On June 5th, the Postmaster General made partial return of the telegraph and telephone systems to their owners, later in the year, upon vote of Congress he made full return.

On September 8th, General Pershing returned to America landing in New York. The whole city turned out to pay him homage and honor.

In October, King Albert, his wife and son visited America. The rulers of Belgium were given a splendid and friendly welcome. The heroism of Albert had made a strong appeal to America, the country testified to its admiration wherever the King visited. He made quite an extensive tour throughout the whole country. Soon after the Prince of Wales arrived in the United States from Canada. He was warmly greeted, he represented the ties between England and America.

The situation between Mexico and this country, always grave, became extremely critical upon the arrest by the former of William O. Jenkins, consular agent at Puebla. There are many in the United States who show a growing impatience over Mexican conditions, especially as they apply to American lives and interests. Jenkins was released on bail offered by a friend over his protest. The situation was somewhat relieved but threatens to flame again at any moment.

HISTORY OF

POLITICAL PARTIES

HISTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES

Events Leading Up to the
First Party Formation

The political existence of the United States dates from the battle of Lexington, the first battle of the Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775. When the conflict with England began, there were two parties in the colonies. They corresponded in name with the leading political parties in England at that time. Their aims and objects were, of course, dissimilar.

The colonial Whigs, including a majority of representative citizens and many young men of adventurous spirit, were willing to remain loyal to the British Crown if certain rights and privileges demanded by them were accorded.

The colonial Tories were content with conditions as they existed. They recognized the authority of the British to govern the colonies in accordance with the dictates of the King and his advisers. With the Declaration of Independence, the Whigs became enthusiastic advocates of separation. They declared in favor of an absolute breaking away from British rule. The Tories remained pro-British. Eventually, many sympathizers with the English colonial administration left the country.

In some states, during the war, the Whigs predominated. In others, Tories were in the majority. States there were, too, in which opinions were fairly well divided. When war was declared, the administrative affairs fell naturally into the hands of the Whigs, and were maintained by them throughout.

When the Revolution ended, the Whigs split into two parts; one faction, known as "Particularists," advocated the sovereignty of the states as units and favored confederation. The other, announced as the "Strong Government" party, favored a Constitution and a centralized Federal authority, to be recognized by all states as practically supreme..

FEDERALS AND ANTI-FEDERALS

Six years later, in 1787, the "Strong Government" men were identified and referred to as "Federalists." The "Particularists," taking the opposite view of the public affairs, were spoken of as "anti-Federalists."

The Federalists, favoring the ratification of a Constitution, and the anti-Federalists, who opposed its adoption, were, when the time came to put its provisions in force, avowed political antagonists. The history of political parties in the United States dates from this period.

The Federalists, or Federals, supported by Washington, John Adams, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, began, in 1787, their career as a recognized party. From 1789 until 1800 they controlled the national government. From 1800 to 1816, when the party went out of existence, they remained in opposition. Their general policy was one of broad constitutional construction, which gave the national government great power. They advocated a tariff, internal revenue, the funding of the public debt, the establishing of a United States Bank, the organizing of a militia, and the assumption of state debts by the government. They favored England as against France.

The Federals elected Washington as the first President of the United States in 1789, and chose him a second time in 1792. Four years later, they elected John Adams as Washington's successor to the presi