A fifteenth member of the commission was to be chosen by the four members representing the Supreme Court. It was expected that they would appoint Justice Davis, who was an independent in politics. In the eleventh hour, however, Davis was eliminated as a candidate by being elected a senator from Illinois. No

Removal of troops from the South

was thrown to Hayes, who was inaugurated March 4, 1877.

But this biased Commission gave the Nation a President greater than almost any one believed at the time. As the years pass Rutherford B. Hayes stands out clearly and more clearly as a good Chief Executive. True,

he was hindered greatly by the Democratic party which controlled the House of Representatives, and not much constructive legislation can be recorded for his administration. Yet he did a valuable work and strove manfully for some important measures. For example, he immediately removed Federal troops from the South, ending forever the disgrace of "carpetbag" government. He appointed an ex-Confederate to his cabinet as Postmaster-General, thus indicating an independ

ence of party control not common in those days. That control was gained, however, at the cost of the loss of friendship of the old-line Republican politicians who called themselves "Stalwarts," and who dubbed the President and his friends "Halfbreeds." Numerous good financial laws, to be treated in their place, were passed during Hayes's term in office. In general, the period shows a distinct trend upward of the moral tone of the nation; in promoting civil service reform Hayes contributed his "bit" to this end, as we shall see.

Garfield's election and assassination

Arthur becomes President

The prosperity of the nation during Hayes's administration served to keep the Republican party in power for the succeeding four years. The reform elements, rallied by the President, held their ground against the "Stalwart" faction and succeeded in getting James A. Garfield nominated as Republican candidate in the presidential election of 1880, through the help of James G. Blaine and John Sherman, his chief rival candidates. Yet, out of a popular vote of nearly nine millions, Garfield defeated his Democratic opponent (General Hancock) by only a paltry 7,023. The assassination of Garfield by a crazed office-seeker four months after his inauguration (July 2) and his sad death (September 19) brought Vice-President Chester A. Arthur, a "Stalwart," unexpectedly into the White House. Although not rated by his opponents as of presidential caliber, Arthur proved to be an excellent President. His term of office saw no marked changes save for distinct progress in reform and in tariff legislation. James G. Blaine, the "Stalwart" Republican, who was a rival of Garfield's for the party nomination for President in 1880, was the successful aspirant for it in 1884, to the chagrin of the advocates of civil service reform and to the anxiety of those who believed stories of his "shady" relations with western railways. These reformers, called "Mugwumps" which was Indian for “Big Chief” (men who would lead but not follow), hailed with pleasure the Democratic nomination of Grover Cleveland, then the successful Governor of New York, to make the fight against

Republican defeat in 1884

Blaine. By carrying his own state, Cleveland was victor (map p. 403) by 37 electoral votes, and, for the first time since the war, a Democrat took his place in the White House.

READING LIST

W. A. Dunning, Reconstruction, Chaps. 8 and 18; J. F. Rhodes, History, VI, Chaps. 37 and 39; J. Moody, Chaps. 1 and 4; W. L. Fleming, The Sequel of Appomattox, Chaps. 12 and 13; H. Garland, Ulysses S. Grant, Chaps. 39-50. E. Stanwood, History of the Presidency, Chaps. 23-25.

I. THE HAYES-TILDEN ELECTION: P. L. Haworth, The Hayes-Tilden Election; Dunning, Reconstruction, Chaps. 19-21; Rhodes, VII, Chaps. 43 and 44; H.J. Ford, The Cleveland Era (Chronicles of America, XLIV), Chaps. 1-3; F. L. Paxson, The New Nation, Chaps. 5-8.

QUERY AND DISCUSSION

What were the main questions at stake in the election of each of the four Republican Presidents in this era? Account for the large vote cast by the Democratic party in 1876 and 1880. Why did many Republicans vote for Cleveland in 1884? Has our history proved that military success in the field has usually been followed by executive and administrative success in the office of Chief Executive? Is a nation's moral tone usually lowered by a war? Explain this in the face of the recognized fact that the tone of patriotism is always raised in war-times. Is war-time patriotism the soundest and truest kind of patriotism? Compare the patriotism required to wrest a city from an enemy in war and that required to wrest it from "bosses" and "gangs" in time of peace. Which kind has most representatives in the Hall of Fame?

Section 48. The Cowboy's Kingdom1

The sixteen years embraced in the administrations of Grant, Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur present the fascinating story of our material development as a nation. During this time the basis of many great industries was laid. One of the most interesting

'The author desires to express his indebtedness to Emerson Hough for certain phrases used in this section. No one could read that author's The Story of the Cowboy and The Passing of the Frontier without being obligated to Mr. Hough for certain words, at least, for which there seem to be no synonyms. P. A. Rollins, The Cowboy, is very valuable on the whole cattle subject.