring peace can be +secured and genuine prosperity established throughout the South. +Whatever promises the nation makes the nation must perform. A nation +cannot with safety relegate this duty to the states. The "Solid South" +must be divided by the peaceful agencies of the ballot, and all honest +opinions must there find free expression. To this end the honest voter +must be protected against terrorism, violence or fraud. + +And we affirm it to be the duty and the purpose of the Republican Party +to use all legitimate means to restore all the states of this Union to +the most perfect harmony which may be possible, and we submit to the +practical, sensible people of these United States to say whether it +would not be dangerous to the dearest interests of our country at this +time to surrender the administration of the national government to a +party which seeks to overthrow the existing policy under which we are +now so prosperous, and thus bring distrust and confusion where there is +now order, confidence and hope. + +9. The Republican Party, adhering to the principles affirmed by its last +national convention of respect for the constitutional rules governing +appointments to office, adopts the declaration of President Hayes that +the reform of the civil service should be thorough, radical and +complete. To this end it demands the co-operation of the legislative +with the executive departments of the government, and that Congress +shall so legislate that fitness, ascertained by proper practical tests, +shall admit to the public service. + +The opening words of the fifth plank became the deciding issue of the +campaign. The nominations for President were made at the evening session +Saturday. James G. Blaine was first placed in nomination by Thomas F. +Joy, and seconded by F. M. Pixley and Wm. P. Frye; Ulysses S. Grant was +nominated by Roscoe Conkling and seconded by Wm. O. Bradley; John +Sherman was nominated by James A. Garfield and seconded by F. C. Winkler +and R. B. Elliott; William Windom was nominated by E. F. Drake; George +F. Edmunds by Frederick Billings, and Elihu B. Washburn by J. E. +Cassady. The nominating speeches concluded near midnight, and aroused +the utmost enthusiasm among the 15,000 men and women who were packed in +the great hall. The convention adjourned at midnight to meet and begin +balloting on Monday morning. The first ballot on Monday morning resulted +as follows, 756 delegates being present: + + Grant ................ 304 Edmunds .............. 34 + Blaine ............... 284 Washburne ............ 30 + Sherman .............. 93 Windom ............... 10 + +Twenty-eight ballots were taken on Monday with very little material +change. Mr. Garfield received one vote on the second ballot, and +afterwards received not more than two votes on any ballot until the +thirty-fourth, taken on Tuesday, when Wisconsin broke and gave sixteen +votes for Garfield, and this was the beginning of the movement by the +Blaine and Sherman forces to combine and nominate Mr. Garfield, who was +named on the thirty-sixth ballot. The vote for General Grant was solid +until the end, never falling below that of the first ballot, 304. The +concluding ballots are here given: + + 34th 35th 36th + Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. + Grant ......... 312 313 306 + Blaine ........ 275 257 42 + Sherman ....... 107 99 3 + Edmunds ....... 11 11 + Washburne ..... 30 23 5 + Windom ........ 4 3 + Garfield ...... 17 50 399 + +Mr. Garfield was nominated, and the convention gave way to almost twenty +minutes of cheering and enthusiasm, at the conclusion of which Roscoe +Conkling moved that the nomination be made unanimous. As a concession to +the disappointed Grant forces, Chester A. Arthur, of New York, was +nominated for Vice-President on the first ballot over Elihu B. +Washburne, Marshall Jewell, Thomas Settle, Horace Maynard and Edmund J. +Davis, the ballot standing 468 for Arthur and 193 for Washburne, his +nearest competitor, with scattering votes for the rest. + +Although the nomination of Mr. Garfield, like that of Mr. Hayes, was +totally unexpected, he was not unknown, and had already, by his services +and career, earned for himself an enviable place in the nation's +history. Born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1831, he had risen from an +honorable poverty to the presidency of a College at the age of 26. He +served one term in the Ohio Senate, and at the opening of the Civil War +he was commissioned a Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers, and without any +military experience and with a small force he routed a large body of +Confederates at Middle Creek, Ky., in January, 1862, for which he +received the highest praise from his superiors and the rank of +Brigadier-General from President Lincoln. The rest of his military +career was equally satisfactory and prominent, and he reached the rank +of Major-General after Chickamauga. Resigning his commission, he took +his seat in the House of Representatives in December, 1863, and +immediately became a leader of the Republican forces, and his +legislative work had been most conspicuous. He served from the +Thirty-eighth to the Forty-Sixth Congresses inclusive, was on the +Electoral Commission of 1877, and at the time of his nomination had been +elected from Ohio to the United States Senate, but had not yet taken his +seat. + +The Greenback-Labor Convention met at Chicago, June 9th, and nominated +James B. Weaver, of Iowa, for President, and B. F. Chambers, of Texas, +for Vice-President, declaring in its platform that all money should be +issued and its volume controlled by the Government; that the public +domain should be kept for settlers, and that Congress should regulate +commerce between the States. The Prohibition Convention at Cleveland, +June 17th, nominated Neal Dow, of Maine, for President, and A. M. +Thompson, of Ohio, for Vice-President. The last of the great party +conventions, that of the Democrats, met at Cincinnati, June 22d, and +nominated General Winfield S. Hancock, of Pennsylvania, for President, +on the second ballot, and William H. English, of Indiana, for +Vice-President by acclamation. The Democratic platform was concise, and +in sharp contrast to the verbose platform of 1876; it demanded an honest +money of gold and silver, and paper convertible into coin on demand; +tariff for revenue only; and that the public land be given to none but +actual settlers. + +For the first time since 1844 there was no agitation in any of the party +platforms of the slave or southern questions, and all parties agreed on +the Chinese question. The campaign opened with defeat for the +Republicans in Maine, but this led to greater efforts in the West. Late +in the canvass the tariff issue became the most prominent one, and the +declaration of the Democratic party for a tariff for revenue only was +used against them with tremendous effect by the Republicans. Special +efforts were made to gain the October States, and the Republican cause +was greatly strengthened and perhaps won in them by several speeches +delivered by General Grant and Senator Conkling. In desperation the +Democrats, near the end of the canvass (October 20th), published +broadcast a letter purporting to come from Mr. Garfield and addressed to +"H. L. Morey." The letter stated opinions on the Chinese question which, +if true, would have cost many votes, but the letter was promptly shown +to be a contemptible forgery, and so plain was the evidence that the +letter was disavowed by most Democrats. The election on November 2d was +a victory for Garfield and Arthur, who received 214 electoral votes to +155 for Hancock and English. The popular vote was: + + Garfield ............ 4,454,416 Weaver .............. 308,578 + Hancock ............. 4,444,952 Dow ................. 10,305 + +An analysis of the popular and electoral vote disclosed the fact that +every former slave State was carried by the Democratic Party, and the +"Solid South" for the Democrats again became a factor in national +politics. + +Mr. Garfield was inaugurated March 4, 1881, and almost immediately was +involved in the controversy between the "Stalwart" and the "Half Breed" +Republicans in New York, the former being led by Senators Roscoe +Conkling and Thomas C. Platt, and the latter being those who were +opposed to the machine-like politics of the State. The "Stalwarts" had +gained great strength during Gen. Grant's administration, but had been +checked by President Hayes; they were the strongest advocates of Gen. +Grant for a third term, and were greatly disappointed over his defeat in +the convention, but had loyally supported the nominee, and had now made +up their minds to control the Federal patronage in New York. President +Garfield was drawn into the muddle by his appointment of William H. +Robertson, a "Half Breed," to the Collectorship of New York. This called +forth a protest signed by Postmaster-General James, Vice-President +Arthur and Senators Conkling and Platt, the Senators announcing that +they would oppose the confirmation in the Senate. This caused the +President to withdraw all New York appointments until the matter should +be settled, and as it was seen that the nomination would be confirmed, +Senators Conkling and Platt resigned (May 16th), and appealed to the New +York Legislature for re-election, but they were defeated, Elbridge C. +Lapham and Warren Miller being elected in their places. The controversy +excited the whole country, and it was believed by many to have +influenced the deplorable tragedy which took place July 2, 1881. About +9:30 a. m., on that day, the President and Mr. Blaine entered the +Baltimore & Potomac station in Washington to join a party which would +leave that morning for Long Branch, where the President was to join his +wife. The President and Mr. Blaine entered the Ladies' Waiting Room, and +shortly afterward two shots, fired by Charles Jules Guiteau, were heard, +and the President fell mortally wounded. He lingered in great suffering +until September 19th, when he died at Elberon, New Jersey, whither he +had been removed from Washington. + +[Illustration: Chester A. Arthur.] + +Vice-President Arthur was at his home in New York City at the time of +President Garfield's death, and there took the oath of office as +President in the early morning hours of September 20th, and took the +formal oath in Washington on September 22d. It is of interest to know +something of the man who was called, by these distressing circumstances, +to the presidential chair. + +President Arthur was born at Fairfield, Vermont, October 5, 1830; after +teaching school, he studied law and was admitted to practice in New York +City; he served honorably and notably during the Civil War, most of the +time as a staff officer, and at its conclusion became active in local +politics in New York City, and was Collector of the Port of New York +from 1871 to 1878, being removed in the latter year by President Hayes. +His nomination was made to satisfy the "Stalwarts," and he took an +active part in the controversy between President Garfield and the New +York Senators, and now came to the office of President, with the popular +mind, agitated by the murder of the President and the factional fight in +New York, greatly incensed and antagonized against any one connected +with the "Stalwarts." President Arthur soon gained the confidence of the +people by the conservatism and dignity of his administration, and his +term was a satisfactory and prosperous one. + +The Forty-seventh Congress opened its first session on December 5, 1881, +with David Davis presiding in the Senate; in the House, Joseph Warren +Keifer, Republican, of Ohio, was elected Speaker by 148 votes to 129 for +Samuel J. Randall, and the Republicans were again in control of both +branches of Congress. The legislation of this Congress was marked by the +redemption of the party pledges of the preceding campaign. The Edmunds +law (March, 1882) was directed at polygamy in Utah and the territories. +Immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States was suspended for +ten years (May 6, 1882), a previous bill making the time twenty years +having been vetoed by President Arthur. A bill was also approved (May +15, 1882) appointing a Tariff Commission. The Commission met in +Washington in July. It was constituted from both political parties, and +was composed of men of high standing. When the second session of the +Forty-seventh Congress convened on December 4, 1882, it listened to the +second annual message from President Arthur, in which the main subject +to receive attention was the rapid reduction of the national debt by the +large annual surplus revenue. The Tariff Commission at the same time +submitted an exhaustive report, containing a schedule of duties +recommended by it; after considerable debate and many changes in the +schedule, a tariff bill was passed and approved by the President, March +3, 1883, the Democrats steadily opposing it. + +Civil Service Reform was taken up and provided for in the Pendleton +Civil Service Reform bill (January, 1883), which provided for a +non-partisan commission and defined their duties; the effect of this +bill was to withdraw from politics the employes of the Government. + +The strong prejudices which accompanied Mr. Arthur into office never +fully disappeared; during 1882 and 1883 there was considerable public +unrest which had its natural influence on political action; it was +caused by dissatisfaction among the laboring classes against +combinations of capital, which were now resulting from the extraordinary +development of the nation's resources, and also because many producers +were dissatisfied with the provisions of the new tariff schedule. +Although the country was enjoying great prosperity and business +confidence, there was a feeling for a change of politics and men. These +various causes, and the fact that the strong slavery and sectional +issues had disappeared from politics, were demoralizing to the +Republican strength in many of the pivotal States, and portended an +exceedingly close election in the campaign of 1884. Ohio elected a +Democratic Secretary of State in 1882, and followed it the next year by +electing Mr. Hoadley, Democrat, over Mr. Foraker, Republican, for +Governor. Many other important Democratic victories were gained in 1882 +--Pennsylvania electing a Democratic Governor and New York electing +Grover Cleveland by the enormous majority of 192,000, a victory which +secured him the Democratic presidential nomination in 1884. President +Arthur was a candidate for the presidential nomination in 1884, and his +strength came mainly from the South, but the overwhelming Republican +sentiment in the northern and western States demanded the nomination of +one whose distinguished services and magnetic personality would +unquestionably, with a united party behind him, bring another victory to +the party in its eighth national contest. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BLAINE. + + +"We seek the conquests of peace. We desire to extend our commerce and +in a special degree with our friends and neighbors on this continent. +We have not improved our relations with Spanish America as wisely and +as persistently as we might have done. For more than a generation the +sympathy of these countries has been allowed to drift away from us. We +should now make every effort to gain their friendship." + +_James G. Blaine_, 1884. + + +When the eighth Republican National Convention assembled at Chicago on +Tuesday, June 3, 1884, it was to consider a situation that had never +before been presented to a Republican convention. A Republican +President, who had gained the office because of the assassination of his +predecessor, was before the convention asking for the strongest +endorsement of his administration. Only two Republican Presidents had up +to this time been candidates for a second term. In the convention of +1864 Mr. Lincoln had no opposition for his second term, and the same was +true of General Grant in the convention of 1872. Mr. Hayes was not a +candidate for re-election in 1880, and the result, as we have seen, was +the Garfield "miracle" in that convention, and now Mr. Garfield's +successor was before this convention with a strongly organized backing, +mainly from the South, seeking the nomination. But opposed to him was an +overwhelming sentiment in favor of Mr. Blaine, whose nomination had been +prevented in 1880 by the opposition of the Grant leaders. A dangerous +element in this convention was present in the Independent Republicans, +who had united on George F. Edmunds as their candidate for President. +The convention was called to order by Dwight M. Sabin, of Minnesota, +Chairman of the National Committee. Mr. Lodge moved to substitute John +R. Lynch, colored, of Mississippi, as temporary Chairman in place of +Powell Clayton, who had been selected by the National Committee, and +after considerable debate, in which Theodore Roosevelt, of New York, +spoke in favor of the motion to substitute, Mr. Lynch was elected +temporary Chairman by 431 votes to 387 for Mr. Clayton. The remainder of +the day was consumed in the appointment of vice-presidents and +secretaries and the various committees. Wednesday morning a resolution +was introduced similar to that of 1880, that every member of the +convention was bound in honor to support the nominee, but this +resolution was subsequently withdrawn. John B. Henderson, of Missouri, +was reported as permanent Chairman, miscellaneous business consumed some +time, and the convention adjourned to meet at 7:30 p. m. The Committee +on Credentials not being ready to report, the evening was given over to +speech making. On Thursday morning the convention heard the report of +the Committee on Credentials, and concurred in it, and also on the +report of the Committee on Rules. William McKinley, of Ohio, Chairman of +the Committee on Resolutions, reported the platform, and it was adopted +without amendment. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1884. + +The Republicans of the United States, in national convention assembled, +renew their allegiance to the principles upon which they have triumphed +in six successive presidential elections, and congratulate the American +people on the attainment of so many results in legislation and +administration, by which the Republican party has, after saving the +Union, done so much to render its institutions just, equal, and +beneficent, the safe-guard of liberty and the embodiment of the best +thought and highest purpose of our citizens. + +The Republican Party has gained its strength by quick and faithful +response to the demands of the people for the freedom and equality of +all men; for a united nation, assuring the rights of all citizens; for +the elevation of labor; for an honest currency; for purity in +legislation, and for integrity and accountability in all departments of +the government, and it accepts anew the duty of leading in the work of +progress and reform. + +We lament the death of President Garfield, whose sound statesmanship, +long conspicuous in Congress, gave promise of a strong and successful +administration--a promise fully realized during the short period of his +office as President of the United States. His distinguished services in +war and peace have endeared him to the hearts of the American people. + +In the administration of President Arthur we recognize a wise, +conservative, and patriotic policy, under which the country has been +blessed with remarkable prosperity, and we believe his eminent services +are entitled to and will receive the hearty approval of every citizen. + +It is the first duty of a good government to protect the rights and +promote the interests of its own people. + +The largest diversity of industry is most productive of general +prosperity, and of the comfort and independence of the people. + +We therefore demand that the imposition of duties on foreign imports +shall be made, "not for revenue only," but that in raising the requisite +revenues for the government such duties shall be so levied as to afford +security to our diversified industries and protection to the rights and +wages of the laborer, to the end that active and intelligent labor, as +well as capital, may have its just reward, and the laboring man his full +share in the national prosperity. + +Against the so-called economic system of the Democratic party, which +would degrade our labor to the foreign standard, we enter our earnest +protest. + +The Democratic Party has failed completely to relieve the people of the +burden of unnecessary taxation, by a wise reduction of the surplus. + +The Republican Party pledges itself to correct the inequalities of the +tariff and to reduce the surplus, not by the vicious and indiscriminate +process of horizontal reduction, but by such methods as will relieve the +tax-payer without injuring the laborer or the great productive interests +of the country. + +We recognize the importance of sheep husbandry in the United States, the +serious depression which it is now experiencing, and the danger +threatening its future prosperity; and we therefore respect the demands +of the representatives of this important agricultural interest for a +readjustment of duties upon foreign wool, in order that such industry +shall have full and adequate protection. + +We have always recommended the best money known to the civilized world; +and we urge that efforts should be made to unite all commercial nations +in the establishment of an international standard, which shall fix for +all the relative value of gold and silver coinage. + +The regulation of commerce with foreign nations and between the states +is one of the most important prerogatives of the general government; and +the Republican Party distinctly announces its purpose to support such +legislation as will fully and efficiently carry out the constitutional +power of Congress over interstate commerce. + +The principle of public regulation of railway corporations is a wise and +salutary one for the protection of all classes of the people; and we +favor legislation that shall prevent unjust discrimination and excessive +charges for transportation, and that shall secure to the people and the +railways alike the fair and equal protection of the laws. + +We favor the establishment of a national bureau of labor; the +enforcement of the eight-hour law; a wise and judicious system of +general legislation by adequate appropriation from the national +revenues, wherever the same is needed. We believe that everywhere the +protection to a citizen of American birth must be secured to citizens by +American adoption; and we favor the settlement of national differences +by international arbitration. + +[Illustration: James G. Blaine.] + +The Republican Party having its birth in a hatred of slave labor and a +desire that all men may be true and equal, is unalterably opposed to +placing our workingmen in competition with any form of servile labor, +whether at home or abroad. In this spirit spirit we denounce the +importation of contract labor, whether from Europe or Asia, as an +offense against the spirit of American institutions; and we pledge +ourselves to sustain the present law restricting Chinese immigration, +and to provide such further legislation as is necessary to carry out its +purposes. + +Reform of the civil service, auspiciously begun under Republican +administration, should be completed by the further extension of the +reform system, already established by law, to all the grades of the +service to which it is applicable. The spirit and purpose of the reform +should be observed in all executive appointments, and all laws at +variance with the objects of existing reform legislation should be +repealed, to the end that the dangers of free institutions which lurk in +the power of official patronage may be wisely and effectively avoided. + +The public lands are a heritage of the people of the United States, and +should be reserved as far as possible for small holdings by actual +settlers. We are opposed to the acquisition of large tracts of these +lands by corporations or individuals, especially where such holdings are +in the hands of non-residents or aliens, and we will endeavor to obtain +such legislation as will tend to correct this evil. We demand of +Congress the speedy forfeiture of all land grants which have lapsed by +reason of non-compliance with acts of incorporation, in all cases where +there has been no attempt in good faith to perform the conditions of +such grants. + +The grateful thanks of the American people are due to the Union soldiers +and sailors of the late war; and the Republican Party stands pledged to +suitable pensions for all who were disabled, and for the widows and +orphans of those who died in the war. The Republican Party also pledges +itself to the repeal of the limitations contained in the Arrears Act of +1879, so that all invalid soldiers shall share alike, and their pensions +begin with the date of disability or discharge, and not with the date of +application. + +The Republican Party favors a policy which shall keep us from entangling +alliances with foreign nations, and which gives us the right to expect +that foreign nations shall refrain from meddling in American affairs--a +policy which seeks peace and trade with all powers, but especially with +those of the Western Hemisphere. + +We demand the restoration of our navy to its old-time strength and +efficiency, that it may in any sea protect the rights of American +citizens and the interests of American commerce; and we call upon +Congress to remove the burdens under which American shipping has been +depressed; so that it may again be true that we have a commerce which +leaves no sea unexplored, and a navy which takes no law from superior +force. + +_Resolved_, That appointments by the President to offices in the +territories should be made from the bona fide citizens and residents of +the territories wherein they are to serve. + +_Resolved_, That it is the duty of Congress to enact such laws as shall +promptly and effectually suppress the system of polygamy within our +territories, and divorce the political from the ecclesiastical power of +the so-called Mormon Church; and that the laws so enacted should be +rigidly enforced by the civil authorities, if possible, and by the +military, if need be. + +The people of the United States, in their organized capacity, constitute +a nation, and not an American federacy of states. The national +government is supreme within the sphere of its national duties; but the +states have reserved rights which should be faithfully maintained. Each +should be guarded with jealous care, so that the harmony of our system +of government may be preserved and the Union kept inviolate. + +The perpetuity of our institutions rests upon the maintenance of a free +ballot, an honest count and correct returns. We denounce the fraud and +violence practiced by the Democracy in Southern States, by which the +will of a voter is defeated, as dangerous to the preservation of free +institutions; and we solemnly arraign the Democratic party as being the +guilty recipient of the fruits of such fraud and violence. + +We extend to the Republicans of the South, regardless of their former +party affiliations, our cordial sympathy, and pledge to them our most +earnest efforts to promote the passage of such legislation as will +secure to every citizen, of whatever race and color, the full and +complete recognition, possession, and exercise of all civil and +political rights. + +The candidates were presented on Thursday evening. A. H. Brandagee +presented Jos. R. Hawley, of Connecticut; Shelby M. Cullom presented the +name of John A. Logan, of Illinois; Judge Wm. H. West, the blind orator +of Ohio, nominated James G. Blaine amid scenes of great enthusiasm, and +the nomination was seconded by Cushman K. Davis, William C. Goodloe, +Thomas C. Platt and Galusha A. Grow; Martin I. Townsend placed Chester +A. Arthur in nomination and was seconded by H. H. Bingham, John R. +Lynch, Patrick H. Winston and P. B. S. Pinchback; J. B. Foraker +nominated John Sherman, of Ohio, and John D. Long presented the name of +George F. Edmunds, of Vermont. This closed the list of nominations. The +convention adjourned about two o'clock Friday morning. On assembling +about 11:30 a. m. the convention proceeded at once to balloting. Four +ballots were taken and Mr. Blaine gained steadily on each ballot. At the +end of the third ballot the opposition forces endeavored to secure an +adjournment without success, and then J. B. Foraker, of Ohio, moved to +suspend the rules and nominate Mr. Blaine by acclamation, but to save +time the motion was withdrawn and the balloting proceeded. Shelby M. +Cullom attempted to read a telegram from John A. Logan, withdrawing in +favor of Mr. Blaine, but was prevented by the administration party. The +ballots were as follows, with 820 delegates present: + + 1st 2d 3d 4th + Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. Ballot. + Blaine ............ 334-1/2 349 375 541 + Arthur ............ 278 276 274 207 + Edmunds ........... 93 85 69 41 + Logan ............. 63-1/2 61 53 7 + Sherman ........... 30 28 25 + Hawley ............ 13 13 13 15 + Lincoln ........... 4 4 8 2 + W. T. Sherman ..... 2 2 2 + +After the tumult had subsided, H. G. Burleigh, of New York, moved, in +behalf of President Arthur, and at his request, that the nomination be +made unanimous, which was done with tremendous cheers. At the evening +session Preston B. Plumb, of Kansas, nominated John A. Logan for +Vice-President. An effort was made to make it unanimous, but as there +were a few dissenting voices to this, a ballot was taken, showing 779 +votes for Logan, six for Gresham, and six for Foraker. Blaine, "The +Plumed Knight" of Maine, and Logan, "The Black Eagle" of Illinois, made +a ticket well calculated to create tremendous enthusiasm throughout the +country. + +James G. Blaine was born at West Brownsville, Pa., January 31, 1830, and +after graduating from college became a teacher, and in 1854 settled at +Augusta, Maine, and took the editorship of a newspaper and soon became +prominent. