Party Machinery and National Conventions.

See especially Bryce’s American Commonwealth, and Ostrogorski’s Organisation des parties politiques aux Etats-Unis.  On the Caucus see Whitridge’s The Caucus System, published as “Economic Tract” No. 8, by the Society for Political Education, New York.

Political Parties.

Winsor’s Narrative and Critical History of America contains a short history of political parties by Professor Alexander Johnston.  See also Johnston’s admirable manual, History of American Politics, a book especially adapted for school use.  Von Holst’s Constitutional and Political History of the United States, six volumes, contains the most comprehensive treatment of the history of political parties.  Schouler’s History of the United States under the Constitution, is an exceedingly able and interesting work.  Four volumes bring this history down to 1847.  The fifth volume soon to appear, will bring the narrative down to the Civil War.

The first volume of Von Holst is especially interesting, as giving statements of the various theories held regarding the origin and nature of our constitution.  Upon Nullification and Secession, see Von Holst’s Life of Calhoun; Stephens’ War between the States; Greeley’s American Conflict; McPherson’s Political History of the Rebellion; and articles in Lalor’s Encyclopaedia.  The American Statesman Series, now being published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., contains valuable biographies of leading American statesmen.  See especially in this series Schurz’s Henry Clay; Morse’s Jefferson; Lodge’s Webster; and Von Holst’s Calhoun.  Upon the Economic contrasts between the North and South, see Von Holst’s Constitutional History, Vol.  I, Chapters IX and X. Taussig’s History of the Tariff, gives the best history of this much debated subject.