States. Alabama.... Arkansas.. California. Yeas Nays! Nebraska......... 5 States. Yeas Nays three speeches should be made, these by 5 Mississippi. 18 14 Missouri 18 24 Butler, Converse and Watterson. Col. 5 Morrison, of Illinois, made the majority report, which was adopted with but 971 negative votes out of a total of 820. 2 Nevada.. Connecticut..... 2 10 Colorado. 6 New Hampshire 8 New Jersey.. 14 Florida. New York 72 Georgia.. Illinois 22 22 Ohio.......... Oregon 6 39 20 Pennsylvania... 21 3 6 South Carolina 10 Texas............... Massachusetts.. 21 7 Virginia 14 Wisconsin........ 12 The Ballots. Before balloting an effort was made to 8 abolish the two-third rule, but this met 14 with such decided disfavor that it was 10 withdrawn before the roll of States was completed. 7 6 18 There were two ballots taken on the 17 Presidential candidates, and they were The Secretary announced the result of as follows: the vote as follows: Total number votes cast, 795; yeas, 332; nays, 463. of Total number of votes................ First. Second. ..820 820 ..547 547 684 8114 The report of the Committee on Perma-Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware......168 nent Organization was then made; the Samuel J. Randall, of Penn Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio.... ......... 88 name of W. H. Vilas, of Wisconsin, be- Joseph E. McDonald of Indiana ing presented as President, with a list of Roswell P. Flower, of New York...... vice-presidents) one from each state) and George Hoa lly, of Ohio... several secretaries and assistants, and that Samuel J. Tilden, of New York...... 1 the secretaries and clerks of the tempoThomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana... 1 rary organization be continued under the permanent organization. The Contest over the Platform. There was a two-days contest in the Committee on Resolutions over the adoption of the revenue features of the Platform. It advocated the collection of revenue for public uses exclusively, the italicized word being the subject of the controversy. was retained by a vote of 20 to 18. avoid extended debate in the Convention an agreement was made that Gen. Butler should make a minority report, and that It Το 45/1⁄2 Mr. Hendricks, of Indiana, who was defeated eight years ago on the Tilden ticket, was nominated for Vice President by acclamation. The Kelly and Butler elements of the Convention, at all of the important stages, manifested their hostility to Cleveland, but there was no open bolt, and the Convention completed its work after sitting four days. [In the Book of Platform is given the Democratic Platform in full, and its tariff plank will be found in comparison with the Republican in the same book.] THE CAMPAIGN OF 1884. In what were regarded as the pivotal | American League," the "Land League," States the campaign of 1884, was attended the " Clan na Gael,” etc., there supporters with the utmost interest and excitement. of Blaine were found, and these were by Blaine, the most brilliant political leader of a singular coincidence most numerous in modern times, was acceptable to all of the the doubtful States of New York, New more active and earnest elements of the Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and Indiana. Republican party, and the ability with Cleveland's nomination by the Democrats which he had championed the protective had angered the Tammany wing of the system and a more aggressive foreign party in New York, and not until very policy, attracted very many Irishmen close to the election was a reconciliation who had formerly been Democrats. The effected. Tilden had from the first young and more intelligent leaders of favored Cleveland, and with Daniel Manthis element promptly espoused the ning as his manager in New York, no cause of the Republicans, and their action effort was spared to heal Democratic caused a serious division in the Demo- divisions and to promote them in the cratic ranks. Wherever Irish-Americans Republican ranks. Thus the Indepenwere sufficiently numerous to form so-dent or Civil Service wing of the Repubcieties of their own, such as the "Irish- lican party, which in Boston and New York cities, and in the cities of Connecti- the Democratic majority in West Vircut, confessed attachment to free trade, ginia. was easily rallied under the Democratic banner. In convention in New York city this element denounced Blaine on what it pronounced a paramount moral issue, and for a time such brilliant orators as Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, George W. Curtis and Carl Schurz, rang the changes" upon the moral questions presented by the canvass. They were halted by scandals about Cleveland, and the Maria Halpin story, almost too indecent for historical reference, became a prominent feature of the campaign with the acquiescence, if not under the direction