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1858, and became +Chairman of the Republican State Committee; he entered Congress in 1863 +from Maine, made a brilliant reputation and became the party leader in +the House; was Speaker of the House three terms, from 1869 to 1875; +served in the United States Senate from 1876 to 1881. In 1876 he was a +prominent candidate for the nomination, as also in 1880. After the +election of Mr. Garfield he was Secretary of State, but resigned shortly +after President Arthur's accession. + +The National Anti-Monopoly Convention was held at Chicago on May 14th, +and nominated Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, for President, and +left the office of Vice-President to be filled by a committee, Gen. A. +M. West, of Mississippi, being subsequently chosen. The National +Greenback-Labor Convention at Indianapolis, on May 28th, endorsed the +nomination of Butler and West. The Democratic National Convention met at +Chicago on July 8, 1884, and nominated Grover Cleveland, of New York, +for President, on the second ballot, and Thomas A. Hendricks, of +Indiana, for Vice-President, by acclamation. These selections were made +to secure, if possible, the electoral vote of the two doubtful and +pivotal States. The Democratic platform demanded a change of parties; it +declared that the will of the people had been defeated by fraud in 1876; +that the Republican Party was extravagant, and had failed to keep its +pledges; denounced the existing tariff and pledged the party to its +regulation. The Prohibition National Convention at Pittsburg, on July +12th, named John P. St. John, of Kansas, for President, and William +Daniels, of Maryland, for Vice-President. + +The campaign of 1884 was one of the most remarkable ever fought by the +Republican Party. An unusual feature was that for the first time in its +history a strong wing of the Republican Party openly refused to support +the nominee. These Independent Republicans became known as "Mugwumps," +an Indian name meaning a great or wise person. It was first applied +derisively, but afterwards accepted by the Independents as a party name. +They were not strong in numbers, but as the campaign drew near its close +and it was seen that the election would be very close, the seriousness +of the Republican revolt was felt. The entire campaign was marked with +great personal bitterness, and charges of corruption and dishonesty were +made against both candidates; against Mr. Blaine because of his alleged +connection with the Little Rock Railroad matter in 1876. This accusation +was brought to the people by the publication of the Mulligan letters +September 16, 1884, but the charge was without foundation. The defection +of the Mugwumps and the bitter personal attacks had the effect of making +Mr. Blaine's friends more enthusiastic in their work for him, and he +probably would have won the contest had it not been for the unfortunate +utterance of Dr. Burchard in New York City, six days before the +election, at a reception by Mr. Blaine to a delegation of clergymen, in +which the Democratic Party was referred to as one whose antecedents have +been "Rum, Romanism and Rebellion." This remark was dishonestly +attributed to Mr. Blaine, and unquestionably lost thousands of votes, +because the accusation could not be refuted satisfactorily in the few +days remaining before the election. New York, with its thirty-six +electoral votes, was lost by the narrow margin of 1149 popular votes, +and the election went to the Democrats. A Democratic House was also +elected. The electoral vote gave Cleveland and Hendricks 219 and Blaine +and Logan 182. The popular vote was: Cleveland 4,874,986, Blaine +4,851,981, Butler 175,370, St. John 150,369. + +Mr. Cleveland was inaugurated March 4, 1885, and the country had a +Democratic President for the first time since Mr. Buchanan was +inaugurated in 1857, counting the administration of Mr. Johnson as +Republican. Mr. Cleveland's first term of office reached from March, +1885, to March, 1889, and was marked by no legislation or events +seriously affecting the condition of the great parties. There was a +liberal use of the veto power, and the Democratic Party was split into +two factions over the tariff question, one wing demanding free trade and +the other tariff for revenue only, with incidental protection. The first +session of the Forty-ninth Congress met December 7, 1885, and owing to +the death of Vice-President Hendricks, John Sherman was elected +President pro tem. of the Senate. John G. Carlisle, Democrat, was +elected Speaker of the House. Owing to the fact that the House and the +Senate were controlled by different parties there was no party +legislation during the sessions of the Forty-ninth Congress, and the +same may be said of the Fiftieth Congress, which opened its first +session on December 5, 1887. The third annual message of President +Cleveland, read at the opening of this Congress, declared for free +trade, and this became the slogan of the Democratic Party, the House +passing the Mills Tariff Bill, which was rejected by the Senate. As Mr. +Cleveland's term drew to a close it was announced that he would be a +candidate for re-nomination. In the Republican Party there was no +certainty as to who would receive the nomination. Mr. Blaine announced +that he would not be a candidate, and it was felt that the nomination +would probably go to John Sherman. The declaration of Mr. Cleveland in +favor of free trade afforded a direct issue in 1888, and the Republicans +accepted it promptly by declaring for a protective tariff. + +[Illustration: Benjamin Harrison.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +HARRISON. + + +"No other people have a government more worthy of their respect and +love, or a land so magnificent in extent, so pleasant to look upon, and +so full of generous suggestion to enterprise and labor. God has placed +upon our head a diadem, and has laid at our feet power and wealth beyond +definition or calculation. But we must not forget that we take these +gifts upon the condition that justice and mercy shall hold the reins of +power, and that the upward avenues of hope shall be free to all the +people." + +_Benjamin Harrison's Inaugural Address_, _March_ 4, 1889. + + +Three National Conventions met on May 15, 1888. The Union Labor +Convention at Cincnnati nominated Alson J. Streeter, of Illinois, for +President, and Samuel Evans, of Texas, for Vice-President; the United +Labor Convention, at the same place, nominated Robert H. Cowdrey, of +Illinois, and W. H. T. Wakefield, of Kansas; and the Equal Rights +Convention, at Des Moines, Iowa, nominated Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, of +the District of Columbia, for President, and Alfred H. Love, of +Pennsylvania, for Vice-President. The popular vote for these tickets in +the various States was small and did not influence the result. The +Prohibition Convention met at Indianapolis May 20, 1888, and nominated +Clinton B. Fisk, of New Jersey, and John A. Brooks, of Missouri; the +total Prohibition vote was 249,506, a gain of 100,000 over the total +vote of 1884. + +In this year, for the first time since 1860, the Democratic National +Convention was held before the Republican National Convention. The +Democrats assembled at St. Louis, Missouri, on June 5, 1888, and +nominated Grover Cleveland without any opposition, something which had +not occurred in a Democratic Convention for forty-eight years; Allen G. +Thurman, of Ohio, was nominated for Vice-President on the first ballot. +The Democratic platform of 1888 reaffirmed that of 1884, and endorsed +the "views expressed by President Cleveland in his last earnest message +to Congress as a correct interpretation of that platform upon the +question of tariff reduction;" it welcomed a scrutiny of its four years +of executive power; advocated homesteads for the people, and civil +service and tariff reform. When the Republicans met at Chicago it +appeared that John Sherman, of Ohio, was the strongest candidate, and +that he might receive the nomination on the third or fourth ballot, but +there was a large number of "favorite sons," and no one could exactly +determine what might happen before the balloting was concluded. Mr. +Blaine, in the closing months of 1887, was unquestionably the unanimous +choice of the party, and he would probably have been nominated by +acclamation had he not in a letter from Florence, Italy, dated January +25, 1888, declined absolutely to be a candidate. So earnest, however, +was the desire for his nomination, that many of his friends refused to +be silenced by his emphatic declaration, and it became necessary for him +to write a second letter from Paris on May 17th, in which he reiterated +his former declaration, and refused to allow his name to be considered, +but he predicted that the tariff question would be the issue, and that +an overwhelming success for the Republican Party would be the result of +the campaign. The confusion caused by his withdrawal led to the large +number of candidates, but gradually the sentiment of the party began to +look for a man who would not only be able to carry the States won by the +Republicans in 1884, but who would also make the best showing in the +doubtful States, principal among which were New York and Indiana. + +On Tuesday, June 19, 1888, at 12:30 p. m., the Republican National +Convention was called to order by Chairman B. F. Jones, of the National +Committee. After an eloquent prayer by Dr. Gunsaulus, of the Plymouth +Church, Chicago, the call for the convention was read by Secretary +Fessenden. The name of John M. Thurston, of Nebraska, for temporary +Chairman, was reported by the National Committee; the roll-call of +States was then made, at which the delegates announced the names of the +persons selected to serve on the Permanent Organization, Rules and Order +of Business, Credentials and Resolutions Committees. Considerable time +was consumed in a preliminary hearing of the factional fight in Virginia +between the Mahone and Wise Republicans. A notable feature of this +session of the convention was the speech by John C. Fremont, the first +candidate of the party for President. The convention adjourned at 3:30 +p. m. until the following day at noon. On convening, the Committee on +Permanent Organization reported the name of M. M. Estee, of California, +for permanent President, and also the usual number of vice-presidents +and honorary secretaries. The Committee on Rules and Order of Business +reported and the report was adopted. One important rule was that no +change of votes could be made after the vote had been announced, until +after the result of the ballot had been announced; this tended to +prevent a stampede, and added materially to the deliberateness of the +convention. The Committee on Credentials not being ready to report, the +convention adjourned at 2:15 p. m. to meet again at 8 p. m.; at the +opening of the evening session neither of the Committees on Credentials +or Resolutions were ready to report, and the convention listened to +stirring speeches by William O. Bradley, of Kentucky, and Governor J. B. +Foraker, of Ohio. The Committee on Credentials then reported, and on the +Virginia contest seated the Mahone delegates-at-large and the Wise +District delegates from all but one district. The convention adjourned +at 11:25 p. m. to meet at 10 a. m. Thursday. On Thursday morning, after +the roll had been called for names and members of the National +Committee, the platform was reported by William McKinley, of Ohio, who +received a remarkable ovation as he moved forward to take the stand. It +was adopted unanimously by a rising vote, and was the longest ever +presented by a Republican Convention. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1888. + +The Republicans of the United States, assembled by their delegates in +national convention, pause on the threshold of their proceedings to +honor the memory of their first great leader, the immortal champion of +liberty and the rights of the people--Abraham Lincoln; and to cover +also with wreaths of imperishable remembrance and gratitude the heroic +names of our later leaders, who have more recently been called away from +our councils--Grant, Garfield, Arthur, Logan, Conkling. May their +memories be faithfully cherished. We also recall, with our greetings and +with prayer for his recovery, the name of one of our living heroes, +whose memory will be treasured in the history both of Republicans and of +the Republic--the name of that noble soldier and favorite child of +victory, Phillip H. Sheridan. + +In the spirit of those great leaders, and of our own devotion to human +liberty, and with that hostility to all forms of despotism and +oppression which is the fundamental idea of the Republican Party, we +send fraternal congratulations to our fellow-Americans of Brazil upon +their great act of emancipation, which completed the abolition of +slavery throughout the two American continents. We earnestly hope that +we may soon congratulate our fellow-citizens of Irish birth upon the +peaceful recovery of home rule for Ireland. + +FREE SUFFRAGE. + +We reaffirm our unswerving devotion to the national Constitution and to +the indissoluble union of the states; to the autonomy reserved to the +states under the Constitution; to the personal rights and liberties of +citizens in all the states and territories in the Union, and especially +to the supreme and sovereign right of every lawful citizen, rich or +poor, native or foreign born, white or black, to cast one free ballot in +public elections and to have that ballot duly counted. We hold the free +and honest popular ballot and the just and equal representation of all +the people to be the foundation of our republican government, and demand +effective legislation to secure the integrity and purity of elections, +which are the foundations of all public authority. We charge that the +present administration and Democratic majority in Congress owe their +existence to the suppression of the ballot by a criminal nullification +of the Constitution and laws of the United States. + +PROTECTION TO AMERICAN INDUSTRIES. + +We are uncompromisingly in favor of the American system of protection; +we protest against its destruction as proposed by the President and his +party. They serve the interests of Europe; we will support the interests +of America. We accept the issue and confidently appeal to the people for +their judgment. The protective system must be maintained. Its +abandonment has always been followed by general disaster to all +interests, except those of the usurer and the sheriff. We denounce the +Mills bill as destructive to the general business, the labor, and the +farming interests of the country, and we heartily indorse the consistent +and patriotic action of the Republican representatives in Congress in +opposing its passage. + +DUTIES ON WOOL. + +We condemn the proposition of the Democratic Party to place wool on the +free list, and we insist that the duties thereon shall be adjusted and +maintained so as to furnish full and adequate protection to that +industry. + +THE INTERNAL REVENUE. + +The Republican Party would effect all needed reduction of the national +revenue by repealing the taxes upon tobacco, which are an annoyance and +burden to agriculture, and the tax upon spirits used in the arts and for +mechanical purposes, and by such revision of the tariff laws as will +tend to check imports of such articles as are produced by our people, +the production of which gives employment to our labor, and release from +import duties those articles of foreign production (except luxuries) the +like of which cannot be produced at home. If there shall still remain a +larger revenue than is requisite for the wants of the government, we +favor the entire repeal of internal taxes rather than the surrender of +any part of our protective system, at the joint behests of the whisky +trusts and the agents of foreign manufacturers. + +FOREIGN CONTRACT LABOR. + +We declare our hostility to the introduction into this country of +foreign contract labor and of Chinese labor, alien to our civilization +and our Constitution, and we demand the rigid enforcement of the +existing laws against it, and favor such immediate legislation as will +exclude such labor from our shores. + +COMBINATIONS OF CAPITAL. + +We declare our opposition to all combinations of capital, organized in +trusts or otherwise, to control arbitrarily the condition of trade among +our citizens; and we recommend to Congress and the state legislatures, +in their respective jurisdictions, such legislation as will prevent the +execution of all schemes to oppress the people by undue charges on their +supplies or by unjust rates for the transportation of their products to +market. We approve the legislation by Congress to prevent alike unjust +burdens and unfair discrimination between the states. + +HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE. + +We reaffirm the policy of appropriating the public lands of the United +States to be homesteads for American citizens and settlers, not aliens, +which the Republican Party established in 1862, against the persistent +opposition of the Democrats in Congress, and which has brought our great +Western domain into such magnificent development. The restoration of +unearned railroad land-grants to the public domain for the use of actual +settlers, which was begun under the administration of President Arthur, +should be continued. We deny that the Democratic Party has ever restored +one acre to the people, but declare that by the joint action of the +Republicans and Democrats about 50,000,000 acres of unearned lands +originally granted for the construction of railroads have been restored +to the public domain, in pursuance of the conditions inserted by the +Republican Party in the original grants. We charge the Democratic +administration with failure to execute the laws securing to settlers +title to their homesteads, and with using appropriations made for that +purpose to harass innocent settlers with spies and prosecutions, under +the false pretense of exposing frauds and vindicating the law. + +HOME RULE IN TERRITORIES. + +The government by Congress of the territories is based upon necessity +only, to the end that they may become states in the Union; therefore, +whenever the conditions of population, material resources, public +intelligence and morality are such as to insure a stable local +government therein, the people of such territories should be permitted, +as a right inherent in them, the right to form for themselves +constitutions and state governments, and be admitted to the Union. +Pending the preparation for statehood, all officers thereof should be +selected from the bona fide residents and citizens of the territory +wherein they are to serve. + +ADMITTANCE OF SOUTH DAKOTA. + +South Dakota should of right be immediately admitted as a state in the +Union, under the constitution framed and adopted by her people, and we +heartily indorse the action of the Republican Senate in twice passing +bills for her admission. The refusal of the Democratic House of +Representatives, for partisan purposes, to favorably consider these +bills, is a willful violation of the sacred American principle of local +self-government, and merits the condemnation of all just men. The +pending bills in the Senate for acts to enable the people of Washington, +North Dakota, and Montana Territories to form constitutions and +establish state governments should be passed without unnecessary delay. +The Republican Party pledges itself to do all in its power to facilitate +the admission of the Territories of New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho and +Arizona to the enjoyment of self-government as states--such of them as +are now qualified as soon as possible, and the others as soon as they +may become so. + +MORMONISM. + +The political power of the Mormon Church in the territories as exercised +in the past is a menace to free institutions, a danger no longer to be +suffered. Therefore we pledge the Republican Party to appropriate +legislation asserting the sovereignity of the nation in all territories +where the same is questioned, and in furtherance of that end to a place +upon the statute books legislation stringent enough to divorce the +political from the ecclesiastical power, and thus stamp out the +attendant wickedness of polygamy. + +[Illustration: John Sherman.] + +BIMETALISM. + +The Republican Party is in favor of the use of both gold and silver as +money, and condemns the policy of the Democratic administration in its +efforts to demonetize silver. + +REDUCTION OF LETTER POSTAGE. + +We demand the reduction of letter postage to one cent per ounce. + +FREE SCHOOLS. + +In a Republic like ours, where the citizen is the sovereign and the +official the servant, where no power is exercised except by the will of +the people, it is important that the sovereign--the people--should +possess intelligence. The free school is the promoter of that +intelligence which is to preserve us a free nation; therefore the state +or nation, or both combined, should support free institutions of +learning sufficient to afford to every child growing up in the land the +opportunity of a good common school education. + +ARMY AND NAVY FORTIFICATIONS. + +We earnestly recommend that prompt action be taken by Congress in the +enactment of such legislation as will best secure the rehabilitation of +our American merchant marine, and we protest against the passage by +Congress of a free-ship bill, as calculated to work injustice to labor +by lessening the wages of those engaged in preparing materials as well +as those directly employed in our shipyards. We demand appropriations +for the early rebuilding of our navy; for the construction of coast +fortifications and modern ordnance, and other approved modern means of +defense for the protection of our defenseless harbors and cities; for +the payment of just pensions to our soldiers; for the necessary works of +national importance in the improvement of harbors and the channels of +internal, coastwise, and foreign commerce; for the encouragement of the +shipping interests of the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific States, as well as +for the payment of the maturing public debt. This policy will give +employment to our labor, activity to our various industries, increase +the security of our country, promote trade, open new and direct markets +for our produce, and cheapen the cost of transportation. We affirm this +to be far better for our country than the Democratic policy of loaning +the government's money, without interest, to "pet banks." + +THE MONROE DOCTRINE. + +The conduct of foreign affairs by the present administration has been +distinguished by its inefficiency and its cowardice. Having withdrawn +from the Senate all pending treaties effected by Republican +administrations for the removal of foreign burdens and restrictions upon +our commerce and for its extension into better markets, it has neither +effected nor proposed any others in their stead. Professing adherence to +the Monroe doctrine, it has seen, with idle complacency, the extension +of foreign influence in Central America and of foreign trade everywhere +among our neighbors. It has refused to charter, sanction, or encourage +any American organization for constructing the Nicaraguan Canal, a work +of vital importance to the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine, and of +our national influence in Central and South America, and necessary for +the development of trade with our Pacific territory, with South America, +and with the islands and farther coasts of the Pacific Ocean. + +PROTECTION OF OUR FISHERIES. + +We arraign the Democratic administration for its weak and unpatriotic +treatment of the fisheries question, and its pusillanimous surrender of +the essential privileges to which our fishing vessels are entitled in +Canadian ports under the treaty of 1818, the reciprocal maritime +legislation of 1830, and the comity of nations, and which Canadian +vessels receive in the ports of the United States. We condemn the policy +of the present administration and the Democratic majority in Congress +toward our fisheries as unfriendly and conspicuously unpatriotic, and as +tending to destroy a valuable national industry and an indispensable +resource of defense against a foreign enemy. The name of American +applies alike to all citizens of the republic, and imposes upon all +alike the same obligation of obedience to the laws. At the same time +that citizenship is and must be the panoply and safeguard of him who +wears it, and protect him, whether high or low, rich or poor, in all his +civil rights. It should and must afford him protection at home and +follow and protect him abroad, in whatever land he may be, on a lawful +errand. + +CIVIL-SERVICE REFORM. + +The men who abandoned the Republican Party in 1884, and continue to +adhere to the Democratic Party have deserted not only the cause of +honest government, of sound finance, of freedom, of purity of the +ballot, but especially have deserted the cause of reform in the civil +service. We will not fail to keep our pledges because they have broken +theirs, or because their candidate has broken his. We therefore repeat +our declaration of 1884, to wit: "The reform of the civil service, +auspiciously begun under the Republican administration, should be +completed by the further extension of the reform system, already +established by law, to all the grades of the service to which it is +applicable. The spirit and purpose of the reform should be observed in +all executive appointments, and all laws at variance with the object of +existing reform legislation should be repealed, to the end that the +dangers to free institutions which lurk in the power of official +patronage may be wisely and effectively avoided. + +PENSIONS FOR THE SOLDIERS. + +The gratitude of the nation to the defenders of the Union cannot be +measured by laws. The legislation of Congress should conform to the +pledge made by a loyal people, and be so enlarged and extended as to +provide against the possibility that any man who honorably wore the +Federal uniform should become the inmate of an almshouse, or dependent +upon private charity. In the presence of an overflowing treasury, it +would be a public scandal to do less for those whose valorous service +preserved the government. We denounce the hostile spirit of President +Cleveland in his numerous vetoes of measures for pension relief, and the +action of the Democratic House of Representatives in refusing even a +consideration of general pension legislation. + +In support of the principles herewith enunciated, we invite the +co-operation of patriotic men of all parties, and especially of all +workingmen, whose prosperity is seriously threatened by the free-trade +policy of the present administration. + +Next in order of business was the presentation of candidates for +President. Mr. Warner presented the name of Jos. R. Hawley, of +Connecticut; Leonard Sweet nominated Walter Q. Gresham, of Illinois; +Albert G. Porter nominated Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, and at the +close of this speech the convention recessed until 3 p. m., at which +time Mr. Harrison's nomination was seconded by Mr. Terrill, of Texas, +and Mr. Gallinger, of New Hampshire; Mr. Hepburn, of Iowa, nominated Wm. +B. Allison; Robert E. Frazer nominated Russel A. Alger; Senator Hiscock +nominated Chauncey M. Depew; Daniel B. Hastings nominated John Sherman; +Mr. Smith nominated E. H. Fitler, and Governor Rush nominated Jeremiah +M. Rusk, and the convention adjourned at 7:26 p. m., until the morning, +when the balloting would begin. + +On Friday, June 22d, the convention met about 11 a. m., and, after +taking three ballots without any result or indication of the nomination +of any person, adjourned to meet at an evening session. At the evening +session Mr. Depew withdrew his name, and after some miscellaneous +business the session adjourned without taking a ballot. On Saturday, +June 23d, two ballots were taken without any final result, but they +showed a decided increase for Mr. Harrison and indicated his nomination. +A recess was taken until 4 p. m., and on meeting at that hour the +convention adjourned without taking any further ballots, until Monday +morning. On Monday, the sixth, seventh and eighth ballots were taken, +resulting in the nomination of Mr. Harrison on the eighth, the +nomination being made unanimous on motion of Governor Foraker, of Ohio. +The votes for the principal candidates on the different ballots were as +follows: + + 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th + Sherman ......... 229 249 244 235 224 244 231 118 + Gresham ......... 111 108 123 98 87 91 91 59 + Depew ........... 99 99 91 ... ... ... ... ... + Alger ........... 84 116 122 135 142 137 120 100 + Harrison ........ 80 91 94 217 213 231 278 544 + Allison ......... 72 75 88 88 99 73 76 ... + Blaine .......... 35 33 35 42 48 40 15 5 + +Others who received votes on the various ballots were John J. Ingalls, +Jeremiah M. Rusk, W. W. Phelps, E. H. Fitler, Joseph R. Hawley, Robert +T. Lincoln, William McKinley, Jr. (who received votes on every ballot, +two on the first ballot, his highest, sixteen, on the seventh), Samuel +F. Miller, Frederick Douglas, Joseph B. Foraker, Frederick D. Grant and +Creed Haymond. + +The man who was thus honored by the Republican Party over all of the +other eminent men before the convention was by no means an unknown +quantity. Mr. Harrison was born at North Bend, Ohio, August 20, 1833. +He was a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, and his +great-great-grandfather was one of the signers of the Declaration of +Independence. After graduating from college he was admitted to the bar +and practiced law in Indianapolis; he was elected Reporter of the +Indiana Supreme Court in 1860, and left the position to become a +volunteer in the Federal army in 1862, and was made Colonel of an +Indiana regiment; his army record was good, and he left the service with +the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. Resuming his law practice he +became very successful, and his public speaking made him prominent. In +1876 he was defeated by a small majority for Governor of Indiana, and in +1880 his name had been presented to the Republican National Convention. +He had served in the United States Senate from 1881 to 1887. + +Levi P. Morton, of New York, was nominated for Vice-President on the +first ballot, receiving 591 votes to 119 for Wm. W. Phelps and 103 for +Wm. O. Bradley, of Kentucky. Blanch K. Bruce, of Mississippi, and Walter +F. Thomas, of Texas, also received votes. + +The campaign of 1888 was fought with earnestness and vigor on both +sides. The tariff question overshadowed all others at this period and +was made the great issue of the canvass. Like those of 1880 and 1884, +this campaign was not without a striking incident that had its influence +on the vote. On October 25, 1888, occurred the publication of the +Murchison correspondence, in which the British Minister, Lord +Sackville-West, in a letter dated September 13th, indiscreetly answered +a letter purporting to come from one Charles F. Murchison, of Pomona, +Cal., a naturalized Englishman, asking advice how to vote. Lord +Sackville-West's reply, while not direct, was that a vote for the +Democratic Party would be more friendly to England than one for the +Republican Party, a declaration which was immediately seized upon by the +Republicans and made much of to influence the votes of those who were +undecided on the tariff issue. + +At the election on November 6th Harrison and Morton carried twenty +States, with their 233 electoral votes, and Cleveland and Thurman +carried eighteen States, with 123 electoral votes. The popular vote was: + + Harrison ............. 5,439,853 Cleveland ............ 5,540,329 + Fisk ................. 249,505 Streeter ............. 146,935 + +The Republicans also gained control of both branches of Congress. + +President Harrison's term, reaching from March, 1889, to March, 1893, +was one of political turmoil. The first session of the Fifty-first +Congress convened on December 2, 1889, and Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, was +elected Speaker of the House. The majority of the Republicans being so +small, he soon announced his intention of ignoring the usual rule of not +counting a member as present unless he voted, and stated a new rule, of +counting those who were present as present, even though they did not +vote. This and other rulings were adopted by a party vote, and Mr. Reed +was called the "Czar" by the Democrats. + +The most important work of this Congress and the great political event +of Harrison's administration was the enactment of the McKinley Tariff +Bill, which was reported to the House of Representatives on April 16, +1890, by William McKinley, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. +After considerable debate, it was passed by the House on May 21st, and +by the Senate in September, and became a law October 1, 1890. The +continued efforts of the Democrats brought the McKinley Tariff law into +much public disfavor, and resulted in overwhelming Democratic victories +in the Congressional elections in November, 1890, by which the Democrats +regained control of the House, and their minority of 18 in the +Fifty-first Congress was changed to a majority of 129 in the +Fifty-second. + +A new party, the People's Party, which will be considered later, +appeared in politics with success for the first time at the elections in +1890. Other important measures advocated and adopted by the Republicans +in the Fifty-first Congress were more liberal Pension Laws (June 27, +1890), and the Sherman Anti-Trust Bill (June 26, 1890). The so-called +Sherman Silver Act of July 14, 1890, was in reality a concession to the +strong silver element which was appearing in both the great parties at +this time, and which was to have so momentous an influence on political +history in later presidential campaigns. This Act provided for the +purchase of 4,500,000 ounces of silver bullion each month, to be paid +for in paper money called Treasury Notes, redeemable on demand in gold +or silver, and for the coinage of 2,000,000 ounces per month in dollars; +after July 1, 1891, the silver was not to be coined, but might be stored +in the Treasury and silver certificates issued. The purchasing clause of +the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 was repealed. + +As the time approached for the presidential campaign of 1892 the +political situation was peculiar. President Harrison was openly a +candidate for re-election, but he was unpopular with many of the strong +Republican leaders, who, as a matter of course, turned to Mr. Blaine, +then Secretary of State. Mr. Blaine, however, on February 6, 1892, wrote +Mr. Clarkson, Chairman of the National Republican Committee, declining +to be a candidate, but his friends, notwithstanding, persisted in +booming him. The country was astonished on June 4th, three days before +the Convention, to learn that Mr. Blaine had resigned from the Cabinet. +Did it mean that he was desirous of returning to private life, or of +withdrawing his declination and entering actively into the fight for the +nomination? Mr. Blaine did not explain, and the uncertainty was +perplexing as the day for the Convention approached. + +In the Democratic Party the situation at first was equally uncertain as +to who might be the nominee, but as the State Delegations were chosen, +it was seen that Mr. Cleveland would again be nominated in spite of the +opposition of Gov. Hill and the New York delegation. Public attention +centered, in June, 1892, on Minneapolis and Chicago, where the +Republican and Democratic Conventions were to be held. