A. the election of 1880
1. Grant returns from a world tour too early to maintain enthusiasm
2. claims that the two term precedent applies only to two consecutive terms
3. James G. Blaine is the leading Republican - but the party is hurt by factionalism
4. developing split between Stalwarts and Half-breeds
a. Roscoe Conkling of New York heads the Stalwarts
b. Blaine is the leader of the Half-breeds
c. little difference in policy positions - primarily a dispute over which faction controls patronage
5. James Garfield (Ohio) emerges as the dark horse compromise candidate
6. Chester Arthur (Stalwart) is nominated for Vice President
7. platform largely avoids new issues
a. continued support for protective tariffs
b. pays lip service to civil service reform
c. one delegate - “My God! What are we here for but offices?”
8. Democrats nominate Winfield Hancock
a. promise civil service reform
b. importantly - favor a tariff for revenue only
9. results Garfield - 4.4m - 214, Hancock - 4.4 - 155, James B. Weaver (Greenback/Labor Party) - 300,000 - Weaver’s votes may have cost Hancock the election
10. office seekers immediately besiege Garfield - “What is there in this place that a man should ever want to get into it?”
11. July 2, 1881 Garfield assassinated - “Garfield lingered for nearly three months, receiving medical treatment that actually worsened what was originally only a moderately serious condition.”
a. Garfield assassinated by Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office seeker - “I am a Stalwart. Arthur is now President.”
b. Bailey contends that Garfield's assassination was his greatest contribution to U.S. history because dying when and how he did ultimately led to civil service reform
12. Arthur proves to be a better President than anyone had a right to expect - “Chet Arthur President of the United States. Good God!”
13. avoids any major bloodletting between Stalwarts and Half-breeds
14. Blaine does lose the position of Secretary of State after an encouraging beginning
15. major areas of concentration
a. civil service reform - “In general the federal service had become permeated with a class of men who were tempted to anticipate future removal by present corruption.” - get it while the getting's good
1. 1883 The civil Service Act (Pendleton Act) provides for the creation of the Civil Service System
2. designed to encourage appointment based on merit
b. initially only 10-12% of the federal jobs fell under its coverage
c. expanded over the years
1. 1901 - 41%
2. 1920 - 71%
3. 1939 - 67%
4. 1952 - 87%
5. 1962 - 45%
b. naval construction
1. when Arthur took office the U.S. Navy ranked just below that of Chili
2. first steps are taken to upgrade it
3. four steel ships are commissioned - each with full sail and steam power
4. by 1898 the U.S. Navy ranks fifth in the world
B. the election of 1884
1. Blaine (The Plumed Knight) finally wins the Republican nomination - “He had every political asset except a reputation for honesty.”
2. Democrats stand their best chance of winning in 1884 - why?
a. the “bloody shirt” is fading - Blaine is not a veteran
b. Republican corruption - including Blaine and the Mulligan Letters
c. Democrats can count on the “solid South”
d. Mugwumps defect from the Republican party - concerned with corruption - though primarily with civil service reform
e. Stalwart opposition to Blaine - Conkling, asked if he would campaign for Blaine replied, “I do not engage in criminal activity.”
3. Democrats nominate Cleveland - reform mayor of Buffalo, though basically a conservative - Bailey - “As bull-headed as bodied.” - 5’11’ - 240-270
4. slight philosophical differences - campaign becomes one of personal attacks
a. Mulligan letters - Blaine accused of providing special treatment for railroads while Speaker of the House - agrees to read portions of the letters - “Burn this letter.”
b. “Blaine, Blaine, James B. Blaine
continental liar from the state of Maine.”
c. Cleveland accused of fathering an illegitimate child for whom he had provided support though he was one of several possible fathers - insisted on acknowledging it rather than “lying like a gentleman” as party bosses urged
d. “Ma, Ma, where’s my Pa”
“Going to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha!”
5. election hinges on New York where the Irish vote is critical
6. Blaine rally characterizes the Democrats as the party of “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion”
7. results - Cleveland - 4.875m - 219 - Blaine - 4.852 - 182 - Cleveland carries New York by 1149 votes
8. Morison - “We should elect Mr. Cleveland to the public office which he is so admirably qualified to fill, and remand Mr. Blaine to the private life which he is so eminently fitted to adorn.”