of the Republican managers. Many of our best thinkers deplored the shape thus given to the canvass, but the responsibility for it is clearly traceable to the plan of campaign instituted by the Independents, or "Mugwumps," as they were called "Mugwump" implying a small leader. From this time forward the battle on the part of the Republicans was hopeful; on the part of the Democrats desperate but not despairing. Senator Barnum, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was a skilled and trained politician, and he sedulously cultivated Independent and Prohibition defection in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Indiana. Whether the scandals growing out of the result be true or false, every political observer could see that the elements named were under at least the partial direction of the Democratic National Committee, for their support was inconsiderable in States where they were not needed in crippling the chances of the Republicans. The Republican National Committee, headed by Mr. B. F. Jones, of Pennsylvania, an earnest and able, but an untrained leader, did not seek to check these plain efforts at defection. This Committee thought, and at the time seemed to be justified in the belief that the defection of Irish-Americans in the same States would more than counterbalance all of the Independent and Prohibitory defection. The Republicans were likewise aided by General Butler, who ran as the Greenback or "People's" candidate, as he called himself. It would have done it easily, but for an accident, possibly a trick, on the Thursday preceding the November election. Mr. Blaine was at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, and among the many delegations which visited him was one of three hundred ministers who wished to show their confidence in his moral and intellectual fitness for the Chief Magistracy. The oldest of the ministers present was Mr. Burchard, and he was assigned to deliver the address. In closing it he referred to what he thought ought to be a common opposition to "Rum, Romanism and Rebellion,"-an alliteration which Only Ohio, West Virginia and Iowa remained as October States, and in the height of the canvass all eyes were turned upon Ohio. In all of the Western States both of the great parties had been distracted by prohibitory and high license issues, and Ohio,-because of temperance agitations, which still remained as disturbing elements-had drifted into the Democratic column. If it were again lost to the Republicans, their national campaign would practically have ended then and there, so far as reasonable hopes could be entertained for the election of Blaine. This fact led to an extraordinary effort to influence favorable action there, and both Blaine and Logan made tours of the State, and speeches at the more important points. Mr. Blaine first went to New York city, thence through New Jersey, speaking at night at all important points on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and was the following day received by the Union League of Philadelphia. In the evening he reviewed a procession of not only awakened the wrath of the 20,000 uniformed men. He then returned to New York, not yet having uttered a partisan sentence, but in passing westward through its towns, he occasionally referred to their progress under the system of protection. Reaching Ohio, he spoke more and more plainly of the issues of the canvass as his journey proceeded, and wherever he went his speeches commanded national comment and attention. His plain object was, for the time at least, to smother local issues by the graver national ones, and he did this with an ability which has never been matched in the history of American oratory. The result was a victory for the Republicans in October; they carried Ohio by about 15,000, and greatly reduced Democracy, but which quickly estranged many of the Irish-American supporters of Blaine and Logan. Mr. Blaine on the two following days tried to counteract the effects of an imprudence for which he was in no way responsible, but the alliteration was instantly and everywhere employed to revive religious issues and hatreds, and to such an extent that circulars were distributed at the doors of Catholic churches, implying that Blaine himself had used the offensive words. more unexpected blow was never known in our political history; it was quite as sudden and more damaging than the Morey forgery at the close of the Garfield campaign. It determined the result, and was the most prominent of half a dozen A mishaps, which if they had not happened, | for the highest on each ticket is given in must have inevitably led to the election all cases where the complete statement of Blaine As it was, the result was so close in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Indiana and West Virginia, that it required several