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CLEVELAND'S SECOND TERM. + + +"Cleveland's (second) election created the disturbances that followed +it. The fear of radical changes in the Tariff Law was the basis of them. +That law caused the falling of prices, the stagnation of some +industries, and the suspension of others. No doubt the fall in the value +of silver and the increased demand for gold largely precipitated and +added to the other evils." + +_John Sherman's Recollections._ + + +The delegates for the Tenth Republican National Convention assembled at +Minneapolis, Minn., in the opening days of June, 1892. The friends of +Mr. Blaine were booming his candidacy, although no direct expression had +come from him as to whether or not he actively desired the nomination. +His sudden and unexpected resignation from President Harrison's Cabinet +had created a situation difficult to analyze, but the general opinion +was that he had hurt his prospects by his action. The anti-Harrison +sentiment was strong, however, and there was much talk of the possible +nomination of a "dark horse," and the name of William McKinley, of Ohio, +"the Napoleon of Tariff," was most spoken of in this respect. As the day +of the Convention drew near both the Blaine and Harrison men expressed +the utmost confidence in their certain success, and the first occasion +in the Convention that would call for a test of strength was looked for +with great interest. + +About 12:24 p. m., Tuesday, June 7, 1892, Chairman James S. Clarkson, of +the Republican National Committee, called the Tenth Convention to order, +and announced the selection, by the National Committee, of J. Sloat +Fassett, of New York, as temporary Chairman. At the close of Mr. +Fassett's speech of acceptance the Convention called for Thomas B. Reed, +who reluctantly came forward and addressed the Convention briefly. The +roll-call of States for the selection of members of the various +committees consumed the time until almost two o'clock, when the +convention adjourned to meet the next morning. On reassembling the +Committee on Credentials was granted further time; the Committee on +Permanent Organization reported the name of William McKinley, of Ohio, +for Permanent President of the Convention, who took the gavel amid great +applause and enthusiasm, and delivered a short, pithy speech. The +Committee on Rules reported, and further time was granted the Committee +on Resolutions. After calling the roll of States for names of the new +National Committeemen, the Convention adjourned for the day. On Thursday +morning, June 9th, the Committee on Credentials was still not ready to +report, and as nothing could be done until they did report, the +Convention took a recess at 11:45 a. m. to 8 p. m. At the opening of the +evening session Mr. Depew, of New York, congratulated Col. Dick +Thompson, of Indiana, who had voted for every President of the United +States for the past sixty years, on reaching on that day his +eighty-third birthday, and the Convention listened to a short speech of +thanks from Col. Thompson. The Committee on Credentials now reported, +and the majority were in favor of the seating of enough administration +delegates to make a net gain of 12 votes for Harrison, and the first +contest of strength between the Blaine and the Harrison forces came on a +motion to substitute the minority report in favor of seating the Blaine +delegates. The vote on this motion was taken amid intense excitement, +and resulted in a victory for the Harrison forces by a close vote of +462-1/2 to 423. Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, Chairman of the Committee on +Resolutions, now reported the platform, which was in the following +words: + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1892. + +The representatives of the Republicans of the United States, assembled +in general convention on the shores of the Mississippi River, the +everlasting bond of an indestructible republic, whose most glorious +chapter of history is the record of the Republican Party, congratulate +their countrymen on the majestic march of the nation under the banners +inscribed with the principles of our platform of 1888, vindicated by +victory at the polls and prosperity in our fields, workshops and mines, +and make the following declaration of principles: + +THE PRINCIPLE OF PROTECTION. + +We reaffirm the American doctrine of protection. We call attention to +its growth abroad. We maintain that the prosperous condition of our +country is largely due to the wise revenue legislation of the last +Republican Congress. We believe that all articles which cannot be +produced in the United States, except luxuries, should be admitted free +of duty, and that on all imports coming into competition with the +products of American labor there should be levied duties equal to the +difference between wages abroad and at home. + +We assert that the prices of manufactured articles of general +consumption have been reduced under the operations of the Tariff Act +of 1890. + +We denounce the efforts of the Democratic majority of the House of +Representatives to destroy our tariff laws piecemeal, as manifested by +their attacks upon wool, lead, and lead ores, the chief products of a +number of states, and we ask the people for their judgment thereon. + +TRIUMPH OF RECIPROCITY. + +We point to the success of the Republican policy of reciprocity, under +which our export trade has vastly increased and new and enlarged markets +have been opened for the products of our farms and workshops. We remind +the people of the bitter opposition of the Democratic Party to this +practical business measure, and claim that, executed by a Republican +administration, our present laws will eventually give us control of the +trade of the world. + +FREE AND SAFE COINAGE OF GOLD AND SILVER. + +The American people, from tradition and interest, favor bimetalism, and +the Republican party demands the use of both gold and silver as standard +money, with such restrictions and under such provisions, to be +determined by legislation, as will secure the maintenance of the parity +of values of the two metals, so that the purchasing and debt-paying +power of the dollar, whether of silver, gold, or paper, shall be at all +times equal. The interests of the producers of the country, its farmers +and its workingmen, demand that every dollar, paper, or coin, issued by +the government shall be as good as any other. We commend the wise and +patriotic steps already taken by our government to secure an +international conference to adopt such measures as will insure a parity +of value between gold and silver for use as money throughout the world. + +FREEDOM OF THE BALLOT. + +We demand that every citizen of the United States shall be allowed to +cast one free and unrestricted ballot in all public elections, and that +such ballot shall be counted and returned as cast; that such laws shall +be enacted and enforced as will secure to every citizen, be he rich or +poor, native or foreign born, white or black, this sovereign right, +guaranteed by the Constitution. The free and honest popular ballot, the +just and equal representation of all the people, as well as their just +and equal protection under the laws, are the foundation of our +republican institutions, and the party will never relax its efforts +until the integrity of the ballot and the purity of elections shall be +fully guaranteed and protected in every state. + +OUTRAGES IN THE SOUTH. + +We denounce the continued inhuman outrages perpetrated upon American +citizens for political reasons in certain Southern States of the Union. + +EXTENSION OF FOREIGN COMMERCE. + +We favor the extension of our foreign commerce, the restoration of our +mercantile marine by home-built ships, and the creation of a navy for +the protection of our national interests and the honor of our flag; the +maintenance of the most friendly relations with all foreign powers, +entangling alliance with none, and the protection of the rights of our +fishermen. + +MONROE DOCTRINE. + +We reaffirm our approval of the Monroe doctrine, and believe in the +achievement of the manifest destiny of the Republic in its broadest +sense. + +RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION. + +We favor the enactment of more stringent laws and regulations for the +restriction of criminal, pauper, and contract immigration. + +EMPLOYEES OF RAILROADS. + +We favor the efficient legislation by Congress to protect the life and +limbs of employees of transportation companies engaged in carrying on +interstate commerce, and recommend legislation by the respective states +that will protect employees engaged in state commerce, in mining and +manufacturing. + +CHAMPIONING THE OPPRESSED. + +The Republican Party has always been the champion of the oppressed and +recognizes the dignity of manhood, irrespective of faith, color or +nationality. It sympathizes with the cause of home rule in Ireland, and +protests against the persecution of the Jews in Russia. + +FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND SPEECH. + +The ultimate reliance of free popular government is the intelligence of +the people and the maintenance of freedom among all men. We therefore +declare anew our devotion to liberty of thought and conscience, of +speech and press, and approve all agencies and instrumentalities which +contribute to the education of the children of the land; but while +insisting upon the fullest measure of religious liberty, we are opposed +to any union of church and state. + +TRUSTS CONDEMNED. + +We reaffirm our opposition, declared in the Republican platform of 1888, +to all combinations of capital, organized in trusts or otherwise to +control arbitrarily the condition of trade among our citizens. We +heartily indorse the action already taken upon this subject, and ask for +such further legislation as may be required to remedy any defects in +existing laws and to render their enforcement more complete and +effective. + +FREE DELIVERY SERVICE. + +We approve the policy of extending to town, villages, and rural +communities the advantages of the free-delivery service now enjoyed by +the larger cities of the country, and reaffirm the declaration contained +in the Republican platform of 1888, pledging the reduction of letter +postage to one cent at the earliest possible moment consistent with the +maintenance of the Postoffice Department and the highest class of postal +service. + +SPIRIT OF CIVIL-SERVICE REFORM. + +We commend the spirit and evidence of reform in the civil service, and +the wise and consistent enforcement by the Republican Party of the laws +regulating the same. + +THE NICARAGUA CANAL. + +The construction of the Nicaragua Canal is of the highest importance to +the American people, both as a measure of defense and to build up and +maintain American commerce, and it should be controlled by the United +States Government. + +TERRITORIES. + +We favor the admission of the remaining territories at the earliest +practicable day, having due regard to the interests of the people of +the territories and of the United States. + +FEDERAL TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. + +All the federal officers appointed for the territories should be +selected from bona fide residents thereof, and the right of self +government should be accorded as far as practicable. + +ARID LANDS. + +We favor cession, subject to the homestead laws, of the arid public +lands to the states and territories in which they lie, under such +congressional restrictions as to disposition, reclamation, and +occupancy by settlers as will secure the maximum benefits to the +people. + +THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. + +The World's Columbian Exposition is a great national undertaking, and +Congress should promptly enact such reasonable legislation in aid +thereof as will insure a discharging of the expense and obligations +incident thereto and the attainment of results commensurate with the +dignity and progress of the nation. + +SYMPATHY FOR TEMPERANCE. + +We sympathize with all wise and legitimate efforts to lessen and prevent +the evils of intemperance and promote morality. + +PLEDGES TO THE VETERANS. + +Ever mindful of the services and sacrifices of the men who saved the +life of the nation, we pledge anew to the veteran soldiers of the +Republic a watchful care and a just recognition of their claims upon a +grateful people. + +HARRISON'S ADMINISTRATION COMMENDED. + +We commend the able, patriotic, and thoroughly American administration +of President Harrison. Under it the country has enjoyed remarkable +prosperity, and the dignity and honor of the nation, at home and abroad, +have been faithfully maintained, and we offer the record of pledges kept +as a guarantee of faithful performance in the future. + +After the adoption of the platform the Convention adjourned for the day. + +At the opening of the session on June 10th, Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, +Chairman of the Woman's Republican Association of the United States, was +heard, and next in order was the nomination of candidates for President. +Senator Wolcott nominated James G. Blaine in an eloquent speech; W. H. +Eustis seconded this nomination, and at the conclusion of his splendid +speech there was twenty-seven minutes of the wildest enthusiasm for +Blaine; W. E. Mollison and G. B. Boyd also seconded Mr. Blaine's +nomination. Richard W. Thompson, ex-Secretary of the Navy, nominated +Benjamin Harrison, and was seconded by Chauncey M. Depew, Warner Miller, +Senator Spooner and B. E. Finck. The total number of votes was 905, +making 453 necessary to a choice. Only one ballot was taken as follows: + + Benjamin Harrison ........ 535 1-6 Thomas B. Reed ........... 4 + James G. Blaine .......... 182 5-6 Robert T. Lincoln ........ 1 + William McKinley ......... 182 + +Mr. Harrison was thus nominated on the first ballot, and on motion of +Mr. McKinley the nomination was made unanimous. Whitelaw Reid of New +York was nominated for Vice-President by acclamation, and the Convention +adjourned. + +The Democratic National Convention assembled at Chicago, Ill., June 21, +1892. Grover Cleveland, of New York, was nominated for the third time by +a vote of 617 1-3 to 114 for David B. Hill, his nearest opponent. Adlai +E. Stevenson, of Illinois, was named for Vice-President. The Democratic +platform of 1892 denounced Republican protection as a fraud and a +robbery of the great majority of the American people for the benefit of +the few, and said that the McKinley Tariff Law was the "culminating +atrocity" of class legislation, and promised its repeal; the platform +declared for a tariff for purposes of revenue only, and advocated the +speedy repeal of the Sherman Act of 1890. + +The Prohibition Convention met at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 24, and +nominated John Bidwell, of California, and J. B. Cranfill, of Texas. A +new party had been organizing quietly for some time, and was destined to +exercise a momentous effect upon the campaign of this year and also of +1896. A Farmers' Alliance Convention had met at St. Louis in December, +1889, and formed a confederation with the Knights of Labor, Greenback +and Single Tax Parties. In December, 1890, they met at Ocala, Florida, +and adopted what is known as the "Ocala Platform," practically all of +the ideas of which were embodied in the platform of the first National +Convention of the People's Party, which met at Omaha, Neb., July 2, +1892. At this Convention James B. Weaver, of Iowa, was nominated for +President, and James G. Field, of Virginia, for Vice-President. The +platform of the People's Party in 1892 stated that corruption dominated +everything, and that the country generally was on the verge of "moral, +political and material ruin," and stated that in the last twenty-five +years' struggle of the two great parties "grievous wrongs have been +inflicted upon the suffering people;" and declared that the union of the +labor forces shall be permanent, and demanded the free and unlimited +coinage of silver and gold at 16 to 1; for an income tax; for Postal +Savings Bank; for Government ownership of railroads, telegraphs and +telephones. The Socialist-Labor Convention met at New York August 28, +1892, and nominated Simon Wing, of Massachusetts, and Charles H. +Matchett, of New York, and adopted a series of social and political +demands. + +The campaign of 1892 was somewhat uninteresting as compared to those of +previous years; the political land slide of 1890 was still felt by the +Republicans, but notwithstanding it, the situation seemed hopeful. The +main encouragement for the Republicans was that the disturbances in the +Democratic party in New York might result so seriously as to lose that +State for the Democrats, but the hope was futile, and at the election on +November 8, 1892, Cleveland and Stevenson received 277 electoral votes, +to 145 for Harrison and Morton, and 22 for the People's candidates, +Weaver and Field. The popular vote was: Cleveland, 5,556,928; Harrison, +5,176,106; Weaver, 1,041,021; Bidwell, 262,034; Wing, 21,164. + +The great surprise of this election, to the members of both of the old +parties, was the unexpected strength shown by the candidates of the +People's Party. By fusing with the Democrats they received the electoral +votes of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Kansas, and split the vote in North +Dakota and Oregon. This fusion of the People's Party and the Democrats +in the West portended serious effects on the destiny of the Democratic +Party in subsequent campaigns. + +President Cleveland was inaugurated March 4, 1893, and begun his second +term of four years, which was marked by the worst financial and +industrial disasters, affecting thousands upon thousands of the American +people, ever known in the history of the country. Before he was +inaugurated, a Treaty of Annexation of Hawaii had been signed (February +14, 1893), and was being considered by the Senate, but almost his first +act of importance was to withdraw the Treaty from the consideration of +the Senate on March 9, 1893. + +Fear of Democratic tinkering with the tariff began almost immediately +with Cleveland's inauguration, and manifested itself in a lack of +confidence and general business uncertainty; in addition, the currency +was in bad shape, and the business interests feared strongly that the +Silver Act of 1890 might result in the adoption of the silver standard +for the United States. The evils of the Greenback system were now felt +with full force; they could be redeemed in specie, but were not +cancelled, and were put in circulation again, thus causing a continuous +drain on the gold reserve of the country. The amount of greenbacks in +circulation was about $350,000,000, and the Treasury notes issued under +the Silver Act of 1890, exchangeable in gold, made a total gold +obligation close to $500,000,000. The threatening state of affairs now +resulted in a general withdrawal and hoarding of gold, and foreign +capital, beginning to lose its confidence in the stability of American +affairs, withdrew investments, resulting in a heavy drain on the gold +reserve, which now, for the first time, fell below $100,000,000 in +April, 1893. The general climax of all of these conditions reached its +height in the Summer and Fall of 1893, and a panic of fearful +proportions set in, resulting in the collapse of hundreds of banks and +involving and ruining business enterprises all over the country. Never +before had a panic reached so far or affected so many people as that of +this year. + +With the hope of benefiting the situation by the repeal of the Silver +Act of 1890, President Cleveland called an extraordinary session of the +Fifty-third Congress, which met August 7, 1893. In the Senate were 44 +Democrats and 38 Republicans, one Independent and two Farmers' Alliance; +the House was composed of 220 Democrats and 128 Republicans and eight +Populists, and organized by electing Chas. F. Crisp, of Georgia, +Speaker. On November 1, 1893, a Bill was passed repealing the Silver +purchase law of 1890, but in both branches of Congress there was a +majority in favor of free coinage, and this fact, notwithstanding that +nothing was or could be done in the way of legislation, on this subject, +although it was attempted several times, continued to disturb the +nation's financial and commercial interests. Business conditions +gradually continued to grow worse, and this situation confronted the +second session of the Fifty-third Congress, which met on December 3, +1893. The Democratic Party in the House immediately took up the +proposition of repealing the McKinley tariff law, and on December 19th, +Mr. Wm. L. Wilson, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, +presented the Wilson Tariff Bill to the House, and it was passed by that +body February 1, 1894. In the Senate it met with Democratic opposition, +which joined with the Republicans in amending the bill so as to protect +certain industries. A compromise was effected with the House, and the +mutilated and unsatisfactory bill became a law on August 27, 1894, +without President Cleveland's signature. + +One alarming feature of the panic of 1893 was that, as the industrial +conditions continued to grow worse, a lawless and frenzied element made +itself felt in alarming strikes in many parts of the country, in some +instances making necessary the calling out of the Regular Army. Another +manifestation of alarming and revolutionary tendency was the marching on +Washington of two armies of men to demand action from the Government, +relieving their distress; their number and character, however, did not +represent the best spirit of the American people, but that conditions +were so alarming as to cause such a movement is indeed a matter for +serious reflection. + +Two years of Democratic failure in the management of the affairs of the +country had its effect on the Congressional elections in 1894, and the +Democrats experienced an overwhelming and crushing defeat, and the +Fifty-fourth Congress to meet in December, 1895, would be composed of 39 +Democrats, 44 Republicans and six Alliance Senators; and 104 Democrats, +245 Republicans, one Silverite and seven Populists in the House. The +continued drain on the gold reserve made necessary the issuance of bonds +to obtain gold, and the bonded debt of the country was increased during +Cleveland's term $262,000,000. The Wilson tariff bill, it was felt, +would be insufficient to produce enough revenue to meet the expenditures +of the Government, and an attempt was made to meet the deficit by +imposing a tax of two percent on all incomes over $4,000, but this was +subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Only one +bright spot seems to appear in all this disastrous period, and it was +the vigorous policy of interference by the President in the dispute +between Great Britain and Venezuela. A bold and decided stand was taken +for the Monroe Doctrine, but even this had its evil effect, for the +business interests were agitated by the fear of war with Great Britain. + +Such was the disastrous story of four years of Democratic control of the +Government, and the Republicans, in the early months of 1896, looked +forward with the utmost confidence to the elections of their candidates, +who would be named in a convention to be held at St. Louis, Mo., in +June. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +M'KINLEY. + + +"We have been moving in untried paths, but our steps have been guided +by honor and duty. There will be no turning aside, no wavering, no +retreating. No blow has been struck except for liberty and humanity, +and none will be. We will perform without fear every national and +international obligation. The Republican Party was dedicated to freedom +forty-four years ago. It has been the party of liberty and emancipation +from that hour, not of profession, but of performance. It broke the +shackles of 4,000,000 of slaves and made them free, and to the party +of Lincoln has come another supreme opportunity which it has bravely +met in the liberation of 10,000,000 of the human family from the yoke +of imperialism." + +_William McKinley_, _Canton_, _Ohio_, _July_ 12, 1900. + + +[Illustration: Inauguration of William McKinley, March 4, 1897.] + +The opening months of 1896 were marked by a great struggle in both of +the old political parties; in the Democratic Party the struggle was one +of principle; in the Republican--of men. The silver question, which had +been a disturbing and unsettled factor in the politics of both of the +great parties for many years, dominated the Democratic Party in 1896 +entirely, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of the Cleveland +administration and the Eastern Democrats to have the party declare +against it. The instruction of the Democratic State delegations was +overwhelmingly in favor of the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 +to 1, and the matter was decided long before the Democratic Convention +met. But how would the Gold Democrats be treated in the Convention; and +what action would they take when it declared for silver? Who would carry +the banner of the Democratic Party under the new issue? In the +Republican Party there was little fear that the Convention would be +stampeded in favor of free silver, as the instructions of the Republican +delegates were as emphatic for a sound money platform as those of the +Democratic Party had been for free silver. When the sentiment of the +Republican Party became known there was very little discussion of the +silver question, notwithstanding that it was apparent that the silver +element of the party would assert itself in the Convention, and would +probably secede on the adoption of the gold plank in the platform. The +great contest in the Republican Party in 1896 was between the two +leading candidates for the presidential nomination. Wm. McKinley, of +Ohio, and Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, were these candidates, and by reason +of their great services to the party there was at first almost an equal +division of sentiment for their nomination. Joseph H. Manley was Mr. +Reed's campaign manager, and the political destinies of Mr. McKinley +were in the hands of Marcus A. Hanna, of Ohio, who proved himself in +this canvass to be the greatest political manager in the nation's +history. The months preceding the Convention were occupied by a great +struggle for the State delegations, and although the managers for Mr. +Reed did not give up the fight until a few days before the Convention, +it was early seen that the strong trend of favor was toward Mr. +McKinley, and the indications were that he would be nominated on the +first ballot. The excitement caused by the unusual contest in both +parties was intense as the time for the national conventions approached. + +The Eleventh Republican National Convention met at St. Louis, Mo., on +Tuesday, June 16, 1896, and was called to order about 12:20 p. m. by +Senator Thomas H. Carter, of Montana, Chairman of the National +Committee, and a pronounced advocate of free silver. After a prayer by +Rabbi Samuel Sale, Chairman Carter announced the selection by the +National Committee of Charles W. Fairbanks, of Indiana, as temporary +Chairman, who accepted the honor in an eloquent speech. After selecting +the various committees the Convention adjourned for the day. On +Wednesday morning, June 17th, the Committee on Permanent Organization +announced the name of John M. Thurston, of Nebraska, as President of the +Convention. He took the gavel and delivered a short, strong speech, +arousing the Convention to great enthusiasm. At the opening of the +afternoon session, Chairman J. Franklin Fort, of the Committee on +Credentials, reported, and, after a long debate concerning the contest +between rival delegations from Texas and Delaware, the majority report +was adopted, and after adopting the report of the Committee on Rules, +presented by Gen. Harry Bingham, the Convention adjourned. On the +morning of the third day of the convention the platform was reported by +Senator-elect Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1896. + +The Republicans of the United States, assembled by their representatives +in national convention, appealing for the popular and historical +justification of their claims to the matchless achievements of the +thirty years of Republican rule, earnestly and confidently address +themselves to the awakened intelligence, experience, and conscience of +their countrymen in the following declaration of facts and principles: + +For the first time since the civil war the people have witnessed the +calamitous consequences of full and unrestricted Democratic control of +the government. It has been a record of unparalleled incapacity, +dishonor, and disaster. In administrative management it has ruthlessly +sacrificed indispensable revenue, entailed an unceasing deficit, eked +out ordinary current expenses with borrowed money, piled up the public +debt by $262,000,000 in time of peace, forced an adverse balance of +trade, kept a perpetual menace hanging over the redemption fund, pawned +American credit to alien syndicates and reversed all the measures and +results of successful Republican rule. + +In the broad effect of its policy it has precipitated panic, blighted +industry and trade with prolonged depression, closed factories, reduced +work and wages, halted enterprise, and crippled American production +while stimulating foreign production for the American market. Every +consideration of public safety and individual interest demands that the +government shall be rescued from the hands of those who have shown +themselves incapable to conduct it without disaster at home and dishonor +abroad, and shall be restored to the party which for thirty years +administered it with unequaled success and prosperity, and in this +connection we heartily indorse the wisdom, the patriotism, and the +success of the administration of President Harrison. + +TARIFF. + +We renew and emphasize our allegiance to the policy of protection as +the bulwark of American industrial independence and the foundation of +American development and prosperity. This true American policy taxes +foreign products and encourages home industry; it puts the burden of +revenue on foreign goods; it secures the American market for the +American producer; it upholds the American standard of wages for the +American workingman; it puts the factory by the side of the farm, and +makes the American farmer less dependent on foreign demand and price; it +diffuses general thrift, and founds the strength of all on the strength +of each. In its reasonable application it is just, fair and impartial; +equally opposed to foreign control and domestic monopoly, to sectional +discrimination and individual favoritism. + +We denounce the present Democratic tariff as sectional, injurious to the +public credit, and destructive to business enterprise. We demand such an +equitable tariff on foreign imports which come into competition with +American products as will not only furnish adequate revenue for the +necessary expenses of the government, but will protect American labor +from degradation to the wage level of other lands. We are not pledged to +any particular schedules. The question of rates is a practical question +to be governed by the conditions of time and of production; the ruling +and uncompromising principle is the protection and development of +American labor and industry. The country demands a right settlement, and +then it wants rest. + +RECIPROCITY. + +We believe the repeal of the reciprocity arrangements negotiated by the +last Republican administration was a national calamity, and we demand +their renewal and extension on such terms as will equalize our trade +with other nations, remove the restrictions which now obstruct the sale +of