[Sidenote:  J.G.  Blaine]

[Sidenote:  The Mugwumps.]

[Sidenote:  Grover Cleveland.]

[Sidenote:  Cleveland elected President, 1884.]

[Sidenote:  Tariff reform.]

462.  Election of 1884.—­In 1884 the Republicans nominated James G. Blaine of Maine for President.  He was a man of magnetic address and had made many friends, but he also had made many enemies.  Especially many Republican voters distrusted him.  They felt that he had used his position for private gain, although nothing was proved against him.  These Republicans were called “Mugwumps.”  They “bolted” the nomination and supported the Democratic candidate, Grover Cleveland.  As mayor of Buffalo, Cleveland had done very well.  He had then been elected governor of New York by a very large majority.  The campaign of 1884 was conducted on lines of personal abuse that recall the campaigns of 1800 and of 1828.  Cleveland carried four large Northern states and the “solid South” and was elected.

[Illustration:  GROVER CLEVELAND.]

463.  Cleveland’s Administration, 1885-89.—­The great contest of Cleveland’s first term was a fierce struggle over the tariff.  The government’s need of money during the Civil War had compelled Congress to raise large sums by means of internal revenue taxes.  These taxes in turn had brought about a great increase in the tariff rates on goods imported from foreign countries.  The internal revenue taxes had been almost entirely removed, but the war tariff substantially remained in force.  In 1887 Cleveland laid the whole question before Congress.  For a time it seemed probable that something would be done.  But the opposition in Congress was very active and very strong.  It fell out, therefore, that nothing important was done.  The real significance of Cleveland’s first administration lay in the fact that the Southerners were once again admitted to a share in the government of the nation.  It marked, therefore, the reunion of the American people.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CHAPTER 42

Sec.Sec.437, 438.—­a.  Explain carefully Lincoln’s plan for reconstruction.  How was it affected by his death?

b.  What was Johnson’s attitude toward reconstruction?  Precisely what is meant by “reconstruction”?

Sec.Sec.439-441.—­a.  What was the force of the Emancipation Proclamation?  How was the institution of slavery abolished?

b.  Explain the reasons for the establishment of the freedmen’s bureau.  What do you think of the provision relating to the use of the army?

c.  How was Congress able to pass a bill over the President’s veto?

d.  Explain carefully the Fourteenth Amendment.  What do you think of the provision as to debts?

Sec.Sec.442, 443.—­a.  Why were the elections of 1866 important?