C. Cleveland administration
1. philosophy is very conservative, honest, and frugal
2. laissez-faire outlook (define) - Texas relief effort requiring $14,000 appropriation for seeds - “Though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.” - “Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character.” - Herbert Hoover would refer to this as “rugged individualism”
3. some commitment to civil service reform
a. Mugwumps had helped elect him
b. spoils system prevails as Democrats are hungry for patronage
c. removed about two thirds of the Republican office holders
d. 27,000 added to the civil service list
e. Cleveland laments typical problems with office seekers
4. pension problems
a. government surpluses from the tariff encouraged wasteful spending
b. “pork barrel” legislation and increased pension rolls were used to buy political support from GAR (Grand Army of the Republic)
c. Arrears of Pension Act 1879 Cleveland vetoed Dependent Pension Bill 1887
d. personally reviews all private pension bills - approved many - disapproved some “terrific encounter with the measles”
e. purpose of many of these bills was to spend money so that a high tariff could continue to be justified
5. the tariff provides the major emerging philosophical difference between the parties
a. Cleveland favored reduction
b. elevates it to primary issue in the 1888 campaign against the wishes of top Democrats
c. “What’s the use of being elected or reelected unless you stand for something.”
d. 1881 - government surplus $145m per year
e. why was the tariff issue difficult to deal with
1. entrenchment political clout of big business - particularly when Senators were select
2. significant local interest - while many may favor tariff reduction generally, few favor reduction on goods produced in their area
6. Cleveland believed that the President should confine himself to execution rather than formulation of law
7. 81m million acres of western land reclaimed by Cleveland
8. Dawes Act passed in 1887
a. attempted to break up tribes by dividing up reservation land among individuals
b. this was an attempt to break down tribal loyalties
c. also established Indian schools away from the reservation to acculturate children
9. Interstate Commerce Act 1887 - first significant attempt to regulate big business
10. overall, the Cleveland administration stands out in an era of forgettable Presidents and proves that Democrats can function at a high level
D. the election of 1888
1. Cleveland the Democratic nominee though the tariff issue is downplayed
2. Benjamin Harrison the Republican nominee
3. campaign generally conducted at a high level - Lionel Sackville blooper hurts Cleveland in New York
a. Sackville, British diplomat says he supports Cleveland
b. how would this hurt Cleveland in New York?
4. results - Cleveland - 5.53m - 168 - Harrison 5.44 - 233 - Harrison wins New York by 7000 votes
E. overview of party politics in the Gilded Age
1. Bailey describes the period as an era of forgettable Presidents
a. why did good men not seek the Presidency?
b. theory - talent gravitates toward dominate power - in this period big business is clearly the dominant force in the country
2. Republican domination of the Presidency, but not the government
a. lost only twice between 1860 and 1908
b. however, four times they lacked a majority of the popular vote
c. seldom controlled both houses of Congress
d. election strategy
1. wave the bloody shirt
2. win GAR support
3. support high tariffs
4. otherwise avoid issues
e. party’s strength
1. the party of big business - manufacturing, railroads, bankers
2. party of established, prosperous farmers of the North
3. almost totally Protestant
3. Democratic philosophy
a. reliance on the basis of the solid South
b. support from small merchants who felt the squeeze of big business
c. support from labor, when not coerced by big business into Republican support
d. support from Great Plains and Southern (less prosperous) farmers
e. support from immigrant groups
f. support from Southern Protestants and Northern Catholics
4. generally similar on economic issues
a. both favor laissez-faire approach
b. tariff issue will eventually divide them
5. politics dominated by political bosses in various states
a. the Tweed Ring in New York
b. Harrison ascribed his victory in 1888 to Providence - Matt Quay (PA boss) - “Providence hadn’t a damn thing to do with it.” Harrison recognized that upon taking office - “When I came into power I found that the party managers had taken it all to themselves. I could not name my own cabinet. They had sold every place to pay for the election expense.”
c. Harrison and the Maine administration (Blaine’s influence) - Morison - 47
6. the role of what Bailey calls “doubtful states” (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York)
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