American products in the ports of other countries, and secure +enlarged markets for the products of our farms, forests and factories. + +Protection and reciprocity are both twin measures of Republican policy +and go hand in hand. Democratic rule has recklessly struck down both, +and both must be re-established. Protection for what we produce; free +admission for the necessaries of life which we do not produce; +reciprocity agreements of mutual interests which gain open markets for +us in return for our open market to others. Protection builds up +domestic industry and trade, and secures our own market for ourselves; +reciprocity builds up foreign trade, and finds an outlet for our +surplus. + +SUGAR. + +We condemn the present administration for not keeping faith with the +sugar-producers of this country. The Republican party favors such +protection as will lead to the production on American soil of all the +sugar which the American people use, and for which they pay other +countries more than $100,000,000 annually. + +WOOL AND WOOLENS. + +To all our products--to those of the mine and the fields as well as to +those of the shop and the factory; to hemp, to wool, the product of the +great industry of sheep husbandry, as well as to the finished woolens of +the mills--we promise the most ample protection. + +MERCHANT MARINE. + +We favor restoring the American policy of discriminating duties for the +upbuilding of our merchant marine and the protection of our shipping in +the foreign carrying trade, so that American ships--the product of +American labor, employed in American shipyards, sailing under the Stars +and Stripes, and manned, officered, and owned by Americans--may regain +the carrying of our foreign commerce. + +FINANCE. + +The Republican Party is unreservedly for sound money. It caused the +enactment of the law providing for the resumption of specie payments in +1879; since then every dollar has been as good as gold. + +We are unalterably opposed to every measure calculated to debase our +currency or impair the credit of our country. We are, therefore, opposed +to the free coinage of silver except by international agreement with the +leading commercial nations of the world, which we pledge ourselves to +promote, and until such agreement can be obtained, the existing gold +standard must be preserved. All our silver and paper currency must be +maintained at parity with gold, and we favor all measures designed to +maintain inviolably the obligations of the United States and all our +money, whether coin or paper, at the present standard, the standard of +the most enlightened nations of the earth. + +PENSIONS. + +The veterans of the Union army deserve and should receive fair treatment +and generous recognition. Whenever practicable, they should be given the +preference in the matter of employment, and they are entitled to the +enactment of such laws as are best calculated to secure the fulfillment +of the pledges made them in the dark days of the country's peril. We +denounce the practice in the Pension Bureau, so recklessly and unjustly +carried on by the present administration, of reducing pensions and +arbitrarily dropping names from the rolls, as deserving the severest +condemnation of the American people. + +FOREIGN RELATIONS. + +Our foreign policy should be at all times firm, vigorous, and dignified, +and all our interests in the western hemisphere carefully watched and +guarded. The Hawaiian Islands should be controlled by the United States, +and no foreign power should be permitted to interfere with them; the +Nicaragua Canal should be built, owned, and operated by the United +States; and by the purchase of the Danish Islands we should secure a +proper and much needed naval station in the West Indies. + +ARMENIAN MASSACRES. + +The massacres in Armenia have aroused the deep sympathy and just +indignation of the American people, and we believe that the United +States should exercise all the influence it can properly exert to bring +these atrocities to an end. In Turkey, American residents have been +exposed to the gravest dangers and American property destroyed. There +and everywhere American citizens and American property must be +absolutely protected at all hazards and at any cost. + +MONROE DOCTRINE. + +We reassert the Monroe doctrine in its full extent, and we reaffirm the +right of the United States to give the doctrine effect by responding to +the appeal of any American State for friendly intervention in case of +European encroachment. We have not interfered and shall not interfere +with the existing possessions of any European power in this hemisphere, +but these possessions must not on any extent be extended. We hopefully +look forward to the eventual withdrawal of the European powers from this +hemisphere, and to the ultimate union of all English-speaking parts of +the continent by the free consent of its inhabitants. + +CUBA. + +From the hour of achieving their own independence, the people of the +United States have regarded with sympathy the struggles of other +American peoples to free themselves from European dominion. We watch +with deep and abiding interest the heroic battle of the Cuban patriots +against cruelty and oppression, and our best hopes go out for the full +success of their determined contest for liberty. + +The Government of Spain having lost control of Cuba and being unable to +protect the property or lives of resident American citizens or to comply +with its treaty obligations, we believe that the Government of the +United States should actively use its influence and good offices to +restore peace and give independence to the island. + +THE NAVY. + +The peace and security of the Republic and the maintenance of its +rightful influence among the nations of the earth demand a naval power +commensurate with its position and responsibility. We therefore favor +the continued enlargement of the navy and a complete system of harbor +and seacoast defenses. + +FOREIGN IMMIGRATION. + +For the protection of the quality of our American citizenship and of the +wages of our workingmen against the fatal competition of low priced +labor, we demand that the immigration laws be thoroughly enforced, and +so extended as to exclude from entrance to the United States those who +can neither read nor write. + +CIVIL SERVICE. + +The civil-service law was placed on the statute-book by the Republican +party, which has always sustained it, and we renew our repeated +declarations that it shall be thoroughly and honestly enforced, and +extended wherever practicable. + +FREE BALLOT. + +We demand that every citizen of the United States shall be allowed to +cast one free and unrestricted ballot, and that such ballot shall be +counted and returned as cast. + +LYNCHINGS. + +We proclaim our unqualified condemnation of the uncivilized and +barbarous practice well known as lynching or killing of human beings +suspected or charged with crime, without process of law. + +NATIONAL ARBITRATION. + +We favor the creation of a national board of arbitration to settle and +adjust differences which may arise between employers and employes +engaged in interstate commerce. + +HOMESTEADS. + +We believe in an immediate return to the free-homestead policy of the +Republican Party, and urge the passage by Congress of a satisfactory +free-homestead measure such as has already passed the House and is now +pending in the Senate. + +TERRITORIES. + +We favor the admission of the remaining territories at the earliest +practicable date, having due regard to the interests of the people of +the territories and of the United States. All the federal officers +appointed for the territories should be selected from bona fide +residents thereof, and the right of self-government should be accorded +as far as practicable. + +ALASKA. + +We believe the citizens of Alaska should have representation in the +Congress of the United States, to the end that needful legislation may +be intelligently enacted. + +[Illustration: Thomas B. Reed.] + +TEMPERANCE. + +We sympathize with all wise and legitimate efforts to lessen and prevent +the evils of intemperance and promote morality. + +RIGHTS OF WOMEN. + +The Republican Party is mindful of the rights and interests of women. +Protection of American industries includes equal opportunities, equal +pay for equal work, and protection to the home. We favor the admission +of women to wider spheres of usefulness, and welcome their co-operation +in rescuing the country from Democratic and Populist mismanagement and +misrule. + +Such are the principles and policies of the Republican Party. By these +principles we will abide and these policies we will put into execution. +We ask for them the considerate judgment of the American people. +Confident alike in the history of our great party and in the justice of +our cause, we present our platform and our candidates in the full +assurance that the election will bring victory to the Republican Party +and prosperity to the people of the United States. + +There had been a strong effort in the Committee on Resolutions by the +silver men urging the adoption of a free silver plank, and Senator Henry +M. Teller, of Colorado, had made an affecting appeal but without avail. + +At the conclusion of the reading of the platform by Senator Foraker, one +of the most dramatic incidents in any Republican convention took place, +when Senator Teller arose, and in behalf of the silver men submitted the +following substitute for the financial plank as read: + +"The Republican Party authorizes the use of both gold and silver as +equal standard money, and pledges its power to secure the free and +unlimited coinage of gold and silver at our mints at the ratio of +sixteen parts of silver to one of gold." + +After presenting this substitute Senator Teller delivered his farewell +address to the Convention, at the conclusion of which Senator Foraker +moved that the substitute be laid on the table, thus cutting off any +debate. On a roll-call of the States the motion was carried by a vote of +818-1/2 to 105-1/2. The financial plank was then voted on separately, and the +one reported was adopted by a vote of 812-1/2 to 110-1/2. The entire platform +was then adopted by an overwhelming viva voce vote. The crucial moment +of the Convention was at hand. Senator Cameron, of Utah, was now +permitted to read a statement which had been prepared by the silvermen +to be read in the event of the adoption of the gold plank. The silver +manifesto was signed by Senator Henry M. Teller, of Colorado, Senator F. +T. Dubois, of Idaho, Senator Frank J. Cameron, of Utah, Representative +Chas. S. Hartman, of Montana, and A. C. Cleveland, of Nevada, the +members of the Committee on Resolutions for their States. Senators +Cameron and Teller then shook hands with Messrs. Thurston and Foraker, +descended from the stage, and, passing slowly down the aisle, left the +hall, followed by about thirty-two other silver delegates. The scene was +most impressive, the remaining delegates and spectators standing on +their chairs, shouting and singing national airs. After listening to +explanations by the silver delegates who remained in the convention, the +roll-call of States was had for the National Committeemen. Marcus A. +Hanna, of Ohio, whose brilliant management of McKinley's interests had +made his name a household word, was selected unanimously as Chairman of +the National Committee. Candidates for the presidential nomination were +now presented. John M. Baldwin nominated Senator Wm. B. Allison, of +Iowa; Senator Henry Cabot Lodge presented the name of Thomas B. Reed in +a scholarly and masterful appeal; with his usual eloquence Chauncey M. +Depew nominated Levi P. Morton, of New York; then came the great +enthusiasm of the Convention when Senator Joseph B. Foraker stepped to +the stage and began his speech, a remarkable effort, naming William +McKinley, of Ohio. After he had spoken a short time he was interrupted +by fully twenty-eight minutes of the wildest enthusiasm when the name of +William McKinley was first mentioned by him. John M. Thurston seconded +the nomination of McKinley, as did J. Madison Vance. Senator Matthew S. +Quay was nominated by Governor Daniel H. Hastings, after which the +balloting commenced. There were 924 delegates, and only one ballot was +taken, with the following result: + + McKinley ........ 661-1/2 Reed ............ 84-1/2 + Morton .......... 58 Quay ............ 61-1/2 + Allison ......... 35-1/2 Cameron ......... 1 + +The nomination was then made unanimous, Messrs. Depew, Platt, Lodge, +Hastings and others joining in the motion. Nominations for +Vice-President being now in order, Samuel Fessenden named William G. +Bulkeley, of Connecticut; J. Franklin Fort nominated Garret A. Hobart, +of New Jersey; Wm. M. Randolph named H. Clay Evans, of Tennessee; S. W. +K. Allen nominated Chas. W. Lippitt, of Rhode Island, and D. F. Bailey +named James A. Walker, of Virginia. The nomination went to Mr. Hobart +on the first ballot. + + Hobart .......... 533-1/2 Walker .......... 24 + Evans ........... 277-1/2 Lippitt ......... 8 + Bulkeley ........ 39 + +A few scattering votes were also given for Thomas B. Reed, Chauncey M. +Depew, John M. Thurston, Frederick D. Grant, and Levi P. Morton. After +selecting the notification committees, the Convention adjourned _sine +die_. + +The Republican nominee in 1896, William McKinley, was born at Niles, +Ohio, in 1843, and was therefore only 18 years of age at the opening of +the Civil War, for which he enlisted in the ranks of a company of +volunteers. After the battle of Antietam he was promoted to Second +Lieutenant, and was subsequently advanced to Major, his commission being +signed by President Lincoln. The war over, Mr. McKinley studied law and +was admitted to the bar and practiced with much success, and soon became +prominent in Ohio politics. He was a member of the National House of +Representatives from 1877 to 1891, during which time he had steadily +increased in the esteem of his colleagues and the people. His framing of +the tariff law of 1890 had brought him into great prominence. He was +defeated for re-election in the political revolution of 1890, but was +elected Governor of Ohio in 1892, and served as such until January, +1896, a few months before the Convention. + +The Democratic National Convention met at Chicago, Ills., Tuesday, July +7, 1896, and the silver forces immediately took control of the +Convention by unseating David B. Hill, of New York, who had been chosen +by the National Committee as temporary Chairman, and substituting John +B. Daniel of Virginia. The Democratic platform of 1896, adopted on the +third day of the Convention, contained the following plank, which, with +the opposite declaration in the Republican platform, became the +controlling issue of the campaign: + +"We demand the free and unlimited coinage of both gold and silver at the +present legal ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for the aid or consent +of any nation." + +A minority report was presented by Senator David B. Hill, but was +rejected by a vote of 626 to 303. It was during the debate on the motion +to substitute this minority report that William J. Bryan delivered his +remarkable speech for free silver, an effort that created remarkable +scenes of enthusiasm in the Convention and made him immediately the idol +of the free silver forces. The speech concluded: + +"If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard +as a good thing, we will fight them to the uttermost. Having behind us +the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the +commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, +we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: 'You +shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you +shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."' + +This Democratic Convention nominated William J. Bryan for President on +the fifth ballot, and named Arthur Sewall, of Maine, for Vice-President +on the fifth ballot. + +The People's Party Convention met at St. Louis, Mo., July 22, 1896, and +ratified the nomination of William J. Bryan for President, but the +Middle-of-the-Road members named Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia, for +Vice-President, the Vice-President being named first in this Convention; +the money plank in the People's Party platform in 1896 was the same in +effect as that of the Democratic platform, and its other demands were in +general the same as those of 1892. The Silver Party Convention met on +the same day (July 22d) in St. Louis and endorsed Bryan and Sewall by +acclamation. There were a large number of Democrats in 1896 who were +unwilling to endorse the Chicago platform and the candidates, and at the +same time they were not willing to vote for the Republican nominees, so +they held a convention at Indianapolis September 2, 1896, and nominated +John M. Palmer, of Illinois, for President, and Simon B. Buckner, of +Kentucky, for Vice-President, and adopted a sound money platform and the +name of the "National Democratic Party." Three other conventions had +been held; the Prohibition Convention at Philadelphia on May 27, 1896, +which nominated Joshua Levering, of Maryland, and Hale Johnson, of +Illinois, but a contest had arisen in this convention over the silver +question, and it resulted in the secession of a number of delegates who +met on the next day and styled themselves "The National Party." They +nominated Rev. Chas. E. Bentley, of Nebraska, and James H. Southgate, of +North Carolina, and adopted a bi-metallic platform. The Socialist-Labor +Convention met at New York on July 6, 1896, and nominated Charles H. +Matchett, of New York, and Matthew Maguire of New Jersey. + +The campaign of 1896 was not only remarkable in its inception, but +continued throughout to be one of the most spectacular in our political +history. At first there was general shifting of the old party lines and +a "bolting" from all of the party candidates, but the Republican Party +suffered the least in this respect. Mr. Bryan conducted a remarkable +personal canvass of the entire country, and was greeted by large crowds +to see him and hear his arguments. Mr. McKinley remained throughout the +canvass at his home in Canton, Ohio, receiving hundreds of visiting +delegations and delivering a large number of earnest speeches which were +telegraphed over the country and carefully read. Monster street parades +were held in the large cities and thousands of badges and lithographs +adorned the persons and homes of the enthusiastic partisans, and, as the +campaign drew to a close, the people were wrought up to a high pitch of +excitement. One striking feature of the canvass was that the ruin and +disaster of the four years of Cleveland's second term which, late in +1895, indicated an easy victory for the Republicans, was largely +forgotten by the people in the new, exciting and novel issues raised and +argued by Mr. Bryan, but those who carefully analyzed the returns of the +States which voted in the elections held in August and September, and +the trend of public opinion, saw that a Republican victory was almost +certain, and this proved true on November 6, 1896, when the popular vote +in the several States secured to McKinley and Hobart 271 electoral votes +to 176 for Bryan and Sewall. The total popular vote at the election of +1896 was as follows: + + McKinley ......... 7,111,607 Bryan ............ 6,509,052 + Palmer ........... 134,645 Levering ......... 131,312 + Matchett ......... 36,373 Bentley .......... 13,968 + +William McKinley was inaugurated for his first term on March 4, 1897, +and immediately called a special session of Congress to take action on +the tariff. The Wilson Tariff Law, as already noted, had totally failed +to provide sufficient revenue to meet the expenses of the Government, +and the result was a steady and growing deficit in the Treasury. On +March 18, 1897, Nelson Dingley, Jr., of Maine, introduced his Tariff +Bill in the House, and it became a law with the President's signature on +July 24, 1897. + +[Illustration: Second inauguration of William McKinley, March 4, 1901.] + +The Cuban question now came to the front and occupied public attention +more seriously than ever before. The United States had always taken a +lively interest in Cuban affairs, and when the Cubans revolted in 1895 +for the sixth time against the cruel domination of the Spaniards there +was deep sympathy for them in this country, that continued to grow as +the months went by. In 1896 the Cubans were accorded the rights of +belligerents by the United States. Throughout the Summer of 1897 the +country was horrified by the reports from the "reconcentrado" camps +established by General Weyler, and sent aid and relief to the suffering +Cubans. The climax of hostility toward Spain came with the terrible news +on February 15, 1898, that the Battleship "Maine" had been blown up in +Havana Harbor and 260 American sailors killed. War was declared in +April, 1898, and the glorious achievements of American arms are too +fresh in memory to require an extended review of them in these pages. +Peace came with the Protocol signed at Washington, August 12, 1898, and +the formal Treaty of Peace was signed at Paris, December 10, 1898. Spain +released her title to Cuba, and the United States acquired Puerto Rico, +Guam and the Philippine Islands, paying Spain the sum of $20,000,000 for +the latter, and taking control of the islands for the suppression of +civil war and to avoid foreign complications. While the Spanish-American +war was in progress the country expanded territorially by the annexation +of Hawaii, which was accomplished by joint resolution, signed by the +President July 7, 1898. + +The Fifty-sixth Congress organized with the election of David B. +Henderson, of Iowa, as Speaker of the House, and the most important +legislation was the Gold Standard Act of 1900, which effectually settled +the money question, as far as the gold or silver standard was concerned, +by providing for the coinage of a dollar consisting of 25 8-10 grains of +gold, nine-tenths fine, as the standard of value, and that all forms of +money issued in coin were to be maintained at a parity of value with +this gold standard. The Act further provided that all United States +notes and Treasury notes shall be redeemed in gold coin, and a +redemption fund of $150,000,000 was established. President McKinley +signed this most important Act, and it became a law on March 14, 1900. +In March, 1900, President McKinley, taking up the question of governing +the Philippine Islands, appointed a Civil Commission composed of William +H. Taft, of Ohio, President; Prof. Dean C. Worcester, of Michigan; Luke +E. Wright, of Tennessee; Henry C. Ide, of Vermont, and Prof. Bernard +Moses, of California, to continue and perfect the work of organizing and +establishing civil government in the Philippines, which had already been +commenced by the military authorities. The Commission proceeded to the +Philippines in the following April, and their work was one of the most +remarkable in the history of the nation, bringing order out of chaos, to +the complete satisfaction not only of the people of this country but +also the Filipinos, with very few exceptions. Education and +enlightenment followed the broad-minded policy of this government, and +through the splendid work of Governor William H. Taft military control +was gradually made unnecessary and the Filipinos were rapidly prepared +for self-government. + +Great prosperity marked the business conditions of the country during +President McKinley's administration, and the balance in the U. S. +Treasury at the end of his term was nearly $495,000,000, which was a +strong contrast to the penury and borrowing during Cleveland's second +term. This splendid record, the successful conduct of the +Spanish-American war, the success in governing the new territories of +the United States, the courageous and dignified action in regard to +foreign affairs, and the complete and general satisfaction with his +entire administration, made President McKinley the logical and unanimous +choice of the party for the nomination in 1900, and the only question in +the convention would be as to who would have the honor of the second +place on the ticket. All of the minor parties held their conventions in +1900 before the conventions of the old parties. The Social Democrats +were first, with their convention at Indianapolis, March 6, 1900, at +which Eugene V. Debs was nominated for President. The People's Party met +at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, May 9-10, 1900, and nominated William J. +Bryan for President and Charles A. Towne for Vice-President. Their +platform denounced the gold standard Act of March 14, 1900, advocated +free silver, an income tax, and condemned the war policy of the +Republican Party. A faction of the People's Party opposed to fusion with +the Democrats had seceded in 1896, and became known as the +Middle-of-the-Road People's Party; they met in convention at Cincinnati +May 9-10, 1900, and nominated Wharton Barker, of Pennsylvania, and +Ignatius Donnelly, of Minnesota. The Socialist-Labor Party met at New +York June 2-8, 1900, and nominated Joseph F. Malloney, of Massachusetts, +and Valentine Remmel, of Pennsylvania. The Prohibition Convention was +held in Chicago, Illinois, June 27-28, and nominated John G. Woolley, of +Illinois, and Henry B. Metcalf, of Rhode Island. + +The Twelfth Republican National Convention began its session Tuesday, +June 19, 1900, at Philadelphia, in the National Export Exposition +Building. About 12:35 p. m. on that day, Senator Marcus A. Hanna, +Chairman of the National Committee, faced the vast assemblage of +delegates and spectators and called the Convention to order. After the +opening prayer by Rev. J. Gray Bolton, Chairman Hanna, in a short +speech, which was received with great applause, introduced Senator +Wolcott, of Colorado, as Temporary Chairman. Senator Wolcott accepted +the honor in a strong speech, and after the roll-call of States for the +naming of the various committees, a motion to adjourn was made, and then +Rev. Edgar M. Levy, who had uttered the invocation at the first +Republican National Convention, forty-four years since, delivered a +benediction, and about 3 p. m. the session was over for the day. At the +opening of the second day, Chairman Wolcott stated that fifteen +survivors of the preliminary Republican Convention at Pittsburg in 1856 +were present with the same old flag used in that convention, and as +these men came forward, with their tattered flag, they received a +remarkable and stirring ovation. Sereno E. Payne, of New York, reported +for the Committee on Credentials, and the report was adopted without +debate. Gen. Charles E. Grosvenor, of Ohio, Chairman of the Committee on +Permanent Organization, now reported the name of Senator Henry Cabot +Lodge, of Massachusetts, as Permanent President of the Convention, and +that the rest of the temporary officers be made permanent; the report +was adopted, and Senator Lodge delivered a scholarly and eloquent +speech, reviewing the history of the country for the past forty-four +years. Senator Chas. W. Fairbanks, of Indiana, Chairman of the Committee +on Resolutions, then read the platform, which was adopted with displays +of the utmost enthusiasm. + +REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, 1900. + +The Republicans of the United States, through their chosen +representatives, met in national convention, looking back upon an +unsurpassed record of achievement and looking forward into a great field +of duty and opportunity, and appealing to the judgment of their +countrymen, make these declarations: + +EXPECTATIONS FULFILLED. + +The expectation in which the American people, turning from the +Democratic Party, intrusted power four years ago to a Republican Chief +Magistrate and Republican Congress, has been met and satisfied. When the +people then assembled at the polls, after a term of Democratic +legislation and administration, business was dead, industry paralyzed, +and the national credit disastrously impaired. The country's capital was +hidden away and its labor distressed and unemployed. The Democrats had +no other plan with which to improve the ruinous condition which they had +themselves produced than to coin silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. + +PROMISE OF PROSPERITY REDEEMED. + +The Republican Party, denouncing this plan as sure to produce conditions +even worse than those from which relief was sought, promised to restore +prosperity by means of two legislative measures: a protective tariff and +a law making gold the standard of value. The people by great majorities +issued to the Republican Party a commission to enact these laws. The +commission has been executed, and the Republican promise is redeemed. + +Prosperity more general and more abundant than we have ever known has +followed these enactments. There is no longer controversy as to the +value of any government obligations. Every American dollar is a gold +dollar or its assured equivalent, and American credit stands higher than +that of any nation. Capital is fully employed, and labor everywhere is +profitably occupied. + +GROWTH OF EXPORT TRADE. + +No single fact can more strikingly tell the story of what Republican +government means to the country than this, that while during the whole +period of one hundred and seven years, from 1790 to 1897, there was an +excess of exports over imports of only $383,028,497, there has been in +the short three years of the present Republican administration an excess +of exports over imports in the enormous sum of $1,483,537,094. + +THE WAR WITH SPAIN. + +And while the American people, sustained by this Republican legislation, +have been achieving these splendid triumphs in their business and +commerce, they have conducted and in victory concluded a war for liberty +and human rights. No thought of national aggrandizement tarnished the +high purpose with which American standards were unfurled. It was a war +unsought and patiently resisted, but when it came, the American +government was ready. Its fleets were cleared for action; its armies +were in the field, and the quick and signal triumph of its forces on +land and sea bore equal tribute to the courage of American soldiers and +sailors, and to the skill and foresight of Republican statesmanship. To +ten millions of the human race there was given "a new birth of freedom," +and to the American people a new and noble responsibility. + +McKINLEY'S ADMINISTRATION INDORSED. + +We indorse the administration of William McKinley. Its acts have been +established in wisdom and in patriotism, and at home and abroad it has +distinctly elevated and extended the influence of the American nation. +Walking untried paths and facing unforeseen responsibilities, President +McKinley has been in every situation the true American patriot and the +upright statesman, clear in vision, strong in judgment, firm in action, +always inspiring and deserving the confidence of his countrymen. + +DEMOCRATIC INCAPACITY A MENACE TO PROSPERITY. + +In asking the American people to indorse this Republican record, and +to renew their commission to the Republican Party, we remind them of +the fact that the menace to their prosperity has always resided in +Democratic principles, and no less in the general incapacity of the +Democratic Party to conduct public affairs. The prime essential of +business prosperity is public confidence in the good sense of the +government and in its ability to deal intelligently with each new +problem of administration and legislation. That confidence the +Democratic Party has never earned. It is hopelessly inadequate, and the +country's prosperity, when Democratic success at the polls is announced, +halts and ceases in mere anticipation of Democratic blunders and +failures. + +MONETARY LEGISLATION. + +We renew our allegiance to the principle of the gold standard and +declare our confidence in the wisdom of the legislation of the +Fifty-Sixth Congress, by which the parity of all our money and the +stability of our currency upon a gold basis has been secured. We +recognize that interest rates are a potent factor in production and +business activity, and for the purpose of further equalizing and of +further lowering the rates of interest, we favor such monetary +legislation as will enable the varying needs of the season and of all +sections to be promptly met, in order that trade may be evenly +sustained, labor steadily employed, and commerce enlarged. The volume of +money in circulation was never so great per capita as it is today. + +FREE COINAGE OF SILVER OPPOSED. + +We