days to determine it, and it was not known as to New York until the 19th of November. The popular vote for Presidential electors was cast on the 4th of November last, and the results are tabulated below. Where differences were found to exist in the vote for Electors in any State the vote of the vote of the State has been received. The results show a total vote of 10,046,073, of which the Cleveland ticket received 4,913,901, the Blaine ticket 4,847,659, the Butler ticket 133,880, and the St. John ticket 150,633, showing a plurality of 66,242 for Cleveland. The total vote in 1880 was 9,218,251, and Garfield's plurality 9464. It should be noted, in considering the tabulated statement of this year's vote, that the Blaine Electoral tickets were supported by the Republicans and 1884. the People's Party in Missouri and West Virginia, and that Cleveland Electoral tickets were supported by the Democrats and the People's Party in Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska. The People's Party claims to have cast about 41,300 votes for the fusion ticket in Michigan and about 33,000 votes in Iowa. The vote of California is official from all but two counties; the unofficial reports from these are included in the totals given in the table. South Carolina returns 1237 "scattering" votes. There was no hitch in the count of the vote in any of the Electoral Colleges, held at the capitols of the various States. On the 9th of February, 1885, the two Houses of Congress assembled to witness the counting of the vote. Mr. Edmunds, President of the Senate, upon its completion, announced that "it appears" from the count that Mr. Cleveland has been elected President, etc. This form was used upon his judgment as the only one which he could lawfully use, the Electoral law not having as yet determined the power or prescribed the form for declaring the result of Presidential elections. Cleveland's Administration. this prophecy, though it is yet too soon to accurately judge the result with nearly three years of administration yet to be devoted to its pursuit. renominated by the Republicans. The latter were aided by the strong canvass of John Sherman for his return to the U. S. Senate. The contest was throughout exciting, some of the best speakers of the country taking the stump. The result was as follows: PRESIDENT CLEVELAND was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1885, amid much military and civic pomp and ceremony. Jubilant Democrats from all parts of the Ohio witnessed in her last October eleccountry visited the National Capital to tion the first great struggle under the celebrate their return to National power Democratic State and National Adminisafter a series of Republican successes ex-trations. Gov. Hoadley was renominated tending through twenty-four years. The by the Democrats, and Judge Foraker was inaugural address was chiefly noted for its promises in behalf of civil service reform. It showed a determination on the part of the President to adhere to the pledges given to what are still termed the Mugwumps" prior to the election. The sentiments expressed secured the warm approval of Geo. W. Curtis, Carl Schurz, Henry Ward Beecher and other civil service reformers, but were disappointing to the straight Democrats, who naturally wished to enjoy all of the fruits of the power won after so great a struggle. Vice President Hendricks voiced this radical Democratic sentiment, and was rapidly creating a schism in the ranks of the party, but his sudden death checked the movement and deprived it of organization, though there still remains the seed of dissatisfaction, much of which displayed itself in the contests of 1885. President Cleveland appointed the following Cabinet: Secretary of State: Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware. Foraker, R. 359,538 341,380 28,054 2,760 The Irish-Americans who had left the Democratic party to vote for Blaine, adhered to the Republican standard, and really increased their numbers-more than a third more voting for Foraker than for Blaine, while the Mugwump element practically disappeared. The Prohibition vote had almost doubled, but as all third or fourth parties as a rule attract their vote from the parties in which the most discontent prevails, the excess came not from the Republican but the Democratic ranks. Pennsylvania's result, following in November, was similar in all material points to that of Ohio. Col. M. S. Quay, an acSecretary of the Treasury: Daniel Man- knowledged political leader and a man of ning of New York. Secretary of War: W. C. Endicott of Massachusetts. Postmaster General: Wm. F. Vilas of Wisconsin. national reputation, thought it wise that his party should oppose in the most radical and direct way, the Democratic State and National Administration, and with this purpose became a candidate for State Treasurer. The