to the Presidential office the completest qualifications, a mind thoroughly trained in affairs, and a character quite Washingtonian in its symmetry. It will be a strange and harsh result if so slight a circumstance shall permanently deprive him of our highest civic honor.

CHAPTER XI.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

THE MORRISON BILL-THE STATE CONVENTION.

THE Presidential question had been greatly affected by the course of events in Congress. The result of the session had been such as to leave the Democracy without a clearly defined political issue. A demand for reform hardly presents a question of politics, but must always depend upon professions which can be made as easily by one party as by the other.

When Congress met it seemed to be easy to make an issue of the most absorbing character. The former Congress had refused to reduce taxation. The public revenues had swollen to enormous dimensions, and were largely in excess of the necessities of the Government. One would say that it would be difficult to present to a practical people like the Americans, a subject more likely to interest them than the abolition of unnecessary taxes. They were descended from a people who had deposed and beheaded their king because of grievances about taxation. Their ancestors, when poor and few in numbers, had for

a similar reason revolted and waged an eight years' war of independence.

It was easy to cut off seventy millions of taxes. The Democrats in the House set themselves to this work with considerable confidence of success. The only doubt was, as to whether the Republican Senate would concur. But if the Senate should refuse, the issue would be sent to the country under the most favorable conditions. for Democratic success in the elections. It was not thought that the Republicans would walk into so open a trap. But the Republicans at once refused to consent to the reduction of taxation. They seemed to think that high taxes were of the essence of good government.

Mr. Blaine, early in the session proposed, in a public letter, that the taxes upon distilled spirits should be made permanent, and that when no longer needed by the Federal Government, the revenues should be distributed among the States. Such a measure would destroy the last vestige of State independence. Relieved of the necessity of providing for local purposes, the State Legislatures would soon disappear, and the government of the country become a consolidated one.

The measures contemplated by the Democrats were designed to effect a reduction of between sixty and seventy millions, of which about onehalf was to be taken from the tariff and the remainder from internal taxes. The first of these meas

ures, that relating to the tariff, was known as the Morrison Bill, and was reported to the House as soon as it could be matured by the committee.

A party caucus approved it. The Democrats had a majority so large as to be able to carry any measure they supported. But some of their number determined, on one ground and another, to oppose the bill, and the question of its consideration was saved from defeat by a narrow majority. After a debate lasting three weeks, at the stage of the proceedings when, under the rules, amendment was for the first time possible, a Democratic Representative from Ohio moved that the enacting clause be stricken out. This motion had to be decided without debate and was carried by a majority of two, forty Democrats voting with the Republicans in favor of the motion.

This action prevented any political issue from being based upon a reform of the tariff and the reduction of taxes. It is believed that it is the only instance in history in which a party out of power, and soliciting the favor of the people, has been unable to unite in the policy of reducing unnecessary taxes.

It is commonly said that Democratic defeats during the past fifteen years have been due to the blunders of the Democrats themselves. But this is perhaps a superficial opinion. The cause of the defeats may more easily be found, in the lack of that unity of opinion which must exist in order that

a voluntary association, like a political party, shall have coherency and discipline.

The absence of any political issue between the parties was favorable to the nomination of a candidate who had not been connected with Federal affairs.

The Republican Convention, however, supplied the country with another issue. The nomination of Mr. Blaine presented a serious question as to his fitness. He had been charged with gross misconduct, and even in his own party there were many who believed the charges to be true. His nomination was followed by a great defection, and among the dissenters were men of the highest political and personal consideration. Most prominent among them were George William Curtis, the editor of Harpers' Weekly, and Carl Schurz, a German, who has played a distinguished part in our affairs.

Mr. Blaine's nomination made it essential that the Democratic candidate should antagonize him as to the matters which subjected him to reproach. The New York State Convention was appointed to meet on the 18th of June, and the week before Mr. Tilden broke the silence which up to that time he had preserved, and published a letter, addressed to Mr. Manning, the Chairman of the State Committee, announcing to the public his intention, long privately known, not to accept the Presidential nomination.