declare our steadfast opposition to the free and unlimited coinage of +silver. No measure to that end could be considered which was without the +support of the leading commercial countries of the world. However firmly +Republican legislation may seem to have secured the country against the +peril of base and discredited currency, the election of a Democratic +President could not fail to impair the country's credit and to bring +once more into question the intention of the American people to maintain +upon the gold standard the parity of their money circulation. The +Democratic Party must be convinced that the American people will never +tolerate the Chicago platform. + +TRUSTS. + +We recognize the necessity and propriety of the honest co-operation of +capital to meet new business conditions, and especially to extend our +rapidly increasing foreign trade; but we condemn all conspiracies and +combinations intended to restrict business, to create monopolies, to +limit production, or to control prices, and favor such legislation as +will effectively restrain and prevent all such abuses, protect and +promote competition, and secure the rights of producers, laborers, and +all who are engaged in industry and commerce. + +PROTECTION POLICY REAFFIRMED. + +We renew our faith in the policy of protection to American labor. In +that policy our industries have been established, diversified, and +maintained. By protecting the home market, competition has been +stimulated and production cheapened. Opportunity to the inventive genius +of our people has been secured and wages in every department of labor +maintained at high rates--higher now than ever before, and always +distinguishing our working people in their better conditions of life +from those of any competing country. Enjoying the blessings of the +American common school, secure in the right of self-government, and +protected in the occupancy of their own markets, their constantly +increasing knowledge and skill have enabled them to finally enter the +markets of the world. + +RECIPROCITY FAVORED. + +We favor the associated policy of reciprocity, so directed as to open +our markets on favorable terms for what we do not ourselves produce, +in return for free foreign markets. + +RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION, AND OTHER LABOR LEGISLATION. + +In the further interest of American workmen we favor a more effective +restriction of the immigration of cheap labor from foreign lands, the +extension of opportunities of education for working-children, the +raising of the age limit for child-labor, the protection of free labor +as against contract convict labor, and an effective system of labor +insurance. + +SHIPPING. + +Our present dependence upon foreign shipping for nine-tenths of our +foreign-carrying trade is a great loss to the industry of this country. +It is also a serious danger to our trade, for its sudden withdrawal in +the event of European war would seriously cripple our expanding foreign +commerce. The national defense and naval efficiency of this country, +moreover, supply a compelling reason for legislation which will enable +us to recover our former place among the trade carrying fleets of the +world. + +DEBT TO SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. + +The nation owes a debt of profound gratitude to the soldiers and sailors +who have fought its battles, and it is the government's duty to provide +for the survivors and for the widows and orphans of those who have +fallen in the country's wars. The pension laws, founded on this just +sentiment, should be liberally administered, and preference should be +given, wherever practicable, with respect to employment in the public +service, to soldiers and sailors and to their widows and orphans. + +THE CIVIL SERVICE. + +We commend the policy of the Republican Party in maintaining the +efficiency of the civil service. The administration has acted wisely in +its effort to secure for public service in Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii, and +the Philippine Islands, only those whose fitness has been determined by +training and experience. We believe that employment in the public +service in these territories should be confined, as far as practicable, +to their inhabitants. + +THE RACE QUESTION. + +It was the plain purpose of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution +to prevent discrimination on account of race or color in regulating the +elective franchise. Devices of state governments, whether by statutory +or constitutional enactment, to avoid the purpose of this amendment are +revolutionary and should be condemned. + +PUBLIC ROADS. + +Public movements looking to a permanent improvement of the roads and +highways of the country meet with our cordial approval, and we recommend +this subject to the earnest consideration of the people and of the +legislatures of the several states. + +RURAL FREE DELIVERY. + +We favor the extension of the rural free delivery service wherever its +extension may be justified. + +LAND LEGISLATION. + +In further pursuance of the constant policy of the Republican Party to +provide free homes on the public domain we recommend adequate national +legislation to reclaim the arid lands of the United States, reserving +control of the distribution of water for irrigation to the respective +states and territories. + +NEW STATES PROPOSED. + +We favor home-rule for, and the early admission to statehood of, the +territories of New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma. + +REDUCTION OF WAR TAXES. + +The Dingley Act, amended to provide sufficient revenue for the conduct +of the war, has so well performed its work that it has been possible to +reduce the war debt in the sum of $40,000,000. So ample are the +government's revenues and so great is the public confidence in the +integrity of its obligations, that its newly funded 2 per cent. bonds +sell at a premium. The country is now justified in expecting, and it +will be the policy of the Republican Party to bring about, a reduction +of the war taxes. + +ISTHMIAN CANAL AND NEW MARKETS. + +We favor the construction, ownership, control, and protection of an +isthmian canal by the government of the United States. New markets are +necessary for the increasing surplus of our farm products. Every effort +should be made to open and obtain new markets, especially in the Orient, +and the administration is to be warmly commended for its successful +efforts to commit all trading and colonizing nations to the policy of +the open door in China. + +DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. + +In the interest of our expanding commerce we recommend that Congress +create a Department of Commerce and Industries, in the charge of a +secretary with a seat in the cabinet. The United States consular system +should be reorganized under the supervision of this new department, upon +such a basis of appointment and tenure as will render it still more +servicable to the nation's increasing trade. + +PROTECTION OF CITIZENS. + +The American government must protect the person and property of every +citizen wherever they are wrongfully violated or placed in peril. + +SERVICES OF WOMEN. + +We congratulate the women of America upon their splendid record of +public service in the Volunteer Aid Association and as nurses in camp +and hospital during the recent campaigns of our armies in the East and +West Indies, and we appreciate their faithful co-operation in all works +of education and industry. + +FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAMOAN AND HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. + +President McKinley has conducted the foreign affairs of the United +States with distinguished credit to the American people. In releasing us +from vexatious conditions of a European alliance for the government of +Samoa, his course is especially to be commended. By securing to our +undivided control the most important island of the Samoan group and the +best harbor in the Southern Pacific, every American interest has been +safeguarded. + +We approve the annexation of the Hawaiian islands to the United States. + +THE HAGUE CONFERENCE, THE MONROE DOCTRINE, THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR. + +We commend the part taken by our government in the Peace Conference at +The Hague. We assert our steadfast adherence to the policy announced in +the Monroe doctrine. The provisions of The Hague convention was wisely +regarded when President McKinley tendered his friendly offices in the +interest of peace between Great Britain and the South African Republic. +While the American Government must continue the policy prescribed by +Washington, affirmed by every succeeding president, and imposed upon us +by The Hague Treaty, of non-intervention in European controversies, the +American people earnestly hope that a way may soon be found, honorable +alike to both contending parties, to terminate the strife between them. + +SOVEREIGNITY IN NEW POSSESSIONS. + +In accepting, by the Treaty of Paris, the just responsibility of our +victories in the Spanish War, the President and the Senate won the +undoubted approval of the American people. No other course was possible +than to destroy Spain's sovereignity throughout the West Indies and in +the Philippine Islands. That course created our responsibility before +the world and with the unorganized population whom our intervention had +freed from Spain, to provide for the maintenance of law and order, and +for the establishment of good government, and for the performance of +international obligations. + +Our authority could not be less than our responsibility, and wherever +sovereign rights were extended it became the high duty of the government +to maintain its authority, to put down armed insurrection, and to confer +the blessings of liberty and civilization upon all the rescued people. + +The largest measure of self-government consistent with their welfare and +our duties shall be secured to them by law. + +INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA. + +To Cuba, independence and self-government were assured in the same voice +by which war was declared, and to the letter this pledge shall be +performed. + +INVOKES THE JUDGMENT OF THE PEOPLE. + +The Republican Party, upon its history and upon this declaration of its +principles and policies, confidently invokes the considerate and +approving judgment of the American people. + +On the third day of the Convention, Thursday, June 21, 1900, Mr. Quay, +of Pennsylvania, withdrew a plan of representation which he had +presented the previous day, and the Convention proceeded to the +nominations for President and Vice-President. Alabama yielded to Ohio, +and Senator Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, who had the same great honor +four years previous, went to the platform and in a speech of great vigor +and eloquence nominated William McKinley, of Ohio, for President. The +nomination was seconded by Theodore Roosevelt, of New York, Senator John +M. Thurston, John W. Yerkes, of Kentucky, George Knight, of California, +and Governor James A. Mount, of Indiana. There were no further +nominations. The ballot showed that 930 votes had been cast, and that +William McKinley had received 930, and pandemonium broke loose. After it +had subsided, Col. Lafe Young, in a remarkable speech, withdrew the name +of Jonathan P. Dolliver for Vice-President and nominated Theodore +Roosevelt of New York. Butler Murray, of Massachusetts, and James A. +Ashton, of Washington, seconded the nomination, and in response to +demands for "Depew! Depew!" that gentleman came forward and with his +customary eloquence and wit also seconded the nomination. The balloting +then proceeded and Theodore Roosevelt received 929 votes, he having +refrained from voting for himself. Thus, in this Convention, for the +first time in the history of the party, the candidates for President and +Vice-President were practically nominated by acclamation. + +The Democratic National Convention met at Kansas City, Mo., July 4-6, +1900. There was a long wrangle in the Committee on Resolutions over the +silver plank in the platform, but it was finally adopted by a vote of 26 +to 24, and the Convention adopted the platform by acclamation. The +platform declared that while not taking a backward step from any +position of the party, Imperialism growing out of the Spanish war was +the paramount issue. The Kansas City platform is here given in full as +of great interest in the pending campaign. + +DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1900. + +We, the representatives of the Democratic Party of the United States, +assembled in national convention, on the anniversary of the adoption of +the declaration of independence, do reaffirm our faith in that immortal +proclamation of the inalienable rights of man, and our allegiance to the +constitution framed in harmony therewith by the fathers of the republic. +We hold with the United States Supreme Court that the declaration of +independence is the spirit of our government, of which the constitution +is the form and letter. + +We declare again that all governments instituted among men derive their +just powers from the consent of the governed; that any government not +based upon the consent of the governed is a tyranny, and that to impose +upon any people a government of force is to substitute the methods of +imperialism for those of a republic. We hold that the constitution +follows the flag, and denounce the doctrine that an executive or +Congress, deriving their existence and their powers from the +constitution, can exercise lawful authority beyond it, or in violation +of it. + +We assert that no nation can long endure half republic and half empire, +and we warn the American people that imperialism abroad will lead +quickly and inevitably to despotism at home. + +PORTO RICO LAW DENOUNCED. + +Believing in these fundamental principles, we denounce the Porto Rico +law, enacted by a Republican Congress against the protest and opposition +of the Democratic minority, as a bold and open violation of the nation's +organic law, and a flagrant breach of the national good faith. + +It imposes upon the people of Porto Rico a government without their +consent, and taxation without representation. It dishonors the American +people by repudiating a solemn pledge made in their behalf by the +commanding General of our army, which the Porto Ricans welcomed to a +peaceful and unresisted occupation of their land. It doomed to poverty +and distress a people whose helplessness appeals with peculiar force to +our justice and magnanimity. + +In this, the first act of its imperialistic programme, the Republican +party seeks to commit the United States to a colonial policy, +inconsistent with Republican institutions, and condemned by the Supreme +Court in numerous decisions. + +PLEDGES TO THE CUBANS. + +We demand the prompt and honest fulfillment of our pledge to the Cuban +people and the world that the United States has no disposition or +intention to exercise sovereignity, jurisdiction, or control over the +Island of Cuba, except for its pacification. The war ended nearly two +years ago, profound peace reigns over all the island, and still the +administration keeps the government of the island from its people, while +Republican carpet-bag officials plunder its revenues and exploit the +colonial theory, to the disgrace of the American people. + +THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION. + +We condemn and denounce the Philippine policy of the present +administration. It has involved the republic in unnecessary war, +sacrificed the lives of many of our noblest sons, and placed the United +States, previously known and applauded throughout the world as the +champion of freedom, in the false and un-American position of crushing +with military force the efforts of our former allies to achieve liberty +and self-government. The Filipinos cannot become citizens without +endangering our civilization; they cannot become subjects without +imperiling our form of government, and we are not willing to surrender +our civilization or to convert the republic into an empire; we favor an +immediate declaration of the nation's purpose to give to the Filipinos +first, a stable form of government; second, independence; and, third, +protection from outside interference such as has been given for nearly a +century to the republics of Central and South America. + +The greedy commercialism which dictated the Philippine policy of the +Republican administration attempts to justify it with the plea that it +will pay, but even this sordid and unworthy plea fails when brought to +the test of facts. The war of criminal aggression against the Filipinos, +entailing an annual expense of many millions, has already cost more than +any possible profit that could accrue from the entire Philippine trade +for years to come. Furthermore, when trade is extended at the expense of +liberty the price is always too high. + +We are not opposed to territorial expansion when it takes in desirable +territory which can be erected into states in the Union and whose people +are willing and fit to become American citizens. + +We favor trade expansion by every peaceful and legitimate means. But we +are unalterably opposed to the seizing or purchasing of distant islands +to be governed outside the constitution and whose people can never +become citizens. + +We are in favor of extending the republic's influence among the nations, +but believe that influence should be extended, not by force and +violence, but through the persuasive power of a high and honorable +example. + +The importance of other questions now pending before the American people +is in no wise diminished, and the Democratic party takes no backward +step from its position on them, but the burning issue of imperialism +growing out of the Spanish war involves the very existence of the +republic and the destruction of our free institutions. We regard it as +the paramount issue of the campaign. + +[Illustration: Marcus A. Hanna.] + +THE MONROE DOCTRINE. + +The declaration in the Republican platform adopted at the Philadelphia +convention, held in June, 1900, that the Republican party "steadfastly +adheres to the policy announced in the Monroe doctrine" is manifestly +insincere and deceptive. This profession is contradicted by the avowed +policy of that party in opposition to the spirit of the Monroe doctrine +to acquire and hold sovereignity over large areas of territory and large +numbers of people in the Eastern hemisphere. We insist on the strict +maintenance of the Monroe doctrine and in all its integrity, both in +letter and in spirit, as necessary to prevent the extension of European +authority on this continent and as essential to our supremacy in +American affairs. At the same time we declare that no American people +shall ever be held by force in unwilling subjection to European +authority. + +OPPOSITION TO MILITARISM. + +We oppose militarism. It means conquest abroad and intimidation and +oppression at home. It means the strong arm which has ever been fatal to +free institutions. It is what millions of our citizens have fled from in +Europe. It will impose upon our peace-loving people a large standing +army and unnecessary burden of taxation and a constant menace to their +liberties. + +A small standing army with a well-disciplined state militia are amply +sufficient in time of peace. This republic has no place for a vast +military service and conscription. + +When the nation is in danger the volunteer soldier is his country's best +defender. The national guard of the United States should ever be +cherished in the patriotic hearts of a free people. Such organizations +are ever an element of strength and safety. + +For the first time in our history and co-evil with the Philippine +conquest has there been a wholesale departure from our time-honored and +approved system of volunteer organization. We denounce it as +un-American, un-Democratic, and un-Republican, and as a subversion of +the ancient and fixed principles of a free people. + +TRUSTS DENOUNCED. + +Private monopolies are indefensible and intolerable. They destroy +competition, control the price of all material, and of the finished +product, thus robbing both producer and consumer. They lessen the +employment of labor and arbitrarily fix the terms and conditions +thereof, and deprive individual energy and small capital of their +opportunity for betterment. They are the most efficient means yet +devised for appropriating the fruits of industry to the benefit of the +few at the expense of the many, and unless their insatiate greed is +checked all wealth will be aggregated in a few hands and the republic +destroyed. + +The dishonest paltering with the trust evil by the Republican party in +state and national platforms is conclusive proof of the truth of the +charge that trusts are the legitimate product of Republican policies; +that they are fostered by Republican laws, and that they are protected +by the Republican administration in return for campaign subscriptions +and political support. + +We pledge the Democratic party to an increasing warfare in nation, +state, and city against private monopoly in every form. Existing laws +against trusts must be enforced and more stringent ones must be enacted +providing for publicity as to the affairs of corporations engaged in +interstate commerce and requiring all corporations to show, before doing +business outside the state of their origin, that they have no water in +their stock and that they have not attempted and are not attempting, to +monopolize any branch of business or the production of any articles of +merchandise, and the whole constitutional power of Congress over +interstate commerce, the mails, and all modes of interstate +communication shall be exercised by the enactment of comprehensive laws +upon the subject of trusts. + +Tariff laws should be amended by putting the products of trusts upon the +free list to prevent monopoly under the plea of protection. + +The failure of the present Republican administration, with an absolute +control over all the branches of the national government, to enact any +legislation designed to prevent or even curtail the absorbing power of +trusts and illegal combinations, or to enforce the anti-trust laws +already on the statute books, proves the insincerity of the +high-sounding phrases of the Republican platform. + +Corporations should be protected in all their rights and their +legitimate interests should be respected, but any attempt by +corporations to interfere with the public affairs of the people or to +control the sovereignity which creates them should be forbidden under +such penalties as will make such attempts impossible. + +We condemn the Dingley tariff law as a trust-breeding measure, +skillfully devised to give the few favors which they do not deserve and +to place upon the many burdens which they should not bear. + +INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW. + +We favor such an enlargement of the scope of the interstate commerce law +as will enable the commission to protect individuals and communities +from discriminations and the public from unjust and unfair +transportation rates. + +DECLARATION FOR 16 TO 1. + +We reaffirm and indorse the principles of the national Democratic +platform adopted at Chicago in 1896, and we reiterate the demand of that +platform for an American financial system, made by the American people +for themselves, which shall restore and maintain a bimetalic level, and +as part of such system the immediate restoration of the free and +unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to +1, without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation. + +CURRENCY LAW DENOUNCED. + +We denounce the currency bill enacted at the last session of Congress +as a step forward in the Republican policy which aims to discredit the +sovereign right of the national government to issue all money, whether +coin or paper, and to bestow upon national banks the power to issue and +control the volume of paper money for their own benefit. + +A permanent national bank currency, secured by government bonds, must +have a permanent debt to rest upon, and if the bank currency is to +increase with population and business the debt must also increase. The +Republican currency scheme is therefore a scheme for fastening upon +taxpayers a perpetual and growing debt for the benefit of the banks. + +We are opposed to this private corporation paper circulated as money, +but without legal-tender qualities, and demand the retirement of the +national bank notes as fast as government paper or silver certificates +can be substituted for them. + +SENATORS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. + +We favor an amendment to the Federal constitution providing for the +election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people, and +we favor direct legislation wherever practicable. + +GOVERNMENT BY INJUNCTION. + +We are opposed to government by injunction; we denounce the blacklist, +and favor arbitration as a means of settling disputes between +corporations and their employes. + +DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. + +In the interest of American labor and the uplifting of the workingmen, +as the cornerstone of the prosperity of our country, we recommend that +Congress create a department of labor, in charge of a secretary, with a +seat in the Cabinet, believing that the elevation of the American labor +will bring with it increased production and increased prosperity to our +country at home and to our commerce abroad. + +PENSIONS. + +We are proud of the courage and fidelity of the American soldier and +sailors in all our wars; we favor liberal pensions to them and their +dependents, and we reiterate the position taken in the Chicago platform +in 1896, that the fact of enlistment and service shall be deemed +conclusive evidence against disease and disability before enlistment. + +NICARAGUA CANAL. + +We favor the immediate construction, ownership, and control of the +Nicaraguan canal by the United States and we denounce the insincerity of +the plank in the national Republican platform for an Isthmian canal in +face of the failure of the Republican majority to pass the bill pending +in Congress. + +We condemn the Hay-Pauncefote treaty as a surrender of American rights +and interests, not to be tolerated by the American people. + +STATEHOOD FOR THE TERRITORIES. + +We denounce the failure of the Republican party to carry out its +pledges, to grant statehood to the territories of Arizona, New Mexico, +and Oklahoma, and we promise the people of those territories immediate +statehood and home rule during their condition as territories, and we +favor home rule and a territorial form of government for Alaska and +Porto Rico. + +ARID LANDS. + +We favor an intelligent system of improving the arid lands of the West, +storing the waters for purposes of irrigation, and the holding of such +lands for actual settlers. + +CHINESE EXCLUSION LAW. + +We favor the continuance and strict enforcement of the Chinese exclusion +law and its application to the same classes of all Asiatic races. + +ALLIANCE WITH ENGLAND. + +Jefferson said: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all +nations; entangling alliances with none." + +We approve this wholesome doctrine and earnestly protest against the +Republican departure which has involved us in so-called politics, +including the diplomacy of Europe and the intrigue and land-grabbing of +Asia, and we especially condemn the ill-concealed Republican alliance +with England, which must mean discrimination against other friendly +nations, and which has already stifled the nation's voice while liberty +is being strangled in Africa. + +SYMPATHY FOR THE BOERS. + +Believing in the principles of self-government, and rejecting, as did +our forefathers, the claim of monarchy, we view with indignation the +purpose of England to overwhelm with force the South African republics. +Speaking, as we do, for the entire American nation except its Republican +officeholders, and for all free men everywhere, we extend our sympathy +to the heroic burghers in their unequal struggle to maintain their +liberty and independence. + +REPUBLICAN APPROPRIATIONS. + +We denounce the lavish appropriations of recent Republican Congresses, +which have kept taxes high, and which threaten the perpetuation of the +oppressive war levies. + +SHIP SUBSIDY BILL. + +We oppose the accumulation of a surplus to be squandered in such +bare-faced frauds upon the taxpayers as the shipping subsidy bill, which +under the false pretense of prospering American ship-building, would put +unearned millions into the pockets of favorite contributors to the +Republican campaign fund. + +REPEAL OF THE WAR TAXES. + +We favor the reduction and speedy repeal of the war taxes, and a return +to the time-honored Democratic policy of strict economy in governmental +expenditures. + +CONCLUDING PLEA TO THE PEOPLE. + +Believing that our most cherished institutions are in great peril, that +the very existence of our constitutional republic is at stake, and that +the decision now to be rendered will determine whether or not our +children are to enjoy those blessed privileges of free government which +have made the United States great, prosperous, and honored, we earnestly +ask for the foregoing declaration of principles the hearty support of +the liberty-loving American people, regardless of previous party +affiliations. + +William J. Bryan, of Nebraska, was again nominated for President, and +Adlai E. Stevenson, of Illinois, for Vice-President, both on the first +ballots. While the Democratic Convention was in session, the Silver +Republicans met in Convention in the same city. The Chairman _pro tem._ +was Henry M. Teller, who had withdrawn from the Republican Convention in +1896. This Convention nominated William J. Bryan for President, and the +National Committee was authorized to name the Vice-President, which they +did on July 7th, by endorsing Adlai E. Stevenson. + +The campaign of 1900 was as animated throughout as was that of 1896. +Imperialism was the issue raised by the Democrats, and the result in +November was an overwhelming victory for the Republican candidates, +McKinley and Roosevelt, who carried enough States to assure them of 292 +electoral votes to 155 for Bryan and Stevenson. The popular vote for the +leading candidates was as follows: McKinley (Rep.), 7,207,923; Bryan +(Dem.), 6,358,133; Woolley (Prohib.), 208,914; Debs (Soc. Dem.), 87,814; +Barker (M. R. Peop.), 50,373; Malloney (Soc. L.), 39,739. + +William McKinley was inaugurated for his second term on March 4, 1901. +On September 6, 1901, the almost unbelievable news was telegraphed over +the country that President McKinley, while in the Temple of Music at the +Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, had been shot twice by an assassin, +an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz. But it proved only too true, and for a +week the people of the country watched the bulletins and prayed for the +President, who fought bravely against death. The wound in the stomach +was fatal, and William McKinley, the third martyred President of the +Republican Party, passed away on September 14, 1901, at the home of John +G. Milburn in Buffalo. The great purity and simplicity of his life, his +devotion to his wife, his courageous struggle for the great economical +principles which had brought the country to the highest degree of +prosperity ever known, and the splendid record of his administration +made his loss deeply felt by the nation, and he was enshrined beside +Lincoln in American history. The last words of William McKinley +exhibited the Christian character of a great life: "It is God's way; His +will be done." + +[Illustration: By special permission of C. M. Bell Photo Co., Washington D. C. +Theodore Roosevelt.] + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ROOSEVELT. + + +"I feel that we have a right to appeal not merely to Republicans, but to +all good citizens, no matter what may have been their party affiliations +in the past, and to ask them, on the strength of the record ... to stand +shoulder to shoulder with us, perpetuating the conditions under which we +have reached a degree of prosperity never before attained in the +Nation's history and under which, abroad, we have put the American Flag +on a level which it never before in the history of the country has been +placed." + +_Theodore Roosevelt_, _to the Notification Committee_, +_Sagamore Hill_, _L. I._, _July_, 1900. + + +Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office