who were in sympathy with them, regained almost complete political control. Much anxiety was felt throughout the country regarding the financial situation. The President favored specie payment. Many of the people, and their representatives in Congress, preferred an increase of paper currency. Resumption of specie payment was provided for in 1875, to take effect January 1, 1879.

Rutherford B. Hayes was nominated for the presidency in 1876. The platform advocated the complete pacification of the South, protested against sectarian education at the public expense, called for an investigation as to Chinese immigration, and condemned polygamy. Hayes, whose election was disputed, finally, by decision of an electoral commission, received one hundred and eighty-five electoral votes, his Democratic opponents, Samual J. Tilden, being credited with one hundred and eighty-four. The popular vote cast in favor of Hayes was 4,033,975, against 4,284,873 for Tilden. The Hayes administration was marked by the exercise on the President's part of a policy of conciliation. The use of Federal troops at elections caused much partisan strife. Efforts were made by the Democrats to obstruct the enactment of the Federal law on this subject.

James Abram Garfield was nominated for the presidency in 1880. The platform was devoted largely to a review of the Republican record. A thorough, radical and complete reform of the civil service was called for. Garfield received two hundred and fourteen electoral votes. The popular vote cast for him was 4,454,416, against 4,444,952 for Winfield Scott Hancock (Democrat). Early in the Garfield administration a controversy arose between the President and Senator Roscoe Conkling, of New York, respecting appointments. It led to the resig

nation of Senators Conkling and Platt from the Senate. The President was shot on July 2, 1881, by an assassin. Chester Alan Arthur, Vice-President, succeeded to the office of Chief Executive. One of the chief events during his rule was the appointment of a Tariff Commission, in 1882, consisting of nine civilians. The Chinese Exclusion Act became effective in the same year. A comprehensive Civil Service Reform Bill was signed by the President in 1883.

James Gillespie Blaine was nominated for the presidency in 1884. The platform pledged the party to correct the irregularities of the tariff, and to reduce the surplus, at the same time it advocated protection for home industry. The party declared itself in favor of international bimetalism; the regulation of transportation; the establishment of a labor bureau; the prohibition of foreign contract labor; the protection of the sheep-raising industry; the amendment of the forfeited land grant; the withholding of land grants from aliens; and the increase of the navy. Blaine received one hundred and eighty-two electoral votes. The popular vote cast for him was 4,851,981, against 4,874,986 for Grover Cleveland (Democrat).

Benjamin Harrison was nominated for the presidency in 1888. The platform declared against combinations and trusts; advocated home rule in the territories, with admission as soon as qualified; urged Federal aid for public schools; favored the reduction of letter postage to one cent; and the defense of fishing rights in the northeast. Harrison received two hundred and thirty-three electoral votes. The popular vote cast for him was 5,440,708, against 5,536,242 for Cleveland. The currency question was a leading issue in the Harrison administration.

In 1890, a bill was passed authorizing the purchase each month of 4,500,000 ounces of silver bullion at market prices, treasury notes to that amount-legal

tender in all cases-to be issued. The McKinley Tariff Bill was signed by the President, October 6. Six states, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming, were admitted to the Union during the Harrison administration. The annexation of Hawaii was arranged, but the necessary treaty was still in the hands of a senate committee when the presidential term ended.

Benjamin Harrison was renominated in 1892. The platform, on the currency question, demanded the use of both gold and silver as standard money, in such a way as to secure the parity of values of the two metals, so that the purchasing and debt-paying power of the dollar, whether silver, gold or paper, would be at all times equal. An international conference on bimetalism was advocated. The acquisition of the Nicaragua Canal was urged. The cession of arid lands to the states and territories to which they belonged, the extension of hearty support to the Columbian Exposition, and the establishment of a free-delivery postal system were among the chief measures found in the platform. Harrison received one hundred and forty-five electoral votes. The popular vote cast for him was 5,175,201, against 5,554,267 for Cleveland. In 1894, the Congressional electives gave the Republican party an overwhelming majority in the House.

William McKinley was nominated for the presidency in 1896. The platform endorsed the policy of a protective tariff; advocated reciprocity; the encouragement of sugar-growing in the United States; the protection of wool and woolen industries; the development of the merchant marine service by restoring the American policy of discriminating duties; sound money; liberal pensions; a vigorous foreign policy; the upholding of the Monroe Doctrine; friendly intervention in Cuba; enlargement of the navy;

prohibition of illiterate immigration; the maintenance of the civil service laws; national arbitration; free homesteads; admission of the territories; and extended rights for women. It also condemned lynching. McKinley received two hundred and seventy-one electoral votes, William Jennings Bryan (Democrat) receiving one hundred and seventy-six. The popular vote cast for him was 7,204,779, against 6,502,925 for Bryan. The Dingley Tariff Bill became a law July 24, 1897. Important legislation under the McKinley administration included a grant of $50,000 for relief of destitute citizens of the United States in Cuba; a grant of $50,000,000 to meet war expenses in the event of war with Spain; declaration of war against Spain; provision for the Twelfth Census; provision for free homesteads; and for the reorganization of the army.

McKinley was renominated in 1900, against William Jennings Bryan, renominated by the Democratic party. The platform reiterated sentiments previously expressed regarding the gold standard; free silver coinage; the trusts; a protective tariff; reciprocity; immigration; aid to American shipping; liberal pensions; civil service reform; statehood for the territories; and Cuban independence. It was insisted that the Fifteenth Amendment be lived up to in the South at elections. Declarations were made in favor of improved roads and highways; rural free delivery of postal matter; the reduction of the Spanish war taxes; new markets for surplus farm products; a liberal policy in the Philippines; a Department of Commerce; and the protection of American citizens abroad. McKinley received two hundred and ninety-two electoral votes. The popular vote cast for him was 7,215,696, against 6,351,608 for Bryan. President McKinley was shot by an assassin, September 6, 1901, and died September 14. Theo

dore Roosevelt, Vice-President, succeeded to the office of Chief Executive. Under his administration, measures passed in Congress, 1902; included the establishing of a permanent Census Bureau; the repeal of Spanish war taxes; a Chinese Exclusion Act; the purchase of the Panama Canal; and rural free delivery of mail matter.

MINOR PARTIES

In the foregoing text, endeavor has been made to give an outline of the history of the greater parties. The first of these, the Federal party, was, as we have seen, formed from the "Strong Government," or "Constitutional" party. It elected two presidents, i.e., Washington, who served two terms, and John Adams, who served one term. To summarize its policy: the Federal party advocated a tariff, internal revenue, the funding of the public debt, a United States bank, a militia, and the assumption of state debts by the government. This party favored England as against France; it opposed a war with England, and believed a protective tariff should be instituted. Its principal supporters were Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federal party existed from 1787 to 1816.

The Democratic-Republican party was formed from the anti-Federal party, the Republican or Jeffersonian party, and from such as called themselves Democrats and sympathized with the French Revolutionists. This party elected three presidents, each of whom, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, served two terms. It stood for state rights, enlarged personal freedom, France as against England, free trade (in 1800), war with England, internal improvements, the purchase of Louisiana, the purchase of Florida, the