Democrats nominated Conrad B. Day of Philadelphia. Secretary of the Interior: L. Q. C. Lamar result was as follows: of Mississippi. Attorney General: Augustus H. Garland of Arkansas. Quay, R. Spangler, Pro. 324,694 281,178 15.047 The Up to this writing, May, 1886, the Administration of President Cleveland has not been marked by any great event or crisisits greatest political efforts being directed toward appeasing the civil and holding in New York, of all the November States, close political alliance with the civil service very properly excited the most attention. reformers, without disrupting the Demo- The Democrats renominated Gov. Hill cratic party by totally refusing to distribute upon a platform tantamount to a condemnathe spoils of office. It had long been pre- tion of civil service reform-a platform dicted by practical politicians that a serious dictated by Tammany Hall, which was alattempt to defeat the doctrine "to the ready quarrelling with the National adminvictor belongs the spoils," would destroy istration. The Mugwump leaders and the administration attempting it. The journals immediately condemned both the elections of 1885 point to a realization of Democratic ticket and platform, and joined Col. Quay's majority greatly exceeded all expectation, and was universally accepted as a condemnation of the two Demo- . cratic administrations. 21 In New York the Irish-Americans, angered by the return of the Mugwumps, whose aristocratic and free trade tendencies they were especially hostile to, under the lead of the Irish World left the Republicans and returned to the support of the Democracy. They decided the contest and their attitude in the future will be or immediate concern in all political calculations. The net results in three great States gave satisfaction to both parties-probably the most to the Republicans, but it is certain that they left politics in a very interesting and very uncertain shape. THE CAMPAIGN OF 1886. THE campaign of 1886 showed that the New York city witnessed, not a revoluRepublican party was capable of making tion, but such a marked change in politics gains in the South, especially in Congres- that it excited comment throughout the sional districts and upon protective and entire country. The Labor party ran Henry educational issues. Indeed, so plain was George, the author of Progress and Pov this in the State of Virginia that Randolph erty, and other works somewhat socialistic Tucker, for whom the Legislature had ap- and certainly agrarian in their tendencies, portioned a district composed of eleven for Mayor of the city. Hewitt, the wellwhite counties, refused to run again, and known Congressman, was the candidate of Mr. Yost, editor of the Staunton Virgin- the Democracy, while the Republicans preian, who had canvassed the entire district sented Roosevelt, known chiefly for his on tariff issues and in favor of the Blair municipal-reform tendencies. Hewitt was educational bill, was returned over a popu- elected, but George received over 60,000 lar Democrat, by 1900 majority. Of the votes, and this unlooked for poll changed ten Congressmen from Virginia the Repub- the direction of political calculations for a licans elected six. Morrison, the tariff-re- year. George was aided by nearly all the form leader of Illinois, was defeated, as was Burd of Ohio, while Speaker Carlisle's seat was contested by Mr. Thoche, a protectionist candidate of the Knights of Labor. These and other gains reduced the Democratic majority in the House to about fifteen, and this could not be counted upon for any tariff reduction or financial measures. The Republicans lost one in the U. S. Senate. Labor organizations, and he drew from the Democrats about two to the one drawn from the Republicans a fact which greatly raised the hopes of the latter and at the same time made the Democrats more cautious. In 1886 the Republicans and Democrats, with the qualifications noted above, held their party strength, with the future prospects so promising to both that at this early Local divisions in the Republican ranks date preparations began for the Presidenwere seriously manifested in but one State, tial campaign, General Beaver, defeated that of California, which chose a Demo- for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1882 by a cratic Governor and a Republican Lieuten- plurality of 40,000, was now elected by a ant Governor, so close was the contest. plurality of 43,000, though the ProhibiThe Governor has since died, the Lieuten- tionists polled 32,000 votes, two-thirds of ant Governor has taken his place, but the which came from the Republican party. Legislature re-elected Senator Hearst, The general result of the campaign indiDemocrat, who had previously been ap-cated that the Republicans were gaining in pointed before the retirement of Governor unity and numbers. Stoneman. |