as President at Buffalo, New +York, on September 14, 1901, and became the twenty-sixth President of +the United States, and the third to succeed a martyred Republican +President. He was born in New York City, October 27, 1858. He graduated +from Harvard and spent some years in traveling; served in the New York +Legislature in 1882, 1883 and 1884, and was prominent as a champion of +Civil Service Reform. Was Chairman of the New York delegation to the +Convention in 1884, and ran for Mayor of New York in 1886, as the +Independent candidate, endorsed by the Republicans, but was defeated; +was appointed Civil Service Commissioner in May, 1889, by President +Harrison, and served till 1895, exhibiting great energy and establishing +Civil Service principles in all Executive Departments, acquiring a +splendid reputation throughout the country for fearlessness and honesty. +He resigned from the Civil Service Commission to accept the appointment +of Police Commissioner of New York City in May, 1895, and displayed his +usual energy in the suppression of corruption and in the establishment +of law and order in New York City. He was appointed Assistant Secretary +of the Navy by President McKinley, and worked with great vigor to place +the Navy on a proper footing, and the success of the Navy in the +Spanish-American war was due in no small degree to his preliminary work. +When the war broke out in April, 1898, he resigned his position in the +Navy Department and organized a volunteer cavalry regiment, recruited +mainly from the Western plains, the members of which were called the +"Rough Riders." They were commanded at first by Col. Leonard Wood, and +Mr. Roosevelt was made Lieutenant-Colonel. His previous military +experience had been several years' service in the New York National +Guard. For his gallant conduct at San Juan Hill and in the Cuban +campaign he was commissioned Colonel July 11, 1898, though many of the +officers at Washington were opposed to him. He was elected Governor of +New York in the Fall of 1898. In all of these positions he devoted +himself to his work with energy and enthusiasm amazing to all. His +published works on American History rank him as one of the great +historians of the country, and his interests in out-door sports and his +delightful home life have endeared him to the people as a typical +American. The nomination for Vice-President came to him unsought and +undesired, but in response to the demands of the people he fell in line +promptly. Coming to the Presidential Chair under trying circumstances he +immediately displayed the highest ability and tact in taking charge of +the administration of the national affairs. The policies of President +McKinley were pursued without deviation, and President Roosevelt +conducted the domestic and foreign affairs in a way that has marked him +as a great statesman, and the country and its new possessions are +eminently in a condition of prosperity and satisfaction. + +On May 20, 1902, the United States partially redeemed its pledge in +regard to Cuba by hauling down its flag at the Government Palace, +Havana, after which the flag of the new Republic of Cuba was raised. +This pledge fulfilled, the Republican Party rounded it out with the +approval of the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, ratified in the Senate March +19, 1903. + +The long continued agitation for the construction of a canal, by the +United States, connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, +resulted in the Isthmian Canal Act, approved June 28, 1902, in which the +President was authorized to acquire the rights of the new Panama Canal +Company of France, and if the title proved satisfactory, and a treaty +could be obtained from the Republic of Colombia for the necessary +territory, the President was authorized to pay the Canal Company +$40,000,000 for this property, but if this could not be done within a +reasonable time then the Nicaraguan route was to be considered. An +Isthmian Canal Commission was created. Attorney General P. C. Knox +reported to the President (October 26, 1902) that the title to the canal +was valid, and on January 22, 1903, a treaty between the United States +and Colombia for the construction of the canal was signed at Washington +and was ratified by the United States Senate March 17, 1903, but was +rejected by the Colombian Senate September 14, 1903, who suggested the +negotiation of a new treaty. But early in November, 1903, Panama +declared its independence, and was recognized as a Republic by the +United States on November 6th. A new Canal Treaty was signed at +Washington by Secretary of State John Hay, representing the United +States, and Philippe Bunau-Varilla representing Panama, and the treaty +was ratified by the Government of Panama on December 2, 1903, and is now +under consideration in the United States Senate. These various events, +all justified by the laws of nations, brought Colombia to terms, and +late in November, 1903, she offered the United States a free canal +concession if the latter would permit the subjugation of Panama, but the +matter had gone too far, and it is now probable that the Panama Canal +will be built by this Government, acting with the new Republic of +Panama. + +The legislation and the course of events in the Philippines has been +equally satisfactory. On July 1, 1902, Congress provided for the +termination of military rule in these islands and the establishment of +civil government. William H. Taft, of Ohio, who had been President of +the Commission, was appointed Governor, and in that capacity continued +the splendid work which had been begun by the Commission. In December, +1903, Governor Taft was appointed Secretary of War by President +Roosevelt, taking the place of Elihu Root, resigned, and his successor +in the Philippines is Luke E. Wright, of Tennessee. On July 4, 1902, the +insurrection in the Philippines against the authority of the United +States having ended in all parts of the Islands except in the part +inhabited by the Moro Tribes, President Roosevelt issued a Proclamation +of pardon and amnesty to all political offenders on their taking the +oath of allegiance to the United States. + +The great combinations of capital called Trusts, in so far as they +concentrate the industries of the country in the hands of a few, +stifling competiton and dictating wages and prices, have received the +emphatic condemnation of the Republican Party, and President Roosevelt +and Attorney General Knox have done their utmost, under the existing +laws, to suppress these combinations when unlawful. The Republican Party +has done more than any other party to curb the evils of the Trusts, and +it is probable that the question can only be adequately handled by an +amendment to the United States Constitution giving Congress direct +supervision over their organization. The settlement of the coal strike +in the United States by President Roosevelt is remembered gratefully, +and was to the satisfaction of both sides, and was in keeping with his +record of direct and fearless action in emergencies. His administration +saw the dedication of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition buildings at St. +Louis on April 30, 1903, and on July 4, 1903, the completion of the +Pacific Cable, the first message having been sent by the President to +Governor Taft. The report of the Alaskan Boundary Commission on October +7, 1903, gave to the United States all points, except one, in dispute. +This called attention to the work of the Department of State, but we are +too close to the splendid diplomacy of John Hay to fully appreciate its +far-reaching effect for the advancement of the interests of this +country. + +Such is a brief record of recent events that will close this history of +the splendid achievements of the Republican Party. The history of the +administrations of the eight Republican Presidents, Lincoln, Grant, +Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, McKinley and Roosevelt, may be read +at least with interest by every citizen of the United States, regardless +of his party affiliations, and assuredly with pride and satisfaction by +those who count themselves as members of the Grand Old Party. + + + +APPENDIX + + +THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE. + +The Republican National Committee is composed of one member from each +State and Territory. The Committee is chosen by the several State +delegations at the National Conventions of the party. + +The Committee is the national executive head of the Republican Party. +It decides the time and place, and issues the calls for the National +Conventions. The call states the number of delegates to be chosen for +each district, and sometimes prescribes the manner of their selection. +The National Committee also selects the temporary officers of the +convention, subject to its ratification, and after the nominations have +been made takes general charge of the campaign. The Chairmen of the +Republican National Committee have been as follows: + +1856. Edwin D. Morgan, New York. +1860. Edwin D. Morgan, New York. +1864. Marcus L. Ward, New Jersey. +1868. William Claflin, Massachusetts. +1872. Edwin D. Morgan, New York. +1876. { Zachariah Chandler, Michigan. + { J. Donald Cameron, Pennsylvania. +1880. { M. Jewell, Connecticut. + { Dwight M. Sabin, Minnesota. +1884. B. F. Jones, Pennsylvania. +1888. M. S. Quay, Pennsylvania. +1892. Thomas H. Carter, Montana. +1896. Marcus A. Hanna, Ohio. +1900. Marcus A. Hanna, Ohio. + + +THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN LEAGUE. + +The National Republican League, an organization of the greatest help to +the party in National and State Campaigns, was organized in Chickering +Hall, New York City, December 15-17, 1887. It is made up of the active +Republican Clubs of the country, which are first organized into a State +League, and then joined in the National League. It now has a membership +of fully 500,000. The first President of the League was Jas. P. Foster, +of New York, who was most active in the founding of the organization. +National Conventions of the League have been held as follows: Baltimore, +1889; Nashville, 1890; Cincinnati, 1891; Buffalo, 1892; Louisville, +1893; Denver, 1894; Cleveland, 1895; Milwaukee, 1896; Detroit, 1897; +Omaha, 1898; St. Paul, 1900; Chicago, 1902. The Conventions have been +held biennially since 1898. The 1904 Convention will be held at +Indianapolis. The following have served as Presidents of the National +Republican League: + +1889-1890. Jas. P. Foster, New York. +1890-1892. John M. Thurston, Nebraska. +1892-1893. John S. Clarkson, Iowa. +1893-1895. W. W. Tracy, Illinois. +1895-1896. E. A. McAlpin, New York. +1896-1897. D. D. Woodmansee, Ohio. +1897-1898. L. J. Crawford, Kentucky. +1898-1900. Wm. Stone, California. +1900-1902. I. N. Hamilton, Illinois. +1902. J. Hampton Moore, Pennsylvania. + + +REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS. + + TIME. PLACE. NOMINEES. +June 17-18, 1856. Philadelphia, Pa. { John C. Fremont, Cal. + { Wm. L. Dayton, N. J. +May 16-18, 1860. Chicago, Ill. { Abraham Lincoln, Ill. + { Hannibal Hamlin, Me. +June 7-8, 1864. Baltimore, Md. { Abraham Lincoln, Ill. + { Andrew Johnson, Tenn. +May 20-22, 1868. Chicago, Ill. { Ulysses S. Grant, Ill. + { Schuyler Colfax, Ind. +June 5-6, 1872. Philadelphia, Pa. { Ulysses S. Grant, Ill. + { Henry Wilson, Mass. +June 14-16, 1876. Cincinnati, O. { Rutherford B. Hayes, Ohio. + { Wm. A. Wheeler, N. Y. +June 2-8, 1880. Chicago, Ill. { Jas. A. Garfield, Ohio. + { Chester A. Arthur, N. Y. +June 3-6, 1884. Chicago, Ill. { James G. Blaine, Me. + { John A. Logan, Ill. +June 19-25, 1888. Chicago, Ill. { Benj. Harrison, Ind. + { Levi P. Morton, N. Y. +June 7-11, 1892. Minneapolis, Minn. { Benj. Harrison, Ind. + { Whitelaw Reid, N. Y. +June 16-18, 1896. St. Louis, Mo. { Wm. McKinley, Ohio. + { Garret A. Hobart, N. J. +June 19-21, 1900. Philadelphia, Pa. { Wm. McKinley, Ohio. + { Theodore Roosevelt, N. Y. +June 21, 1904. Chicago, Ill. + + +PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. + +The Constitution requires each State to appoint, in such manner as the +Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole +number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be +entitled in Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or person +holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be +appointed an elector. + +The original clause in the Constitution provided that after the electors +had been chosen they should elect the President as follows: The electors +shall meet in their respective States and vote by ballot for two +persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same +State with themselves. A list of the votes shall then be sent to the +President of the Senate; the person having the greatest number of votes +shall be President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of +electors appointed; but in the event of no person having a majority, or +in case of a tie vote, the House of Representatives shall immediately +choose the President. In every case, after the choice of President, the +person having the greatest number of votes shall be Vice-President. But, +if there should remain two or more having equal votes, then the Senate +shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-President. + +Under this clause in the original Constitution there were four +elections: Washington (two terms), John Adams and Jefferson. The last +election (Jefferson) brought on a contest that resulted in the Twelfth +Amendment of the Constitution. It will be noticed that the original +clause did not require the electors to name the person they voted for as +President and the person voted for as Vice-President; they were simply +to vote for two persons. On counting the electoral votes as a result of +the election of 1800, it was found that Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, +and Aaron Burr, of New York, had an equal electoral vote--73. This +threw the election into the House, and a bitter contest followed, which +resulted in the victory of Jefferson, making Burr Vice-President; and +the curious situation was present of an aspirant to the presidency +occupying the subordinate position of Vice-President. + +To correct this evil, the Twelfth Amendment was proposed, ratified by a +sufficient number of States, and went into effect in 1804, and has +governed the presidential elections to this day. This amendment provides +that the electors, instead of voting for two candidates for President, +shall distinctly name in their ballots the person voted for as President +and the person voted for as Vice-President. The certificates of the +ballots are opened by the President of the Senate in the presence of the +Senate and the House. If no person have a majority, then the House +chooses the President, each State having one vote. The person having the +greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall be Vice-President. But +if no person has a majority, then the Senate chooses the Vice-President. +But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President is +eligible to the vice-presidency. + +Since the Jefferson-Burr contest there has been but one election by the +House of Representatives, that of 1824, when none of the candidates +having received a majority of the electoral vote, the House, between +Andrew Jackson, John Q. Adams and William H. Crawford, selected John Q. +Adams as President. John Q. Adams was a son of John Adams, the second +President, and this has been the only time in the history of the nation +that father and son have occupied the Presidential chair. There has been +but one instance of an election of a Vice-President by the Senate, that +of R. M. Johnston, in 1837. + +Two methods of choosing the presidential electors preceded the present +system. It will be remembered that the Constitution gives the various +Legislatures the power of naming the manner in which the electors shall +be chosen. Originally, the Legislatures exercised this power themselves; +then the district system was tried; that is, each voter cast a ballot +for three electors, two for the State at large (representing the +Senators) and one for the Congressional district in which he lived. The +system now in vogue is an election by a "general ticket;" that is to +say, each voter uses a ballot on which are printed the names of all the +electors to which his State is entitled. + +The tendency of the district system was to divide the electoral vote, +while the "general ticket" tends to a solid vote from each State. In the +"Mugwump" campaign of 1884--Cleveland-Blaine--no State divided its +electoral votes. No State divided its vote in the Harrison-Cleveland +election of 1888. In 1892, owing to the People's Party candidate +breaking the vote, and owing to other circumstances, five States divided +their votes. In the McKinley-Bryan contest of 1896 the votes were only +divided in two States--California and Kentucky--where the popular +voting was so close that each State named one Bryan elector. + +The present system of naming electors increases the chances of electing +Presidents who have received less than a majority of the popular vote, +and it is even possible to elect a President who has received less than +a plurality of votes, which has happened in two instances--the election +of Hayes and Benjamin Harrison. It can be seen in the following +instances how both of the cases may happen: A candidate may carry Kansas +by a majority of 43,000, as Blaine did in 1884, and gain nine electoral +votes, and lose New York, with its thirty-six electoral votes by 1,149 +popular votes, as happened in the same election; or in 1896, when Bryan +carried Colorado by 133,000 majority and gained four electoral votes, +and perhaps lost twelve electoral votes in Kentucky by the narrow margin +of 281 popular votes. + +The following Presidents have failed to receive a majority of the total +popular vote: Adams in 1824 (elected by the House), Polk in 1844, Taylor +in 1848, Buchanan in 1856, Lincoln in 1860, Hayes in 1876, Garfield in +1880, Cleveland in 1884, Harrison in 1888, and Cleveland in 1892. +McKinley, in 1896, was the first President since 1872 to receive a clear +majority of the popular votes. + +Only States vote at the presidential elections, each State being +entitled to a number of electors equal to the whole number of Senators +and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in Congress. New +York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio rank in the order named as to +largest number of electors. Since the first election of Jackson, in +1828, no President has been chosen in direct opposition to the combined +votes of New York and Pennsylvania. + +The theory of the electoral college, as conceived by the Federal +Convention, was never realized. The aim was to constitute this peculiar +body as a check on the popular excitement attendant on these elections. +It was meant that the electors should meet some time after the election +day and calmly discuss the merits of the best men. Under the present +system, the National Conventions of the various parties present their +candidates; on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November of +every fourth year the people vote for the electors, and the result is +known the next day, although the electors do not meet until the second +Monday in January next after the election. There is nothing in the +Constitution to compel an elector to vote for any particular candidate, +yet custom is often stronger than law, and the elector who would +frustrate the wishes of the people who elected him would be guilty of +the basest of political treachery, although no law could punish him. + +In the early history of the country, presidential candidates were first +presented by the party leaders, then by Congressional caucuses, by State +Legislatures, local conventions, and since 1832 the method of nominating +has been by National Conventions of the various parties. Each State is +generally allowed twice as many delegates as it has electors. In the +Democratic Conventions a two-thirds vote of the delegates is necessary +for choice, while the Republican Conventions only require a majority +vote of the delegates for choice. + +The Constitution requires, among other things, that the President shall +be thirty-five years of age. Mr. Roosevelt is the youngest President we +have had, being three years younger than Ulysses S. Grant, who was +forty-seven years old when inaugurated. The eldest was William H. +Harrison, who was sixty-eight years of age when inaugurated. + +The manner of counting the electoral vote is prescribed in the Twelfth +Amendment to the Constitution as follows: + +"The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and +House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall +then be counted; the person having the greatest number of votes for +President shall be President, if such number be a majority of the whole +number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then +from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the +list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall +choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the +President the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from +each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a +member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all +the States shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of +Representatives shall not choose a President, whenever the right of +choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next +following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the +case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. +The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall +be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number +of electors appointed; and if no person have a majority, then from the +two highest numbers on the list the Senate shall choose the +Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of +the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall +be necessary to a choice." + +The procedure of the two houses, in case the returns of the election of +electors from any State are disputed, is provided in the "Electoral +Count" Act, passed in 1886. The "Electoral Count" Act remedied the +strained situation brought about by the Hayes-Tilden controversy in +1876. Congress counts the ballots on the second Wednesday in February +succeeding the meeting of the electors. + + +THE ELECTORAL VOTE IN 1904. + + ELECTORAL ELECTORAL + STATES. VOTES. STATES. VOTES. +Alabama ............... 11 Nevada ................ 3 +Arkansas .............. 9 New Hampshire ......... 4 +California ............ 10 New Jersey ............ 12 +Colorado .............. 5 New York .............. 39 +Connecticut ........... 7 North Carolina ........ 12 +Delaware .............. 3 North Dakota .......... 4 +Florida ............... 5 Ohio .................. 23 +Georgia ............... 13 Oregon ................ 4 +Idaho ................. 3 Pennsylvania .......... 34 +Illinois .............. 27 Rhode Island .......... 4 +Indiana ............... 15 South Carolina ........ 9 +Iowa .................. 13 South Dakota .......... 4 +Kansas ................ 10 Tennessee ............. 12 +Kentucky .............. 13 Texas ................. 18 +Louisiana ............. 9 Utah .................. 3 +Maine ................. 6 Vermont ............... 4 +Maryland .............. 8 Virginia .............. 12 +Massachusetts ......... 16 Washington ............ 5 +Michigan .............. 14 West Virginia ......... 7 +Minnesota ............. 11 Wisconsin ............. 13 +Mississippi ........... 10 Wyoming ............... 3 +Missouri .............. 18 --- +Montana ............... 3 Total ............... 476 +Nebraska .............. 8 Necessary to a choice . 239 + + +PRESIDENTS AND THEIR CABINETS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF +THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + + 1856. +JAMES BUCHANAN, Pa., _Dem._ J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, Ky., _Dem._ +Lewis Cass ........... Sec. State. Jacob Thompson ....... Sec. Int'r. +Jeremiah S. Black .... " Moses Kelly .......... " +Howell Cobb .......... Sec. Treas. Jeremiah S. Black .... Att. Gen'l. +Jacob Thomas ......... " Edwin M. Stanton ..... " +John A. Dix .......... " Aaron V. Brown ....... Post. Gen'l. +John B. Floyd ........ Sec. War. J. Holt .............. " +Joseph Holt .......... " H. King .............. " +Isaac Toucey ......... Sec. Navy. + + 1860. +ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Ill., _Rep._ HANNIBAL HAMLIN, Me., _Rep._ +Wm. H. Seward ........ Sec. State. Salmon P. Chase ...... Sec. Treas. +Simon Cameron ........ Sec. War. Wm. P. Fessenden ..... " +Edwin M. Stanton ..... " Edward Bates ......... Att. Gen'l. +Caleb B. Smith ....... Sec. Int'r. James Speed .......... " +John P. Usher ........ " Montgomery Blair ..... Post. Gen'l. +Gideon Welles ........ Sec. Navy. William Denison ...... " + + 1864. +ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Ill., _Rep._ ANDREW JOHNSON, Tenn., _Rep._ +William H. Seward .... Sec. State. Hugh McCulloch ....... Sec. Treas. +Edwin M. Stanton ..... Sec. War. Gideon Welles ........ Sec. Navy. +John P. Usher ........ Sec. Int'r. James Speed .......... Att. Gen'l. +Henry Harlan ......... " Wm. Denison .......... Post. Gen'l. + + 1865. + ANDREW JOHNSON, Tenn., _Rep._ +Wm. H. Seward ........ Sec. State. Gideon Welles ........ Sec. Navy. +Edwin M. Stanton ..... Sec. War. James Speed .......... Att. Gen'l. +Lorenzo Thomas ....... " Henry Stanbery ....... " +John Schofield ....... " Wm. M. Evarts ........ " +Hugh McCulloch ....... Sec. Treas. Wm. Denison .......... Post. Gen'l. +Henry Harlan ......... Sec. Int'r. Alex. W. Randall ..... " +Orville H. Browning .. " + + 1868. +ULYSSES S. GRANT, Ill., _Rep._ SCHUYLER COLFAX, Ind., _Rep._ +E. B. Washburne ...... Sec. State. J. D. Cox ............ Sec. Int'r. +Hamilton Fish ........ " Columbus Delano ...... " +G. S. Boutwell ....... Sec. Treas. George M. Robeson .... Sec. Navy. +J. A. Rawlins ........ Sec. War. George A. Williams ... Att. Gen'l. +Wm. W. Belknap ....... " John A. J. Creswell .. Post. Gen'l. + + 1872. +ULYSSES S. GRANT, Ill., _Rep._ HENRY WILSON, Mass., _Rep._ +Hamilton Fish ........ Sec. State. Columbus Delano ...... Sec. Int'r. +Wm. M. Belknap ....... Sec. War. Zachariah Chandler ... " +Alphonso Taft ........ " Wm. M. Richardson .... Sec. Treas. +J. D. Cameron ........ " Benj. H. Bristow ..... " +John A. J. Creswell .. Post. Gen'l. Lot M. Morrill ....... " +Marshall Jewell ...... " George A. Williams ... Att. Gen'l. +James N. Tyner ....... " Edwards Pierrepont ... " +George M. Robeson .... Sec. Navy. Alphonso Taft ........ " + + 1876. +RUTH'FORD B. HAYES, O., _Rep._ WM. A. WHEELER, N. Y., _Rep._ +Wm. M. Evarts ........ Sec. State. John Sherman ......... Sec. Treas. +R. W. Thompson ....... Sec. Navy. G. W. McCrary ........ Sec. War. +Nathan Goff, Jr ...... " Alex. Ramsay ......... " +D. M. Key ............ Post. Gen'l. Carl Schurz .......... Sec. Int'r. +Horace Maynard ....... " Charles Devens ....... Att. Gen'l. + + 1880. +JAMES A. GARFIELD, Ohio, _Rep._ CHESTER A. ARTHUR, N. Y., _Rep._ +J. G. Blaine ......... Sec. State. Wm. Windom ........... Sec. Treas. +R. T. Lincoln ........ Sec. War. S. J. Kirkwood ....... Sec. Int'r. +W. H. Hunt ........... Sec. Navy. T. L. James .......... Post. Gen'l. +Wayne McVeagh ........ Att. Gen'l. + + 1881. + CHESTER A. ARTHUR, N. Y., _Rep._ +J. G. Blaine ......... Sec. State. Wm. Windom ........... Sec. Treas. +F. T. Frelinghuysen .. " C. J. Folger ......... " +R. T. Lincoln ........ Sec. War. S. J. Kirkwood ....... Sec. Int'r. +W. H. Hunt ........... Sec. Navy. H. M. Teller ......... " +W. E. Chandler ....... " T. L. James .......... Post. Gen'l. +Wayne McVeagh ........ Att. Gen'l. T. O. Howe ........... " +B. H. Brewster ....... " + + 1884. +G. CLEVELAND, N. Y., _Dem._ THOS. A. HENDRICKS, Ind., _Dem._ +Thos. F. Bayard ...... Sec. State. Daniel Manning ....... Sec. Treas. +Wm. C. Endicott ...... Sec. War. Chas. Fairchild ...... " +Wm. C. Whitney ....... Sec. Navy. Augustus Garland ..... Att. Gen'l. +Wm. F. Vilas ......... Post. Gen'l. Lucius Q. C. Lamar ... Sec. Int'r. +Don M. Dickinson ..... " William F. Vilas ..... " + Norman J. Coleman .... Sec. Agric. + + 1888. +BENJ. HARRISON, Ind., _Rep._ LEVI P. MORTON, N. Y., _Rep._ +James G. Blaine ...... Sec. State. William Windom ....... Sec. Treas. +Redfield Proctor ..... Sec. War. Wm. H. H. Miller ..... Att. Gen'l. +Benj. F. Tracy ....... Sec. Navy. John W. Noble ........ Sec. Int'r. +John Wanamaker ....... Post. Gen'l. Jeremiah M. Rusk ..... Sec. Agric. + + 1892. +G. CLEVELAND, N. Y., _Dem._ ADLAI E. STEVENSON, Ill., _Dem._ +Richard Olney ........ Sec. State. John G. Carlisle ..... Sec. Treas. +Daniel S. Lamont ..... Sec. War. Judson Harmon ........ Att. Gen'l. +Hilary A. Herbert .... Sec. Navy. David R. Francis ..... Sec. Int'r. +Wm. L. Wilson ........ Post. Gen'l. J. Sterling Morton ... Sec. Agric. + + 1896. +WM. McKINLEY, Ohio, _Rep._ GARRET A. HOBART, N. J., _Rep._ +John Sherman ......... Sec. State. Lyman J. Gage ........ Sec. Treas. +William R. Day ....... " Jos. McKenna ......... Att. Gen'l. +John Hay ............. " John W. Griggs ....... " +Russell A. Alger ..... Sec. War. Cornelius N. Bliss ... Sec. Int'r. +Elihu Root ........... " Ethan A. Hitchcock ... " +John D. Long ......... Sec. Navy. James Wilson ......... Sec. Agric. +James A. Gary ........ Post. Gen'l. +Chas. Emory Smith .... " + + 1900. +WM. McKINLEY, Ohio, _Rep._ THEO. ROOSEVELT, N. Y., _Rep._ +John Hay ............. Sec. State. John D. Long ......... Sec. Navy. +Lyman J. Gage ........ Sec. Treas. Chas. Emory Smith .... Post. Gen'l. +Elihu Root ........... Sec. War. Philander C. Knox .... Att. Gen'l. +Ethan A. Hitchcock ... Sec. Int'r. Jas. Wilson .......... Sec. Agric. + + 1901. + THEO. ROOSEVELT, N. Y., _Rep._ +John Hay ............. Sec. State. John D. Long ......... Sec. Navy. +Lyman J. Gage ........ Sec. Treas. Wm. H. Moody ......... " +Leslie M. Shaw ....... " Philander C. Knox .... Att. Gen'l. +Elihu Root ........... Sec. War. Ethan A. Hitchcock ... Sec. Int'r. +Wm. H. Taft .......... " Jas. Wilson .......... Sec. Agric. +Chas. Emory Smith .... Post. Gen'l. G. B. Cortelyou ...... Sec. Com. & Lab. +Henry C. Payne ....... " + + +PRESIDENTS PRO TEM. OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE +SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + +CONGRESS. YEAR. NAME. + 32-33 1852-54 D. R. Atchison, Missouri. + 33-34 1854-57 Jesse D. Bright, Indiana. + 34 1857 James M. Mason, Virginia. + 35-36 1857-61 Benj. Fitzpatrick, Alabama. + 36-38 1861-64 Solomon Foot, Vermont. + 38 1864-65 Daniel Clark, New Hampshire. + 39 1865-67 Lafayette S. Foster, Connecticut. + 40 1867-69 Benj. F. Wade, Ohio. + 41-42 1869-73 Henry B. Anthony, Rhode Island. + 43 1873-75 M. H. Carpenter, Wisconsin. + 44-45 1875-79 Thos. W. Ferry, Michigan. + 46 1879-81 A. G. Thurman, Ohio. + 47 1881 Thos. F. Bayard, Delaware. + 47 1881-83 David Davis, Illinois. + 48 1883-85 Geo. F. Edmunds, Vermont. + 49 1885-87 John Sherman, Ohio. + 49-51 1887-91 Jno. J. Ingalls, Kansas. + 52 1891-93 C. F. Manderson, Nebraska. + 53 1893-95 Isham G. Harris, Tennessee. + 54-58 1895 Wm. P. Frye, Maine. + + +SPEAKERS OF THE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES +SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + +CONGRESS. YEAR. NAME. + 32-33 1851-55 Linn Boyd, Kentucky. + 34 1855-57 Nathaniel P. Banks, Massachusetts. + 35 1857-59 Jas. L. Orr, South Carolina. + 36 1859-61 Wm. Pennington, New Jersey. + 37 1861-63 Galusha A. Grow, Pennsylvania. + 38-40 1863-69 Schuyler Colfax, Indiana. + 41-43 1869-75 Jas. G. Blaine, Maine. + 44 1875-76 Michael C. Kerr, Indiana. + 44-46 1876-81 Samuel J. Randall, Pennsylvania. + 47 1881-83 J. Warren Keifer, Ohio. + 48-50 1883-89 John G. Carlisle, Kentucky. + 51 1889-91 Thos. B. Reed, Maine. + 52-53 1891-95 Chas. F. Crisp, Georgia. + 54-55 1895-99 Thos. B. Reed, Maine. + 56-57 1899-1903 David B. Henderson, Iowa. + 58 1903 Jos. G. Cannon, Illinois. + + +THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION. + +By Act approved January 18, 1886, the presidential succession is fixed +as follows: In case of the removal, death, resignation, or inability of +both the President and Vice-President of the United States, the +Secretary of State, or if there be none, or in case of his removal, +death, etc., then the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, +the Attorney-General, the Postmaster-General, Secretary of the Navy, and +Secretary of the Interior, shall act until the disability is removed, or +a President elected; if Congress is not in session when the presidential +powers devolve on any of these persons, or does not meet twenty days +thereafter, then the said person must call an extraordinary session. +This law applies only to such persons who are appointed by the advice +and with the consent of the Senate, and who are eligible under the +Constitution for the office of President. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1856. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Fillmore | + and | + Buchanan Fremont Donelson | + and and American | + Breckinridge Dayton and | Buchanan Fremont Fillmore +STATES Dem. Rep. Whigs | and B and D and D +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 46,739 ...... 28,552 9 ... ... +Arkansas ........... 21,910 ...... 10,787 4 ... ... +California ......... 53,365 20,691 36,165 4 ... ... +Connecticut ........ 34,995 42,715 2,615 ... 6 ... +Delaware ........... 8,004 308 6,175 3 ... ... +Florida ............ 6,358 ...... 4,833 3 ... ... +Georgia ............ 56,578 ...... 42,228 10 ... ... +Illinois ........... 105,348 96,189 37,444 11 ... ... +Indiana ............ 118,670 94,375 22,386 13 ... ... +Iowa ............... 36,170 43,954 9,180 ... 4 ... +Kentucky ........... 74,642 314 67,416 12 ... ... +Louisiana .......... 22,164 ...... 20,709 6 ... ... +Maine .............. 39,080 67,379 3,325 ... 8 ... +Maryland ........... 39,115 281 47,460 ... ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 39,240 108,190 19,626 ... 13 ... +Michigan ........... 52,136 71,762 1,660 ... 6 ... +Mississippi ........ 35,446 ...... 24,195 7 ... ... +Missouri ........... 58,164 ...... 48,524 9 ... ... +New Hampshire ...... 32,789 38,345 422 ... 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 46,943 28,338 24,115 7 ... ... +New York ........... 195,878 276,007 124,604 ... 35 ... +North Carolina ..... 48,246 ...... 36,886 10 ... ... +Ohio ............... 170,874 187,497 28,126 ... 23 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 230,710 147,510 82,175 27 ... ... +Rhode Island ....... 6,680 11,467 1,675 ... 4 ... +*South Carolina .... ...... ...... ...... 8 ... ... +Tennessee .......... 73,638 ...... 66,178 12 ... ... +Texas .............. 31,169 ...... 15,639 4 ... ... +Vermont ............ 10,569 39,561 545 ... 5 ... +Virginia ........... 89,706 291 60,310 15 ... ... +Wisconsin .......... 52,843 66,090 579 ... 5 ... + --------- --------- ------- --- --- --- + Total .......... 1,838,169 1,341,264 874,534 174 114 8 + +* Electors chosen by Legislature. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1860. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Bell | + Lincoln Douglas Breckinridge and | + and and and Everett | + Hamlin Johnson Lane Constitutional | Lincoln Douglas Breckinridge Bell +STATES Rep. Dem. Ind. Dem. Union | and H and J and L and E +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ ...... 13,651 48,831 27,825 ... ... 9 ... +Arkansas ........... ...... 5,227 28,732 20,094 ... ... 4 ... +California ......... 39,173 38,516 34,334 6,817 4 ... ... ... +Connecticut ........ 43,692 15,522 14,641 3,291 6 ... ... ... +Delaware ........... 3,815 1,023 7,347 3,864 ... ... 3 ... +Florida ............ ...... 367 8,543 5,437 ... ... 3 ... +Georgia ............ ...... 11,590 51,889 42,886 ... ... 10 ... +Illinois ........... 172,161 160,215 2,404 3,913 11 ... ... ... +Indiana ............ 139,033 115,509 12,295 5,306 13 ... ... ... +Iowa ............... 70,409 55,111 1,048 1,763 4 ... ... ... +Kentucky ........... 1,364 25,651 53,143 66,058 ... ... ... 12 +Louisiana .......... ...... 7,625 22,681 20,204 ... ... 6 ... +Maine .............. 62,811 26,693 6,368 2,046 8 ... ... ... +Maryland ........... 2,294 5,966 42,482 41,760 ... ... 8 ... +Massachusetts ...... 106,533 34,372 5,939 22,331 13 ... ... ... +Michigan ........... 88,480 65,057 805 405 6 ... ... ... +Minnesota .......... 22,069 11,920 748 62 4 ... ... ... +Mississippi ........ ...... 3,283 40,797 25,040 ... ... 7 ... +Missouri ........... 17,028 58,801 31,317 58,372 ... 9 ... ... +New Hampshire ...... 37,519 25,881 2,112 441 5 ... ... ... +New Jersey ......... 58,324 62,801 ...... ...... 4 3 ... ... +New York ........... 362,646 312,510 ...... ...... 35 ... ... ... +North Carolina ..... ...... 2,701 48,339 44,990 ... ... 10 ... +Ohio ............... 231,610 187,232 11,405 12,194 23 ... ... ... +Oregon ............. 5,270 3,951 3,006 183 3 ... ... ... +Pennsylvania ....... 268,030 16,765 178,871 12,776 27 ... ... ... +Rhode Island ....... 12,244 7,707 ...... ...... 4 ... ... ... +*South Carolina .... ...... ...... ...... ...... ... ... 8 ... +Tennessee .......... ...... 11,350 64,709 69,274 ... ... ... 12 +Texas .............. ...... ...... 47,548 15,438 ... ... 4 ... +Vermont ............ 33,808 6,849 1,969 218 5 ... ... ... +Virginia ........... 1,929 16,290 74,323 74,681 ... ... ... 15 +Wisconsin .......... 86,110 65,021 888 161 5 ... ... ... + --------- --------- ------- ------- --- --- --- --- + Total .......... 1,866,352 1,375,157 847,514 587,830 180 12 72 39 + +* Electors chosen by Legislature. + + +POPULAR, ARMY AND ELECTORAL VOTES, 1864. + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Army | Electoral + Vote | Vote | Vote +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Lincoln McClellan | | + and and | Lincoln McClellan | + Johnson Pendleton | and and | Lincoln McClellan +STATES Rep. Dem. | Johnson Pendleton | and J and P +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +California ......... 62,134 43,841 2,600 237 5 ... +Connecticut ........ 44,693 42,288 ...... ...... 6 ... +Delaware ........... 8,155 8,767 ...... ...... ... 3 +Illinois ........... 189,487 158,349 ...... ...... 16 ... +Indiana ............ 150,422 130,233 ...... ...... 13 ... +Iowa ............... 87,331 49,260 15,178 1,364 8 ... +Kansas ............. 14,228 3,871 ...... ...... 3 ... +Kentucky ........... 27,786 64,301 1,194 2,823 ... 11 +Maine .............. 72,278 47,736 4,174 741 7 ... +Maryland ........... 40,153 32,739 2,800 321 7 ... +Massachusetts ...... 126,742 48,745 ...... ...... 12 ... +Michigan ........... 85,352 67,370 9,402 2,959 8 ... +Minnesota .......... 25,060 17,375 ...... ...... 4 ... +Missouri ........... 72,991 31,026 ...... ...... 11 ... +*Nevada ............ 9,826 6,594 ...... ...... 2 ... +New Hampshire ...... 36,595 33,034 2,066 690 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 60,723 68,014 ...... ...... ... 7 +New York ........... 368,726 361,986 ...... ...... 33 ... +Ohio ............... 265,154 205,568 41,146 9,757 21 ... +Oregon ............. 9,888 8,457 ...... ...... 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 296,389 276,308 26,712 12,349 26 ... +Rhode Island ....... 14,343 8,718 ...... ...... 4 ... +Vermont ............ 42,422 13,325 243 49 5 ... +West Virginia ...... 23,223 10,457 ...... ...... 5 ... +Wisconsin .......... 79,564 63,875 11,372 2,458 8 ... + --------- --------- ------- ------ --- --- + Total .......... 2,213,665 1,802,237 116,887 33,748 212 21 + +* Nevada chose three electors, one of whom died before the election. + +The Army votes of Kansas and Minnesota arrived too late to be counted. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1868. + +------------------------------------------------------------ + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------ + Grant Seymour | + and and | + Colfax Blair | Grant Seymour +STATES Rep. Dem. | and C and B +------------------------------------------------------------ +Alabama ............ 76,366 72,080 8 ... +Arkansas ........... 22,152 19,078 5 ... +California ......... 54,592 54,078 5 ... +Connecticut ........ 50,641 47,600 6 ... +Delaware ........... 7,623 10,980 ... 3 +Florida ............ ...... ...... 3 ... +Georgia ............ 57,134 102,822 ... 9 +Illinois ........... 250,293 199,143 16 ... +Indiana ............ 176,552 166,980 13 ... +Iowa ............... 120,399 74,040 8 ... +Kansas ............. 31,049 14,019 3 ... +Kentucky ........... 39,566 115,889 ... 11 +Louisiana .......... 33,263 80,225 ... 7 +Maine .............. 70,426 42,396 7 ... +Maryland ........... 30,438 62,357 ... 7 +Massachusetts ...... 136,477 59,408 12 ... +Michigan ........... 128,550 97,069 8 ... +Minnesota .......... 43,542 28,072 4 ... +Missouri ........... 85,671 59,788 11 ... +Nebraska ........... 9,729 5,439 3 ... +Nevada ............. 6,480 5,218 3 ... +New Hampshire ...... 38,191 31,224 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 80,121 83,001 ... 7 +New York ........... 419,883 429,883 ... 33 +North Carolina ..... 96,226 84,090 9 ... +Ohio ............... 280,128 238,700 21 ... +Oregon ............. 10,961 11,125 ... 3 +Pennsylvania ....... 342,280 313,382 26 ... +Rhode Island ....... 12,993 6,548 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 62,301 45,237 6 ... +Tennessee .......... 56,757 26,311 10 ... +Vermont ............ 44,167 12,045 5 ... +West Virginia ...... 29,025 20,306 5 ... +Wisconsin .......... 108,857 84,710 8 ... + --------- --------- --- --- + Totals 3,012,833 2,703,249 214 80 + +Florida electors chosen by Legislature. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1872. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Greeley O'Conor | + Grant and and | + and Brown Adams | Grant + Wilson Liberal Straightout | and +STATES Rep. Rep. and Dem. Dem. | Wilson +------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 90,272 79,444 ...... 10 +Arkansas ........... 41,373 37,927 ...... ... +California ......... 54,020 40,718 1,068 6 +Connecticut ........ 50,638 45,880 204 6 +Delaware ........... 11,115 10,206 487 3 +Florida ............ 17,763 15,427 ...... 4 +Georgia ............ 62,550 76,356 4,000 ... +Illinois ........... 241,944 184,938 3,058 21 +Indiana ............ 186,147 163,632 1,417 15 +Iowa ............... 131,566 71,196 2,221 11 +Kansas ............. 67,048 32,970 596 5 +Kentucky ........... 88,766 99,995 2,374 ... +Louisiana .......... 71,663 57,029 ...... ... +Maine .............. 61,422 29,087 ...... 7 +Maryland ........... 66,760 67,687 19 ... +Massachusetts ...... 133,472 59,260 ...... 13 +Michigan ........... 138,455 78,355 2,861 11 +Minnesota .......... 55,117 34,423 ...... 5 +Mississippi ........ 82,175 47,288 ...... 8 +Missouri ........... 119,196 151,434 2,429 ... +Nebraska ........... 18,329 7,812 ...... 3 +Nevada ............. 8,413 6,236 ...... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 37,168 31,424 100 5 +New Jersey ......... 91,656 76,456 630 9 +New York ........... 440,736 387,281 1,454 35 +North Carolina ..... 94,769 70,094 ...... 10 +Ohio ............... 281,852 244,321 1,163 22 +Oregon ............. 11,819 7,730 572 3 +Pennsylvania ....... 349,589 212,041 ...... 29 +Rhode Island ....... 13,665 5,329 ...... 4 +South Carolina ..... 72,290 22,703 187 7 +Tennessee .......... 85,655 94,391 ...... ... +Texas .............. 47,406 66,500 2,499 ... +Vermont ............ 41,481 10,927 593 5 +Virginia ........... 93,468 91,654 42 11 +West Virginia ...... 32,315 29,451 600 5 +Wisconsin .......... 104,997 86,477 834 10 + --------- --------- ------ --- + Total .......... 3,597,070 2,834,079 29,408 286 + +The Prohibition candidate (Jas. Black) received 5,608 votes. + +The total electoral vote was 366; Mr. Greeley's death, on November 29, +1873, made it necessary for the Democratic and Liberal Republican +electors to vote for other persons; Thos. A. Hendricks received 42. B. +Gratz Brown 18, Chas. J. Jenkins 2, David Davis 1. On objection, +Congress excluded the vote of Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia, a total +of 17. The foregoing refers to the electoral vote for President; the +vote for Vice-President was divided among eight persons. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1876. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Tilden Hayes Cooper | + and and and | Hayes Tilden + Hendricks Wheeler Cary | and and +STATES Dem. Rep. Greenback | Wheeler Hendricks +---------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 102,002 68,230 ...... ... 10 +Arkansas ........... 58,071 38,669 289 ... 6 +California ......... 76,465 79,269 47 6 ... +Colorado ........... ...... ...... ...... 3 ... +Connecticut ........ 61,934 59,034 774 ... 6 +Delaware ........... 13,381 10,752 ...... ... 3 +Florida ............ 22,923 23,849 ...... 4 ... +Georgia ............ 130,088 50,446 ...... ... 11 +Illinois ........... 258,601 278,232 17,233 21 ... +Indiana ............ 213,526 208,011 9,533 ... 15 +Iowa ............... 112,099 171,327 9,001 11 ... +Kansas ............. 37,902 78,322 7,776 5 ... +Kentucky ........... 159,690 97,156 1,944 ... 12 +Louisiana .......... 70,508 75,135 ...... 8 ... +Maine .............. 49,823 66,300 663 7 ... +Maryland ........... 91,780 71,981 33 ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 108,777 150,063 779 13 ... +Michigan ........... 141,095 166,534 9,060 11 ... +Minnesota .......... 48,799 72,962 2,311 5 ... +Mississippi ........ 112,173 52,605 ...... ... 8 +Missouri ........... 203,077 145,029 3,498 ... 15 +Nebraska ........... 17,554 31,916 2,320 3 ... +Nevada ............. 9,308 10,383 ...... 3 ... +New Hampshire ...... 38,509 41,539 76 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 115,962 103,517 712 ... 9 +New York ........... 521,949 489,207 1,987 ... 35 +North Carolina ..... 125,427 108,417 ...... ... 10 +Ohio ............... 323,182 330,698 3,057 22 ... +Oregon ............. 14,149 15,206 510 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 366,158 384,122 7,187 29 ... +Rhode Island ....... 10,712 15,787 68 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 90,906 91,870 ...... 7 ... +Tennessee .......... 133,166 89,566 ...... ... 12 +Texas .............. 104,755 44,800 ...... ... 8 +Vermont ............ 20,254 44,092 ...... 5 ... +Virginia ........... 139,670 95,558 ...... ... 11 +West Virginia ...... 56,455 42,698 1,373 ... 5 +Wisconsin .......... 123,927 130,668 1,509 10 ... + --------- --------- ------ --- --- + Total .......... 4,284,757 4,033,950 81,740 185 184 + +Green C. Smith, Prohibitionist, received a total of 9,522 votes. There +were 2,636 scattering votes for the Anti-Masonic and American Alliance +tickets. + +The Colorado electors were chosen by the Legislature. + +The Returning Boards' counts are given for the popular votes in Florida +and Louisiana, where there was a dispute as to Tilden's majority. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1880. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Garfield Hancock Weaver | + and and and | Garfield Hancock + Arthur English Chambers | and and +STATES Rep. Dem. Greenback | Arthur English +--------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 56,221 91,185 4,642 ... 10 +Arkansas ........... 42,436 60,775 4,079 ... 6 +California ......... 80,348 80,426 3,392 1 5 +Colorado ........... 27,450 24,647 1,435 3 ... +Connecticut ........ 67,071 64,415 868 6 ... +Delaware ........... 14,133 15,275 120 ... 3 +Florida ............ 23,654 27,964 ...... ... 4 +Georgia ............ 54,086 102,470 969 ... 11 +Illinois ........... 318,037 277,321 26,358 21 ... +Indiana ............ 232,164 225,522 12,986 15 ... +Iowa ............... 183,927 105,845 32,701 11 ... +Kansas ............. 121,549 59,801 19,851 5 ... +Kentucky ........... 106,306 149,068 11,499 ... 12 +Louisiana .......... 38,637 65,067 439 ... 8 +Maine .............. 74,039 65,171 4,408 7 ... +Maryland ........... 78,515 93,706 818 ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 165,205 111,960 4,548 13 ... +Michigan ........... 185,431 131,597 34,895 11 ... +Minnesota .......... 93,903 53,315 3,267 5 ... +Mississippi ........ 34,854 75,750 5,797 ... 8 +Missouri ........... 153,567 208,609 35,135 ... 15 +Nebraska ........... 54,979 28,523 3,950 3 ... +Nevada ............. 8,732 9,613 ...... ... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 44,852 40,794 528 5 ... +New Jersey ......... 120,555 122,565 2,617 ... 9 +New York ........... 555,544 534,511 12,373 35 ... +North Carolina ..... 115,874 124,208 1,126 ... 10 +Ohio ............... 375,048 340,821 6,456 22 ... +Oregon ............. 20,619 19,948 249 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 444,704 407,428 20,668 29 ... +Rhode Island ....... 18,195 10,779 236 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 58,071 112,312 566 ... 7 +Tennessee .......... 107,677 128,191 5,917 ... 12 +Texas .............. 57,893 156,428 27,405 ... 8 +Vermont ............ 45,567 18,316 1,215 5 ... +Virginia ........... 84,020 128,586 ...... ... 11 +West Virginia ...... 46,243 57,391 9,079 ... 5 +Wisconsin .......... 144,400 114,649 7,986 10 ... + --------- --------- ------- --- --- + Total .......... 4,454,416 4,444,952 308,578 214 155 + +Neal Dow, Prohibition candidate, received a total vote of 10,305. Two +Republican tickets were voted for in Louisiana. The Democratic vote for +Maine is given for the fusion vote for the electoral ticket, made up of +three Democrats and four Greenbackers. A straight Greenback ticket was +also voted for in Maine. + +Two Democratic tickets were voted in Virginia. The Regular received +96,912; the "Readjusters" 31,674. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1884. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Blaine Cleveland Butler St. John | Cleveland Blaine +STATES Rep. Dem. Greenback Pro. | and H and L +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 59,591 93,951 873 612 10 ... +Arkansas ........... 50,895 72,927 1,847 ...... 7 ... +California ......... 102,416 89,288 2,017 2,920 ... 8 +Colorado ........... 36,290 27,723 1,958 761 ... 3 +Connecticut ........ 65,923 67,199 1,688 2,305 6 ... +Delaware ........... 12,951 16,964 6 55 3 ... +Florida ............ 28,031 31,766 ...... 72 4 ... +Georgia ............ 48,603 94,667 145 195 12 ... +Illinois ........... 337,474 312,355 10,910 12,074 ... 22 +Indiana ............ 238,463 244,990 8,293 3,028 15 ... +Iowa ............... 197,089 177,316 ...... 1,472 ... 13 +Kansas ............. 154,406 90,132 16,341 4,495 ... 9 +Kentucky ........... 118,122 152,961 1,691 3,139 13 ... +Louisiana .......... 46,347 62,540 ...... ...... 8 ... +Maine .............. 72,209 52,140 3,953 2,160 ... 6 +Maryland ........... 85,699 96,932 531 2,794 8 ... +Massachusetts ...... 146,724 122,481 24,433 10,026 ... 14 +Michigan ........... 192,669 149,835 42,243 18,403 ... 13 +Minnesota .......... 111,923 70,144 3,583 4,684 ... 7 +Mississippi ........ 43,509 76,510 ...... ...... 9 ... +Missouri ........... 202,929 235,988 ...... 2,153 16 ... +Nebraska ........... 76,912 54,391 ...... 2,899 ... 5 +Nevada ............. 7,193 5,578 26 ...... ... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 43,249 39,183 552 1,571 ... 4 +New Jersey ......... 123,440 127,798 3,496 6,159 9 ... +New York ........... 562,005 563,154 16,994 25,016 36 ... +North Carolina ..... 125,068 142,952 ...... 454 11 ... +Ohio ............... 400,082 368,280 5,179 11,069 ... 23 +Oregon ............. 26,860 24,604 726 492 ... 3 +Pennsylvania ....... 473,804 392,785 16,992 15,283 ... 30 +Rhode Island ....... 19,030 12,391 422 928 ... 4 +South Carolina ..... 21,733 69,890 ...... ...... 9 ... +Tennessee .......... 124,078 133,258 957 1,131 12 ... +Texas .............. 93,141 225,309 3,321 3,534 13 ... +Vermont ............ 39,514 17,331 785 1,752 ... 4 +Virginia ........... 139,356 145,497 ...... 138 12 ... +West Virginia ...... 63,096 67,317 810 939 6 ... +Wisconsin .......... 161,157 146,459 4,598 7,656 ... 11 + --------- --------- ------- ------- --- --- + Total .......... 4,851,981 4,874,986 175,370 150,369 219 182 + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1888. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Cleveland Harrison Fisk Streeter | Harrison Cleveland +STATES Dem. Rep. Pro. U. Labor | and M and T +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 117,320 56,197 583 ...... ... 10 +Arkansas ........... 85,962 58,752 641 10,613 ... 7 +California ......... 117,729 124,816 5,761 ...... 8 ... +Colorado ........... 37,567 50,774 2,191 1,266 3 ... +Connecticut ........ 74,920 74,584 4,234 240 ... 6 +Delaware ........... 16,414 12,973 400 ...... ... 3 +Florida ............ 39,561 26,657 423 ...... ... 4 +Georgia ............ 100,499 40,496 1,808 136 ... 12 +Illinois ........... 348,278 370,473 21,695 7,090 22 ... +Indiana ............ 261,013 263,361 9,881 2,694 15 ... +Iowa ............... 179,887 211,598 3,550 9,105 13 ... +Kansas ............. 103,744 182,934 6,768 37,726 9 ... +Kentucky ........... 183,800 155,134 5,225 622 ... 13 +Louisiana .......... 85,032 30,484 166 39 ... 8 +Maine .............. 50,481 73,734 2,691 1,344 6 ... +Maryland ........... 106,168 99,986 4,767 ...... ... 8 +Massachusetts ...... 151,855 183,892 8,701 ...... 14 ... +Michigan ........... 213,459 236,370 20,942 4,542 13 ... +Minnesota .......... 104,385 142,492 15,311 1,094 7 ... +Mississippi ........ 85,471 30,096 218 22 ... 9 +Missouri ........... 261,974 236,257 4,539 18,632 ... 16 +Nebraska ........... 80,552 108,425 9,429 4,226 5 ... +Nevada ............. 5,362 7,229 41 ...... 3 ... +New Hampshire ...... 43,456 45,728 1,593 13 4 ... +New Jersey ......... 151,493 144,344 7,904 ...... ... 9 +New York ........... 635,757 648,759 30,231 626 36 ... +North Carolina ..... 147,902 134,784 2,787 32 ... 11 +Ohio ............... 396,455 416,054 24,356 3,496 23 ... +Oregon ............. 26,522 33,291 1,677 363 3 ... +Pennsylvania ....... 446,633 526,091 20,947 3,873 30 ... +Rhode Island ....... 17,530 21,968 1,250 18 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 65,825 13,736 ...... ...... ... 9 +Tennessee .......... 158,779 138,988 5,969 48 ... 12 +Texas .............. 534,883 88,422 4,749 29,459 ... 13 +Vermont ............ 16,788 45,192 1,460 ...... 4 ... +Virginia ........... 151,977 150,438 1,678 ...... ... 12 +West Virginia ...... 79,664 77,791 669 1,064 ... 6 +Wisconsin .......... 155,232 176,553 14,277 8,552 11 ... + --------- --------- ------- ------- --- --- + Total .......... 5,540,329 5,439,853 249,506 146,935 233 168 + +1,591 for Curtis, American; 2,418 for Cowdrey, United Labor. + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1892. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + Harrison Cleveland Bidwell Weaver | Cleveland Harrison Weaver +STATES Rep. Dem. Pro. Peo. | and S and M and F +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Alabama ............ 9,197 138,138 239 85,181 11 ... ... +Arkansas ........... 46,974 87,752 113 11,831 8 ... ... +California ......... 117,618 117,908 8,187 25,226 8 1 ... +Colorado ........... 38,620 ...... 1,687 53,584 ... ... 4 +Connecticut ........ 77,032 82,395 4,026 809 6 ... ... +Delaware ........... 18,077 18,581 564 ...... 3 ... ... +Florida ............ ...... 30,143 570 4,843 4 ... ... +Georgia ............ 48,305 129,386 988 42,939 13 ... ... +Idaho .............. 8,799 ...... 219 10,430 ... ... 3 +Illinois ........... 399,288 426,281 25,870 22,207 24 ... ... +Indiana ............ 255,615 262,740 13,044 22,198 15 ... ... +Iowa ............... 219,373 196,408 6,322 20,616 ... 13 ... +Kansas ............. 157,241 ...... 4,553 163,111 ... ... 10 +Kentucky ........... 135,420 175,424 6,385 23,503 13 ... ... +Louisiana .......... 25,332 87,922 ...... 1,232 8 ... ... +Maine .............. 62,878 48,024 3,062 2,045 ... 6 ... +Maryland ........... 92,736 113,866 5,877 796 8 ... ... +Massachusetts ...... 202,814 176,813 7,539 3,210 ... 15 ... +Michigan ........... 222,708 202,296 20,569 19,792 5 9 ... +Minnesota .......... 122,736 100,579 14,017 30,398 ... 9 ... +Mississippi ........ 1,406 40,237 910 10,256 9 ... ... +Missouri ........... 226,762 268,628 4,298 41,183 17 ... ... +Montana ............ 18,833 17,534 517 7,259 ... 3 ... +Nebraska ........... 87,218 24,943 4,902 83,134 ... 8 ... +Nevada ............. 2,822 711 85 7,267 ... ... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 45,658 42,081 1,297 293 ... 4 ... +New Jersey ......... 156,080 171,066 8,134 985 10 ... ... +New York ........... 609,459 654,908 38,193 16,430 36 ... ... +North Carolina ..... 100,346 132,951 2,636 44,732 11 ... ... +North Dakota ....... 17,486 ...... ...... 17,650 1 1 1 +Ohio ............... 405,187 404,115 26,012 14,852 1 22 ... +Oregon ............. 35,002 14,243 2,281 26,965 ... 3 1 +Pennsylvania ....... 516,011 452,264 25,123 8,714 ... 32 ... +Rhode Island ....... 27,069 24,335 1,565 227 ... 4 ... +South Carolina ..... 13,384 54,698 ...... 2,410 9 ... ... +South Dakota ....... 34,888 9,081 ...... 26,512 ... 4 ... +Tennessee .......... 99,973 136,477 4,856 23,622 12 ... ... +Texas .............. 81,444 239,148 2,165 99,638 15 ... ... +Vermont ............ 37,992 16,325 1,424 43 ... 4 ... +Virginia ........... 113,256 163,977 2,798 12,274 12 ... ... +Washington ......... 36,470 29,844 2,553 19,105 ... 4 ... +West Virginia ...... 80,285 83,484 2,130 4,165 6 ... ... +Wisconsin .......... 170,761 177,436 13,132 9,909 12 ... ... +Wyoming ............ 8,376 ...... 526 526 ... 3 ... + --------- --------- ------- --------- --- --- --- + Total .......... 5,186,931 5,553,142 268,361 1,030,128 277 145 22 + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1896. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ + McKinley, Bryan, Palmer, Levering, Bentley, Matchett, | McKinley, Bryan, +STATES Rep. Dem. N. Dem. Pro. Nat. Soc. L. | Rep. Dem. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +Alabama ............ 54,737 130,307 6,462 2,147 1 ..... .... 11 +Arkansas ........... 37,512 110,103 ..... 839 893 ..... .... 8 +California ......... 146,170 143,373 2,006 2,573 1,047 1,611 8 1 +Colorado ........... 26,271 161,153 1 1,717 386 159 .... 4 +Connecticut ........ 110,285 56,740 4,334 1,808 ..... 1,223 6 .... +Delaware ........... 16,804 13,424 877 355 ..... ..... 3 .... +Florida ............ 11,288 32,736 654 1,778 ..... ..... .... 4 +Georgia ............ 60,091 94,232 2,708 5,613 ..... ..... .... 13 +Idaho .............. 6,324 23,192 ..... 179 ..... ..... .... 3 +Illinois ........... 607,130 464,632 6,390 9,796 793 1,147 24 .... +Indiana ............ 323,754 305,573 2,145 3,056 2,267 324 15 .... +Iowa ............... 289,293 223,741 4,516 3,192 352 453 13 .... +Kansas ............. 159,541 171,810 1,209 1,921 630 ..... .... 10 +Kentucky ........... 218,171 217,890 5,114 4,781 ..... ..... 12 1 +Louisiana .......... 22,037 77,175 1,834 ..... ..... ..... .... 8 +Maine .............. 80,465 34,688 1,870 1,570 ..... ..... 6 .... +Maryland ........... 136,959 104,735 2,507 5,918 136 587 8 .... +Massachusetts ...... 278,976 105,711 11,749 2,998 ..... 2,114 15 .... +Michigan ........... 293,582 236,714 6,879 5,025 1,995 297 14 .... +Minnesota .......... 193,501 139,626 3,202 4,343 ..... 867 9 .... +Mississippi ........ 5,130 63,859 1,071 485 ..... ..... .... 9 +Missouri ........... 304,940 363,667 2,355 2,169 293 596 .... 17 +Montana ............ 10,494 42,537 ..... 186 ..... ..... .... 3 +Nebraska ........... 102,304 115,880 2,885 1,193 797 186 .... 8 +Nevada ............. 1,938 8,377 ..... ..... ..... ..... .... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 57,444 21,650 3,520 779 49 228 4 .... +New Jersey ......... 221,367 133,675 6,373 5,614 ..... 3,985 10 .... +New York ........... 819,838 551,369 18,950 16,052 ..... 17,667 36 .... +N. Carolina ........ 155,222 174,488 578 675 247 ..... .... 11 +N. Dakota .......... 26,335 20,686 ..... 358 ..... ..... 3 .... +Ohio ............... 525,991 477,494 1,857 5,068 2,716 1,167 23 .... +Oregon ............. 48,779 46,662 977 919 ..... ..... 4 .... +Pennsylvania ....... 728,300 433,228 11,000 19,274 870 1,683 32 .... +Rhode Island ....... 37,437 14,459 1,166 1,160 5 558 4 .... +S. Carolina ........ 9,281 58,798 828 ..... ..... ..... .... 9 +S. Dakota .......... 41,042 41,225 ..... 685 ..... ..... .... 4 +Tennessee .......... 148,773 166,268 1,951 3,098 ..... ..... .... 12 +Texas .............. 167,520 370,434 5,046 1,786 ..... ..... .... 15 +Utah ............... 13,484 64,517 21 ..... ..... ..... .... 3 +Vermont ............ 51,127 10,637 1,331 733 ..... ..... 4 .... +Virginia ........... 135,368 154,709 2,129 2,350 ..... 108 .... 12 +Washington ......... 39,153 51,646 1,668 968 148 ..... .... 4 +W. Virginia ........ 104,414 92,927 677 1,203 ..... ..... 6 .... +Wisconsin .......... 268,135 165,523 4,584 7,509 346 1,314 12 .... +Wyoming ............ 10,072 10,655 ..... 136 ..... ..... .... 3 + --------- --------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ---- ---- + Total .......... 7,106,779 6,502,925 133,424 132,009 13,969 36,274 271 176 + + +POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1900. + +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Popular | Electoral + Vote | Vote +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + McKinley, Bryan, Wooley, Debs, Malloney, Barker, Ellis, Leonard, | McKinley, Bryan, +STATES Rep. Dem. Pro. Soc. Dem. Soc. L. M. R. Pop. U. R. U. C. | Rep. Dem. +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Alabama ............ 55,512 97,131 2,762 ....... ....... 4,178 ..... ..... .... 11 +Arkansas ........... 44,800 81,142 584 ....... ....... 972 341 ..... .... 8 +California ......... 164,755 124,985 5,024 7,554 ....... ...... ..... ..... 9 .... +Colorado ........... 93,072 122,733 3,790 654 700 387 ..... ..... .... 4 +Connecticut ........ 102,567 73,997 1,617 1,029 898 ...... ..... ..... 6 .... +Delaware ........... 22,529 18,858 538 57 ....... ...... ..... ..... 3 .... +Florida ............ 7,314 28,007 1,039 601 ....... 1,070 ..... ..... .... 4 +Georgia ............ 35,035 81,700 1,396 ....... ....... 4,584 ..... ..... .... 13 +Idaho .............. 26,997 29,414 857 ....... ....... 213 ..... ..... .... 3 +Illinois ........... 597,985 503,061 17,623 9,687 1,373 1,141 672 352 24 .... +Indiana ............ 336,063 309,584 13,718 2,374 663 1,438 254 ..... 15 .... +Iowa ............... 307,785 209,179 9,479 2,778 259 613 ..... 707 13 .... +Kansas ............. 185,955 162,601 3,605 1,605 ....... ...... ..... ..... 10 .... +Kentucky ........... 227,128 235,103 3,780 646 390 1,861 ..... ..... .... 13 +Louisiana .......... 14,233 53,671 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 8 +Maine .............. 65,435 36,822 2,585 878 ....... ...... ..... ..... 6 .... +Maryland ........... 136,212 122,271 4,582 908 391 ...... 147 ..... 8 .... +Massachusetts ...... 238,866 156,997 6,202 9,607 2,599 ...... ..... ..... 15 .... +Michigan ........... 316,269 211,685 11,859 2,826 903 833 ..... ..... 14 .... +Minnesota .......... 190,461 112,901 8,555 3,065 1,329 ...... ..... ..... 9 .... +Mississippi ........ 5,753 51,706 ....... ....... ....... 1,644 ..... ..... .... 9 +Missouri ........... 314,092 351,922 5,965 6,139 1,294 4,244 ..... ..... .... 17 +Montana ............ 25,373 37,146 298 708 ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 3 +Nebraska ........... 121,835 114,013 3,655 823 ....... 1,104 ..... ..... 8 .... +Nevada ............. 3,849 6,347 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 3 +New Hampshire ...... 54,803 35,489 1,270 790 ....... ...... ..... ..... 4 .... +New Jersey ......... 221,707 164,808 7,183 4,609 2,074 669 ..... ..... 10 .... +New York ........... 821,992 678,386 22,043 12,869 12,622 ...... ..... ..... 36 .... +North Carolina ..... 133,081 157,752 1,006 ....... ....... 830 ..... ..... .... 11 +North Dakota ....... 35,891 20,519 731 518 ....... 110 ..... ..... 3 .... +Ohio ............... 543,918 474,882 10,203 4,847 1,688 251 4,284 ..... 23 .... +Oregon ............. 46,526 33,385 2,536 1,466 ....... 203 ..... ..... 4 .... +Pennsylvania ....... 712,665 424,232 27,908 4,831 2,936 638 ..... ..... 32 .... +Rhode Island ....... 33,784 19,812 1,529 ....... 1,423 ...... ..... ..... 4 .... +South Carolina ..... 3,579 47,236 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 9 +South Dakota ....... 54,530 39,544 1,542 176 ....... 339 ..... ..... 4 .... +Tennessee .......... 121,194 144,751 3,900 410 ....... 1,368 ..... ..... .... 12 +Texas .............. 121,173 267,337 2,644 1,841 160 20,976 ..... ..... .... 15 +Utah ............... 47,139 45,006 209 720 106 ...... ..... ..... 3 .... +Vermont ............ 42,568 12,849 368 ....... ....... 367 ..... ..... 4 .... +Virginia ........... 115,865 146,080 2,150 ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... .... 12 +Washington ......... 57,456 44,833 2,363 2,006 866 ...... ..... ..... 4 .... +West Virginia ...... 119,829 98,807 1,692 268 ....... 274 ..... ..... 6 .... +Wisconsin .......... 265,866 159,285 10,124 524 7,065 ...... ..... ..... 12 .... +Wyoming ............ 14,482 10,164 ....... ....... ....... ...... ..... ..... 3 .... + --------- --------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ----- ----- ---- ---- + Total .......... 7,207,923 6,358,133 208,914 87,814 39,739 50,373 5,698 1,059 292 155 + + + +INDEX + +Abbott, Josiah G., 180. +Abolitionists, chapter on, 51. +Abolitionists, early in Pennsylvania, 26. +Abolitionists, sentiment during Revolution, 28 et seq. +Adams, Charles Francis, 159. +Adams, John Q., 164, 296. +Adams, John Quincy, 55, 295. +Alabama Claims, 165. +Alabama, secedes, 125; + reconstructed, 139. +Alaska, purchased, 146, 252; + boundary award, 290. +Alger, Russell A., 224, 302. +Allen, S. W. K., 255. +Allison, William B., 183, 224, 255. +American Anti-Slavery Society, 52 et seq. +American Party, see Know-Nothings. +Ames, Oakes, 165. +Anthony, Henry B., 303. +Anti-Monopoly Convention, 1884, 209. +Arbitration, National advocated, 252. +Arkansas, reconstructed, 139. +Army Vote 1864, 133. +Arthur, Chester A. nominated for Vice President, 193; + becomes President, 197; + biographical sketch, 197; + candidate for nomination, 1884, 200; + placed in nomination, 207; + ballots, 208; + his cabinet, 301. +Articles of Confederation, 30. +Ashmun, George, 115. +Ashton, James A., 273. +Atchison, D. R., 303. +Atherton Gag-rule, 55. + +Bailey, D. F., 255. +Baldwin, John M., 255. +Banks, Nathaniel P., 85, 94, 122, 304. +Barker, Wharton, 263. +Barnburners, 64. +Bates, Edward, 119, 300. +Bayard, Thomas F., 180, 302, 303. +Belknap, Wm. W., 301. +Bell, John, 238. +Bentley, Charles E., 258. +Benton, Thomas C., 93. +Bidwell, John, 238. +Billings, Frederick, 192. +Bimetalism, 221, 233. +Bingham, Harry, 207, 246. +Bingham, John A., 143. +Bingham, Kinsley S., 82. +Birney, John G., 56, 57. +Black, James, 159. +Black, Jeremiah S., 300. +Blaine, James G., elected speaker, 156; + Credit Mobilier, 165; + elected speaker, 167; + defeated, 168; + mentioned for President, 170, 174, 175, 184, 185; + placed in nomination 1884, 207; + biographical sketch, 208; + Little Rock R. R. matter, 210; + campaign of 1884, Rum, Romanism, Rebellion, 210; + declines nomination 1888, 214; + resigns as Secretary of State, 229; + in Convention of 1892, 237; + 301, 302, 304. +Blair, Francis P., 88. +Blair, Francis P., Jr., 154. +Blair, Montgomery, 300. +Bland-Allison Act, 182, 183. +Bland, Richard P., 182. +Bliss, Cornelius N., 302. +Bolton, J. Gray, 264. +Bond Issue, Cleveland's second term, 243. +Booth, John Wilkes, 134. +Booth, Newton, 177. +Boutwell, Geo. S., 143, 301. +Bovay, Alvan E., founder of the Republican Party, 74; + biographical sketch, 75; + calls first meeting, 76; + urges Mr. Greeley to Christen the Party, 80. +Bowen, Jehdeiah, 76. +Boyd, Linn, 304. +Boyd, W. G., 237. +Bradley, Joseph P., 180. +Bradley, William O., 192, 216, 226. +Brainard, Lawrence, 87, 88. +Brandagee, A. H., 207. +Breckinridge, John C., 95, 113, 300. +Breckinridge, Robert J., 129. +Brewster, B. H., 301. +Bright, Jesse D, 303. +Brinkerhoff, Jacob, 63. +Bristow, Benjamin H., 170, 301. +Brooks, James, 165. +Brooks, John A., 213. +Brooks, Preston S., 97. +Brown, Aaron V., 300. +Brown, B. Gratz, 159. +Brown, John, raid, 108. +Browning, Orville H., 300. +Bruce, Blanche K., 226. +Bryan, William J., speech in Democratic Convention, 1896, 257; + is nominated for President 1896, 257; + nominated by People's Party and Silver Party 1896, 258; + nominated by People's Party 1900, 263; + by Democrats, 282; + by Silver Republicans, 283. +Buchanan, James, nominated 1856, 95; + elected, 99; + his term, 101; + does not prevent secession, 125; + his cabinet, 300. +Buckner, Simon B., 258. +Bulkeley, William G., 255. +Bunau-Varilla, Philippe, 288. +Burchard, Dr., Rum, Romanism, Rebellion, 210. +Burleigh, H. G., 208. +Burr, Aaron, 295. +Butler, Benjamin F., 65, 144, 209. + +Caldwell, Luther, 150. +Calhoun, John C., State Rights, 49; + demands suppression of Right of Petition, 55; + made Secretary of State, 1844, 60; + Texas, 60; + speaks on Compromise of 1850, 68. +California, gold, 67; + applies for admission as free State, 67; + in Compromise of 1850, 69. +Cameron, Frank J., 254. +Cameron, J. Donald, 185, 186, 293, 301. +Cameron, Simon, 119, 132, 300. +Cannon, Jos. G., 304. +Carey, Henry C., 94. +Carlisle, John G., 211, 302, 304. +Carpenter, M. H., 303. +Carter, Thomas H., 246, 293. +Cartter, David K., 121. +Cary, Samuel F., 177. +Cass, Lewis, 64, 300. +Cassady, J. E., 192. +Central Pacific Railroad advocated Republican Platform 1856, 92; + 119, 131, 146. +Chambers, B. F., 194. +Chandler, W. E., 301. +Chandler, Zachariah, 88, 178, 293, 301. +Chase, Salmon P., 92, 119, 128, 300. +Chinese Immigration, 184; + Republican Party and, 190; + 198, 205; + 219. +Civil Rights Bill, 141. +Civil Service Reform, Republican Party and, 162, 172, 182, 199, 205, 223, 235, 251, 269. +Claflin, William, 160, 293. +Clark, Daniel, 303. +Clarkson, John S., 228, 231, 294. +Clay, Cassius M., 88, 94, 121, 122, 123. +Clay, Henry, Missouri Compromise, 48; + candidate for President 1844, 61; + Compromise of 1850, 68. +Clayton, Powell, 202. +Cleveland, A. C., 254. +Cleveland, Grover, elected governor of New York, 200; + nominated 1884, 209; + first term, 211; + nominated 1888, 214; + nominated 1892, 229; + second term, 240; + his cabinets, 302. +Clifford, Nathan, 180. +Coal Strike, 289. +Cobb, Howell, 300. +Cochrane, John, 129. +Coleman, Norman J., 302. +Colfax, Schuyler, 153, 154, 160, 304. +Collamer, Jacob, 94, 119. +Colombia, 288. +Colored Liberal Republicans, 164. +Commerce, Department of, advocated, 271. +Compromise of 1820, 42. +Compromise of 1850, 59. +Confederate Government, 125. +Conkling, Roscoe, 170, 185, 187, 192, 196, 197. +Constitutional Convention, U. S., 35. +Constitutional Union Party, 114. +Cooper, Peter, 177. +Cortelyou, Geo. B., 303. +Cotton, 38. +Cowdrey, Robt. H., 213. +Cowen, B. R., 150. +Cox, J. D., 301. +Cranfill, J. B., 238. +Crawford, L. J., 294. +Crawford, Wm. H., 296. +Credit Mobilier, 165. +Creswell, J. A. J., 153, 301. +Crisp, Charles F., 241, 304. +Crittenden Compromise, 125. +Cuba, mentioned in Republican Platform 1896, 251, 260, 287. +Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, 287. +Cullom, Shelby M., 160, 207. +Currency Inflation Bill, 167. +Curtin, A. G., 120, 153. +Curtis, Benjamin R., 144. +Curtis, George William, 119. +Daniel, John B., 257. +Daniels, William, 209. +Davis, Cushman K., 207. +Davis, David, 159, 198, 303. +Davis, Edmund J., 160, 193. +Davis, Henry W., 122. +Davis, Jefferson, 111, 125. +Day, Wm. R., 302. +Dayton, William L., 94, 119, 122. +Debs, Eugene V., 263. +Delano, Columbus, 120, 301. +Democratic Conventions, 1856, 95; + 1860, 112; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 164; + "Straight Out" 1872, 164; + 1876, 177; + 1880, 194; + 1884, 209; + 1888, 214; + 1892, 238; + 1896, 256; + 1900, 274. +Democratic Party, supports slavery, 8, 59; + defeated in 1840, 60; + advocates Texas, 61; + Barnburners and Hunkers in, 64; + in campaign of 1852, 71; + repeals Missouri Compromise, 72; + in campaign of 1856, 96; + 1860, 113; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 164; + 1876, 177; + 1880, 195; + 1884, 209; + 1888, 214; + 1892, 238; + 1896, 257; + 1900, 274. +Demonetization of Silver, 165. +Dennison, William, 129, 300. +Depew, Chauncey M., 224, 231, 237, 255, 256, 274. +Devens, Charles, 301. +Dickinson, Daniel S., 132. +Dickinson, Don M., 302. +Dingley, Nelson, Jr., Tariff Bill, 260. +Dix, John A., 66, 300. +Dixon, Senator, 72. +Dolliver, Jonathan P., 273. +Dom Pedro, 11, 169. +Donelson, A. J., 95. +Donnelly, Ignatius, 263. +Douglas, Frederick, 225. +Douglas, Stephen A., 7, 63, 72, 95; + Lincoln-Douglas debates, 101, 105; + 103, nominated for President, 113; + 126. +Dow, Neal, 194. +Drake, E. F., 192. +Dred Scott Decision, 101. +Dubois, F. T., 254. +Dunham, William, 77. +Earl, Thomas, 57. +Edmunds, George F., 180, 192, 202, 207, 303, +Edmunds Law, 1882, 198. +Eight Hour Law advocated by Republicans, 204. +Electoral College, 295 et seq. +Electoral Commission Law, 180. +Electoral Count Act, 299. +Electoral Vote 1852, 71; + 1856, 99; + 1860, 124; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 164; + 1876, 179, 181; + 1880, 196; + 1884, 211; + 1888, 226; + 1892, 240; + 1896, 260; + 1900, 283, 296. See appendix for electoral votes by States. +Electoral vote for 1904, 299. +Electors, Presidential, how chosen, 295. +Elliott, R. B., 192. +Emancipation Proclamation, 127. +Emmet, Robert, 89. +Employes protection, 234. +Endicott, Wm. C., 302. +English, William H., 195. +Equal Rights Convention, 213. +Estee, M. M., 216. +Eustis, W. H., 237. +Evans, H. Clay, 255. +Evans, Samuel, 213. +Evarts, William M., 120, 121, 144, 300, 301. +Everett, Edward, 114. +Fairbanks, Charles W., temporary chairman 1896, 246; + presents platform 1900, 264. +Fairchild, Chas., 302. +Farmers' Alliance Convention, 238. +Fassett, J. Sloat, 231. +Fenton, Reuben E., 153. +Ferry, Thos. W., President of Senate, 181, 303. +Fessenden, Samuel, 255. +Fessenden, Wm. P., 300. +Field, James G., 239. +Field, Stephen J., 180. +Fifteenth Amendment, 155. +Fillmore, Millard, 64, 95. +Finck, B. E., 237. +Fish, Clinton B., 213. +Fish, Hamilton, 301. +Fisheries, 222. +Fitler, E. H., 224, 225. +Fitzpatrick, Benj., 303. +Florida, secedes, 125; + reconstructed, 139. +Floyd, John B., 300. +Folger, C. J., 301. +Foot, Solomon, 303. +Foraker, Joseph B., nominates Sherman, 1884, 207, 208, 216, 225; + presents Platform 1892, 232; + presents Platform 1896, 246; + nominates McKinley, 1896, 255; + nominates McKinley, 1900, 273. +Ford, Thomas, 94. +Forney, John W., 150. +Fort, J. Franklin, 246, 255. +Fort Sumter, 125, 126, 134. +Foster, Mrs. J. Ellen, 237. +Foster, James P., 293, 294. +Foster, Lafayette S., 303. +Francis, David R., 302. +Frazer, Robert E., 224. +Free Soil Party, 63; + organization of in 1848, 65; + in campaign of 1852, 71; + one of the elements of the Republican Party, 79, et seq. +Free Suffrage, 217. +Free Trade, 211. +Freedmen's Bureau Bill, 140. +Fremont, John C., mentioned for the nomination 1856, 92; + first Presidential nominee of Republican Party, 93; + is defeated, 99; + in Convention of 1860, 121; + nominated by Radicals in 1864 but withdraws, 129; + makes speech in convention of 1888, 215. +Frelinghuysen, F. T., 176, 180, 301. +Frye, William P., seconds nomination of Blaine 1876, 175; + do. 1880, 192; + 303. +Fugitive Slave Law of 1793, 42; + of 1850, 69, 70; + repealed, 134. +Gage, Lyman J., 302, 303. +Gallinger, Senator, 224. +Garey, James A., 302. +Garfield, James A., on electoral commission, 180; + defeated for speaker, 181, 184; + quoted, 185; + in convention of 1880, 187; + nominates Sherman, 1880, 192; + is himself selected, 193; + biographical sketch, 193; + inaugurated, 196; + assassinated, 197; + his cabinet, 301. +Garland, Augustus, 302. +Garrison, William Lloyd, publishes the Liberator, 54, 55. +Georgia, secedes, 125. +Germans strong for the new Republican Party, 73. +Giddings, Joshua R., 88, 94, 119, 123. +Goff, Nathan, Jr., 301. +Gold Standard, advocated by Republicans, 1896, 249; + Act, 261. +Goodloe, Wm. C., 207. +Goodrich, J. Z., 87. +Grant, Frederick D., 225, 256. +Grant, Ulysses S., receives votes for nomination, 1864, 132; + nominated for President, 1868 and biographical sketch, 148; + inaugurated, 156; + nominated, 1872, 160; + reinaugurated, 166; + candidate in 1880, 184; + placed in nomination, 192; + votes for, 192, 193; + his cabinets, 301. +Greeley, Horace, advocates election of Taylor, 66; + influence of in 1854, 75; + talks with Bovay about the new party, 75, 76; + advocates name Republican, 80; + at Pittsburg Convention, 1856, 88; + in convention of 1860, 115; + in campaign 1860, 123; + nominated for President, 159; + in campaign of 1872, 164; + death, 165. +Green, Beriah, 54. +Greenback Labor Party in 1884, 209. +Greenback Party, 146; + in 1876, 177; + in 1880, 194. +Greenbacks, 145, 241. +Gresham, Walter Q., 208, 224. +Griggs, John W., 302. +Groesbeck, Wm. S., 144, 164. +Grosvenor, Charles E., 264. +Grow, Galusha A., 109, 207, 304. +Gunsaulus, Dr., 215. +Hale, John P., 65, 71. +"Half-breeds," 196. +Hamilton, I. N., 294, 225. +Hamlin, Hannibal, 122, 132, 153. +Hancock, Winfield S., 195. +Hanna, Marcus A., campaign manager for McKinley, 1896, 245; + made Chairman National Committee, 254; + calls 1900 Convention to order, 263, 293. +Harlan, Henry, 300. +Harlan, James, 153. +Harmon, Judson, 302. +Harris, Isham G., 303. +Harrison, Benjamin, quoted, 213; + nominated in 1888, 224, 225; + biographical sketch, 225; + candidate in 1892, 228; + nominated, 237; + defeated by Cleveland, 240, 297; + his cabinet, 302. +Harrison, Wm. Henry, 48, 57, 60, 298. +Hartman, Charles S., 254. +Hartranft, John F., 170. +Hastings, Daniel B., 224, 255. +Hausserek, F., 150. +Hawaii, 240, 261. +Hawley, Joseph R., 150, 160, 171, 176, 207, 224. +Hay, John, 288, 290, 302, 303. +Hayes, Rutherford B., candidate for President, 170; + nominated 1876, 175; + biographical sketch, 176; + Hayes-Tilden contest, 179; + inaugurated, 181; + not a candidate in 1880, 184, 297; + his cabinet, 301. +Haymond, Creed, 225. +Henderson, David B., 186, 261, 304. +Henderson, John B., 202. +Hendricks, Thomas A., 177, 209. +Hepburn, 224. +Herbert, Hilary A., 302. +Hickman, John, 122. +Hill, David B., 229, 238, 257. +Hiscock, Senator, 224. +Hitchcock, Ethan A., 302, 303. +Hoar, George F., 180, 186. +Holt, Joseph, 300. +Homestead Act, advocated in Republican platform, 1860, 118; + 128, 205, 219, 252. +Houston, Samuel, 122. +Howe, T. O., 301. +Hunkers, 64. +Hunt, W. H., 301. +Hunton, Eppa, 180. +Ide, Henry C., 262. +Immigration, Republican Party, and, 118, 131, 152, 234, 251, 268. +Imperalism, 274. +Independent Republicans, 210. +Ingalls, John J., 225, 303. +Ingersoll, Robert G., Plumed Knight speech, 174. +Internal Revenue, 128, 146, 218. +Interstate Commerce Laws, 204. +Isthmian Canal, 271; + Act, 287. +Jackson, Andrew, 295. +James, I. L., 301. +Jefferson, Thomas, 30, 31, 46, 295. +Jessup, William, 115. +Jewell, Marshall, 175, 176, 193, 293, 301. +Johnson, Andrew, in Thirtieth Congress, 63; + nominated for Vice President, 132; + becomes President, 135; + reconstruction, 138; + impeachment of, 143; + his cabinet, 300. +Johnson, Hale, 258. +Johnson, Whitfield S., 94. +Johnston, R. M., 296. +Johnston, Wm. F., 95. +Jones, B. F., 215, 293. +Joy, Thomas F., 192. +Judd, Norman B., 120. +Julian, Geo. W., 71, 88. +Kansas, Douglas bill, 72; + in Republican National Platform, 1856, 90, 91, 92; + Lecompton Constitution, 102; + in Republican Platform, 1860, 117, 118; + admitted, 125. +Keifer, Jos. Warren, 198, 304. +Kelley, Wm. D., 153. +Kelly, Moses, 300. +Kerr, Michael C., 156, 168, 181, 304. +Key, D. M., 301. +King, H., 300. +King, John A., 88, 94. +King, Preston, 88. +Kirkwood, S. J., 301. +Knight, George, 273. +Know-Nothings, organized, 83; + convention of 1856, 95. +Knox, P. C., 288, 302, 303. +Ku Klux Klans, 158. +Labor National Bureau of, advocated, 204. +Labor Reform Party, 158. +Lamar, L. Q. C., 302. +Lamont, Daniel S, 302. +Lane, Henry S., 90, 94, 120. +Lane, Joseph, 113. +Lapham, Elbridge C., 197. +Lecompton Constitution, 102. +Lee, Robert E., 134. +Legal Tender Act, 128. +Legal Tenders, 128, 145. +Levering, Joshua, 258. +Levy, Edgar M., 264. +Lewis, John F., 160. +Liberal Republicans, 158. +Liberal Republican Revenue Reformers, 164. +Liberty Party, in 1840, 57; + 1844, 62; + 1848, 65. +Lincoln, Abraham, quoted, 9; + early views on slavery, 9, 67; + in Thirtieth Congress, 63; + in campaign of 1848, 66; + hears Seward at Boston, 67; + receives votes for V. P. 1856, 94; + endorsed for U. S. Senate, 104; + Lincoln-Douglas debates, 101-106; + Douglas and Lincoln compared, 107; + defeated for U. S. Senator, 106; + Henry Ward Beecher, on, 112; + nominated for President 1860; + in campaign of 1860, 122; + first inauguration, 126; + his term, 126, et seq.; + nominated 1864, 132; + second inauguration, 134; + assassinated, 134; + quoted, 135; + reconstruction, 136; + his cabinets, 300. +Lincoln, Robert T., 225, 301. +Lippitt, Charles W., 255. +Lodge, Henry Cabot 202, 255, 264. +Lockwood, Mrs. Belva A., 213. +Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign, 60. +Logan, John A., 144, 153, 185, 207, 208. +Long, John D., 207, 302, 303. +Loper, Amos, 76. +Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 289. +Louisiana secedes, 125; + reconstructed, 136, 139. +Louisiana Territory, 44. +Love, Alfred H., 213. +Lovejoy, Elijah P., 56. +Lovejoy, Owen, 88. +Lundy, Benjamin, 53. +Lynch, John R., 202, 207. +Lynching condemned, 252. +McAlpin, E. A. 294. +McClellan, Geo. B., 133. +McCrary, Geo. W., 301. +McCullouch, Hugh, 145, 300. +McKenna, Joseph, 302. +McKinley, William, reports Platform 1884, 202; + reports platform 1888, 216; + receives some votes in convention, 1888, 225; + Tariff Bill of 1890, 227; + mentioned for nomination 1892, 230; + presides over convention, 1892, 231; + receives some votes, 1892, 238; + quoted, 244; + candidate, 1896, 245; + nominated, 255; + biographical sketch, 256; + first term begins, 260; + nominated 1900, 273; + second term begins, 283; + assassinated, 283; + his last words, 284; + his cabinets, 302. +McLean, John, 92, 93, 119. +McMichael, Morton, 160. +McPherson, Edward, 171. +McVeagh, Wayne, 301. +Maguire, Matthew, 259. +Mahone and Wise, 216. +Maine, Battleship destroyed, 260. +Malloney, Joseph F., 263. +Manderson, C. F., 303. +Manley, Joseph H., 245. +Manning, Daniel, 302. +Mason, James M., 303. +Matchett, Charles H., 239, 259. +Maynard, Horace, 160, 193, 301. +Merchant Marine Advocated Republican Platform, 1872, 163; + 206, 221, 234, 249, 269. +Metcalf, Henry B., 263. +Mexican War, 61, 62. +Middle of the Road People's Party, 263. +Milburn, John G., 284. +Miller, Samuel F., 180, 225. +Miller, Warner, 237. +Miller, Warren, 197. +Miller, Wm. H. H., 302. +Mills Tariff Bill, 212. +Mississippi, secedes, 125. +Missouri Compromise, 7, 8, 42; + Repealed, 72. +Mollison, W. E., 237. +Monroe Doctrine, Republican Party and, 132; + 222, 234, 243, 250. +Moody, William H., 303. +Moore, J. Hampton, 294. +Morey, H. L., letter, 195. +Morgan, Edwin D., 89, 115, 129, 171, 293. +Morrill, Lot M., 301. +Morrill Tariff Bill, 128. +Morton, J. Sterling, 302. +Morton, Levi P., 226, 255, 256. +Morton, Oliver P., 170, 180. +Moses, Bernard, 262. +Mount, James A., 273. +Mugwumps, 210. +Mulligan Letters, 210. +Murchison, Charles F., 226. +Murray, Butler, 273. +National Bank System, 128. +National Debt, Republican Party and, 131, 135, 144, 145, 151. +National Democratic Party, 1896, 258. +National Party, 1896, 258. +National Republican League, 293. +Naturalization Laws, Republican Party and, 118. +Navy, advocated, 206, 221, 251. +Nebraska, 72. +Negro question, Republican Party and, 269. +Nicaraguan Canal, 236, 287. +Noble, John W., 302. +Northwest Territory, 31. +Noyes, E. F., 160, 175. +O'Conor, Charles, 159, 164. +Ocala Platform, 239. +Olmstead, F. L., 164. +Olney, Richard, 302. +Ordinance of 1787, 33, 48. +Orr, James L., 304. +Ostend, circular, 92. +Pacific Cable, 290. +Palmer, John M., 150, 258. +Panama, 288. +Panama Canal, 287. +Panic of 1873, 156; + of 1893, 241. +Parker, Joel, 159. +Payne, H. B., 180. +Payne, Henry C., 303. +Payne, Sereno E., 264. +Pendleton, Geo. H., 133. +Pennington, Aaron S., 94. +Pennington, Wm., 110, 304. +Pension Laws of 1890, 228. +Pensions, Republican Party and, 130, 152, 162, 173, 205, 223, 237, 250, 269. +Peoples Party, appearance of, 228; + in 1892, 238, 239, 240; + in 1896, 258; + in 1900, 263. +Personal Liberty Laws, 70. +Phelps, W. W., 225, 226. +Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, 168. +Philippines acquired, 261; + Commission, 262, 272, 288; + President Roosevelt's Amnesty, 289. +Pierce, Franklin, 71, 86, 95. +Pierrepont, Edwards, 188, 301. +Pinchback, P. B. S., 207. +Pixley, F. M., 192. +Platt, Thomas C., 196, 207. +Plumb, Preston B., 208. +Polk, James K., 61. +Polygamy, in Republican Platform, 1856, 91; + 173; + Edmunds law, 198, 206, 220. +Pomeroy, Samuel C., 94, 133. +Pomeroy, Theo. O., 171. +Popular Vote in 1852, 72; + 1856, 99; + 1860, 124; + 1864, 133; + 1868, 154; + 1872, 165; + 1876, 181; + 1880, 196; + 1884, 211; + 1888, 227; + 1892, 240; + 1896, 260; + 1900, 283; + see appendix. +Porter, Albert G., 224. +Postal Rates, reduction advocated by Republicans, 162, 221. +Proctor, Redfield, 302. +Prohibition Party, in 1872, 158, 159; + 1876, 177; + 1880, 194; + 1884, 209; + 1888, 213; + 1892, 238; + 1896, 258; + 1900, 263. +President, manner of electing, 295. +Presidential succession, 304. +Presidents who failed to receive a majority of the popular vote, 297. +Protective Tariff, mentioned in Republican platform, 1860, 118; + 162, 173, 190, 203, 212, 218, 232, 247, 268. +Public Roads, 270. +Quakers, opposed to slavery, 26, 52. +Quay, Matthew S., 255, 273, 293. +Radical Republican Convention, 1864, 129. +Ramsey, Alex., 301. +Randall, Alex. W., 300. +Randall, Samuel J., 181, 184, 198, 304. +Rawlins, J. A., 301. +Raymond, Henry J., 129. +Reciprocity, Blaine on, 201; + in Republican Platforms, 233, 248, 268. +Reconstruction, 135, Republican Party and, 151. +Reed, John M., 121, 122. +Reed, Thomas B., elected speaker, 227; + 231; + candidate for President, 1896, 245; + 255, 256, 304. +Reeder, Andrew H., 122. +Reid, Whitelaw, 238. +Remmel, Valentine, 263. +Republican National Committee, 293. +Republican National Conventions, call for first convention at Pittsburg, 87; + at Philadelphia, 1856, 89, 1860, 114; + 1864, 129; + 1868, 148; + 1872, 159; + 1876, 170; + 1880, 186; + 1884, 201; + 1888, 215; + 1892, 230; + 1896, 246; + 1900, 263; + see appendix, 294. +Republican National Platforms, 1856, 90; + 1860, 116; + 1864, 130; + 1868, 151; + 1872, 160; + 1876, 170; + 1880, 188; + 1884, 203; + 1888, 217; + 1892, 232; + 1896, 247; + 1900, 265. +Republican Party; + formative causes, 5, 7, 72; + birth of, 70, 74; + first meetings, 74; + how name adopted, 76; + first State meeting, 81; + meeting at Washington, 80; + first Republican governor, 82, 83; + State meetings, 82, 83; + success in 1855, 84; + prepares for first National campaign, 85, 86; + in various campaigns, see Conventions. +Republican Rallying Cry, 1856, 86. +Repudiation, denounced by Republican Party, 151; + 163. +Resumption of Specie Payment, 168, 183. +Richards, Frank S., 150. +Richardson, Wm. M., 301. +River and Harbor Improvements, advocated Republican Platform 1856, 92; + 118. +Robertson, Wm. H., 196. +Robeson, Geo. M., 301. +Roosevelt, Theodore, in convention of 1884, 202; + seconds McKinley's nomination, 1900, 273; + is nominated for Vice President, 273; + quoted, 285; + becomes President, 285; + biographical sketch, 285; + his administration, 287 et seq.; + 298. +Root, Elihu, 289, 302, 303. +Rum, Romanism, Rebellion, 210. +Rural Free Delivery, advocated by Republican Platform, 1892, 235; + 270. +Rush, Governor, 224. +Rusk, Jeremiah M., 224, 225, 302. +Russell, John, 159. +Sabin, Dwight M., 202, 293. +Sackville-West, 226. +St. John, John P., 209. +Sale, Samuel, 246. +Schofield, John, 300. +Schurz, Carl, 123, 150, 159, 301. +Scott, Winfield, 71. +Secession, 125. +Settle, Thomas, 160, 193. +Sewall, Arthur, 258. +Seward, William H., 67, 68, 83, 92, 93, 119, 120, 123, 300. +Seymour, Horatio, 127, 154. +Shaw, Leslie M., 303. +Sheep Industry, Republican Party and, 204, 218. +Sherman Anti-Trust Law, 228. +Sherman, John, 109, 145; + specie resumption, 168; + Secretary of Treasury, 183; + mentioned for President, 184, 186; + placed in nomination 1880, 192; + 1884, 207; + 211; + 1888, 214; + 224, 301, 302, 303. +Sherman Silver Act, 228; + repealed, 241. +Silver Act of 1873, 165. +Silver Party Convention, 1896, 258. +Silver Republicans, in 1896, 253; + 254; + 1900, 282, 283. +Silver, in 1896, 244; + in Republican Convention, 253, 254; + in Democratic Convention, 1896, 257; + 1900, 274. +Silver in Democratic Platforms, 257, 279. +Silver in Republican Platforms, 249, 267. +Slave Trade, in Greece and Rome, 14, 15; + beginning of modern, 18; + abolition of by U. S., 43; + coastwise prohibited, 134. +Slavery, ancient, how established, 11; + Egypt, 12; + biblical, 12; + in ancient countries, 13; + Greece and Rome, 14; + modern, how established, 15; + in Europe, 16; + in New World, 16, 18; + Las Casas, 19; + Hawkins, 20; + beginning of in United States, 22; + Lord Mansfield, 27; + in early federal government, 28; + Jefferson draft of the Declaration of Independence, 29; + prohibited in Northwest Territory, 33; + in Constitutional Convention, 35; + cotton and, 40; + Missouri Compromise, 42; + the abolitionists, 51; + Compromise of 1850, 59; + see Lincoln; + see Republican Party. +Smith, Caleb B., 120, 300. +Smith, Charles Emory, 302, 303. +Smith, Green Clay, 177. +Social Democrats, 1900, 263. +Socialist Labor Party, 1892, 239; + 1896, 259; + 1900, 263. +Solid South, 50; + in Republican Platform, 1880, 191; + 196. +Sound Money in Republican Platforms, 204, 249, 267. +South Carolina, secedes, 125. +Southgate, James H., 258. +Spanish American War, 261, 266. +Speed, James, 153, 300. +Spooner, Senator, 237. +"Stalwarts," 196. +Stanberry, Henry, 144, 300. +Stanton, Edwin M., 134, 143, 300. +State Rights, 49. +Stephens, Alex H., 125. +Stevens, Thaddeus, 123, 144. +Stevenson, Adlai E., 238, 282, 283. +Stewart, G. T., 177. +Stone, A. P., 87. +Stone, Wm., 294. +Stowe, Harriet B., 71. +Streeter, Alson J., 213. +Strong, William, 180. +Sugar, 249. +Sumner, Charles, 93, 94, 97, 121. +Sweet, Leonard, 224. +Taft, Alphonso, 301. +Taft, William H., 262, 288, 289, 303. +Tallmadge, 45. +Tappan, Lewis, 54. +Tariff Bills, 128, 199; + Mills, 212; + McKinley, 227; + Wilson, 242; + Dingley, 260. +Tariff Commission, 198. +Taylor, Zachary, 64. +Teller, Henry M., 253, 254, 283, 301. +Tenure of Office Bill, 143. +Terrill, 224. +Texas, 60, 125. +Thirteenth Amendment, 134, 141. +Thomas, Jacob, 300. +Thomas, Jesse B., 47. +Thomas, Lorenzo, 148, 300. +Thomas, Walter F., 226. +Thompson, A. M., 194. +Thompson, Jacob, 300. +Thompson, Richard, 231. +Thompson, Richard W., 150, 237, 301. +Thurman, Allan G., 180, 214, 303. +Thurston, John M., 215, 246, 255, 256, 273, 294. +Tilden, Saml. J., 65, 177. +Toucey, Isaac, 300. +Towne, Charles A., 263. +Townsend, Martin I., 207. +Tracy, Benj. F., 302. +Tracy, W. W., 294. +Trade Dollar, 166. +Tribune, New York, 66, 75, 80. +Trumbull, Lyman, 108, 159. +Trusts condemned by Republicans, 1888, 219, 235, 268, 289. +Turner, Henry M., 175. +Twelfth Amendment, 295. +Tyler, John, 60. +Tyner, James N., 301. +Uncle Tom's Cabin, 71. +Underground Railroad, 70. +Union Labor Convention, 1888, 213. +Union Pacific, advocated in Republican Platform, 1856, 92, 119, 131, 146, 156. +Unit Rule, 175, 186, 187. +United Labor Convention, 1888, 213. +Usher, John P., 300. +Upshur, Secy. of State, 60. +Van Buren, Martin, 57, 61, 65. +Vance, J. Madison, 255. +Vilas, Wm. F., 302. +Virginia, secedes, 125. +Wade, Benjamin F., 121, 144, 153, 175, 303. +Wakefield, W. H. T., 213. +Walker, James A., 255. +Wanamaker, John, 302 +Ward, Marcus L., 150, 293. +Warner, 224. +Washburne, Elihu B., 175, 192, 193, 301. +Washington, Geo., 295. +Watson, Thomas E., 258. +Weaver, James B., 194, 239. +Webster, Daniel, 68. +Welles, Gideon, 300. +West, A. M., 209. +West, Wm. H., 207. +Wheeler, William A., 175, 176. +Whig Party, 8, 51, 56, 57; + incapable of handling slavery question, 59; + Abraham Lincoln, a member of, 63; + disorganized in 1852, 71; + last appearance of, 1856, 95. +White, Wm. A., 87, 88. +Whitney, Wm. C., 302. +Whittier, John G., 54. +Wide Awakes, 123. +Williams, George A., 301. +Williams, Thos., 144. +Wilmot, David, 63, 87, 90, 94, 115. +Wilmot Proviso, 59, 63. +Wilson, Henry, 82, 94, 153, 160. +Wilson, James F., 143. +Wilson, James, 302, 303. +Wilson, Wm. L., 242, 260, 302. +Windom, William, 192, 301, 302. +Wing, Simon, 239. +Winkler, F. C., 192. +Winston, P. H., 207. +Wolcott, Senator, 237, 264. +Woman's Rights, recognized by Republicans, 163, 173, 253. +Woodford, Stewart L., 176. +Woodmansee, D. D., 294. +Wool, 204, 218, 249. +Wooley, John G., 263. +Worcester, Dean C., 262. +Workingmen's National Convention, 164. +Wright, Luke E., 262, 289. +Yerkes, John W., 273. +Young, Lafe, 273. + +________________________________________ + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Some words which appear to be typos are printed thus in the original book. +A list of these possible misprints (along with suggested corrections) follows: + + +CHAPTER I. +... the history of the immediate casual[**causal] events which ... (?) + + +CHAPTER VIII. +... African slave trade, the services [**of] which, doubtless, ... + + +CHAPTER IX. + +The House at this time was dead-locked over the election ... + +[**deadlocked] (Erase the hyphen -- but, there is another one, at + CHAPTER V., definitely with a hyphen.) + + +CHAPTER XI. + +The Convention was again called to order by Edwin B[**D]. Morgan ... (?) + +... of the army and navy who have peril[**l]ed their lives ... + +[In two other occurrences, in a composite word, imperilled, it is spelled + with double l: + CHAPTER XIII., and CHAPTER XIV.] + +also: +... shall be held in grateful and everlasting rememb[**e]rance. + +[It is also spelled without an e in CHAPTER XVII., but, in CHAPTER XIV., + it is spelled rememberance.] + + +CHAPTER XII. + +... Representatives, many of whom less than a year before had been engaged in +active rebel-loin, ... + +rebel-[**]loin[**lion] (Erase the hyphen and anagrammatize correctly.) + +... when an Act to enlarge the provis[**i]ons of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill ... + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +The election was held on Ne[**o]vember 7th, ... + +These decis[**i]ons, as already noted, could not be set aside without ... + + +CHAPTER XV. + +... and to conserve the freedom of the sufferage, ... + +suffe[**]rage (Erase the e.) + +... and Elihu B. Washburn[**e] by J. E. Cassady. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +In this spirit spirit we denounce the importation of contract labor, ... + +spirit [**spirit] (repetition) + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +The Union Labor Convention at Cinc[**i]nnati ... + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +The provisions of The Hague convention was[**were] wisely regarded ... + +We are proud of the courage and fidelity of the American soldier and sailors ... + +soldier and sailors [**either both singular or both plural -- a typo? I suggest +that both be in plural, as they are in other occurrences throughout the book.] + + +CHAPTER XX. + +... stifling competit[**i]on and dictating wages and prices, ... + + +APPENDIX + +- PRESIDENTS PRO TEM. OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE + SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. + 49-51 1887-91 Jno. J. Ingalls, Kansas. + + Jno[**John] J. Ingalls + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1876. + + [**Under the Electoral Vote, the candidates' pairs are reversed -- relatively + to the respective Popular Vote columns; in other tables, as well.] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1868. + + [**The total of the second column reads 2,703,249; should read 2,703,243. + see also: + CHAPTER XIII. + ... Grant and Colfax 3,012,833, and Seymour and Blair 2,703,249.] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1880. + + [**The total of the first column reads 4,454,416; should read 4,454,506. + see also: + CHAPTER XV. + Garfield ............ 4,454,416] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1888. + + [**The total of the first column reads 5,540,329; should read 5,840,329. + see also: + CHAPTER XVII. + Cleveland ............ 5,540,329) + + **The total of the third column reads 249,506; should read 249,512. + see also: + CHAPTER XVII. + ... the total Prohibition vote was 249,506, ...] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1892. + + [**The total of the third column reads 268,361; should read 268,368. + + **The total of the fourth column reads 1,030,128; should read 1,022,102.] + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1896. + + [**The total of the fifth column reads 13,969; should read 13,971.] + +- [Barker, ]M. R. P[**e]op. + see also: + CHAPTER XIX. + ... Barker (M. R. Peop.), 50,373; ...) + +- POPULAR AND ELECTORAL VOTE, 1900. + + [**The total of the sixth column reads 50,373; should read 50,307. + see also: + CHAPTER XIX. + Barker (M. R. Peop.), 50,373;] + + +INDEX + +Bright, Jesse D[**.], 303. +Edmunds, George F., ... 300,[**.] +Imper[**i]alism, 274. +Lamont, Daniel S[**.], 302. +... at Philadelphia, 1856, 89,[**;] 1860, 114; ... +Wanamaker, John, 302[**.] +People[**']s Party, appearance of, 228; ... + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A History of the Republican Party, by +George Washington Platt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY *** + +***** This file should be named 37737.txt or 37737.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/3/37737/ + +Produced by Polyvios J. 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