The political history of the United States : or, popular sovereignty and citizenship; birth and growth of the colonies; march to independence; constitutional government; presidents and administrations; congresses and political measures; party platforms and principles; rise and fall of parties. Questions of the hour-civil service reform, polygamy, prohibition, surplus revenue, tariff and free trade, arguments for and against, review of tariff acts

Front matter

Glass Book

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

I

Preface

N this book the author seeks to present correct and desirable information respecting the political origin, growth and management of our government. Ordinarily this kind of information is beyond popular reach, or if accessible, it too often comes tinged with partisan color. As no branch of knowledge is more useful than that which appertains to our political institutions, so none should shine in a clearer light, or be more freely at the disposal of our people. The author is fully aware of the difficulty of compressing all that ought to be known of the political side of our country into a single volume. Yet with proper arrangement and succinct statement he is hopeful of making a book which will prove both entertaining and useful to the general reader, as well as profitable to those who incline to a closer study of political affairs.

His plan is to first set the reader to thinking about the nature of the Republic, and his duty as a citizen under it. He is then invited to a brief study of those little colonial pictures which once dotted the Atlantic coast and formed the starting points of our national existence. With a fair conception of them he will have a key to unlock many subsequent political mysteries. Especially will he know when and why the drift set in toward the great American Republic, and the manner of men into whose hands its destinies were to fall. Following the chain of events link by link, he will be gradually led forward toward Colonial Independence, the first appearance of Federal government under the Articles of Confederation, and then to the complete government under the present Constitution. To have a clear conception of our political existence up to this interesting period is certainly a satisfactory and essential part of an every-day education.

4 PREFACE.

Passing into our Constitutional existence, the reader will then be asked to glance at the measures by which we acquired our immense territory, subdivided it into States, and finally made those States component parts of the Union. Turning to the Federal Machinery, or Method of Government, he will learn how Presidents are chosen, how Congresses, Cabinets, Courts and Departments are formed — what they are all for and what they all do. With an understanding of this vast and intricate system, he will be prepared to take the next step in the author's plan.

It would not be fair to the average reader to say that he is less interested in our earlier than our later political history ; yet, true it is that many prefer to date their political knowledge no further back than the first Administration of Washington, and to confine it to those events which constitute practical politics and largely reflect the sentiments and embrace the measures of the respective political parties. In order to gratify the fullest wish in this respect the author presents an impartial outline of all the Administrations, of the political policy which shaped and dominated each, of the political measures framed by all the Congresses, and of the origin, principles and conduct of all the National political parties. He has given in this connection the facts just as found in the best records, official and otherwise, and with no other motive than to preserve the historic verities. From the amount of labor and care bestowed on this branch of our political history it is the author's hope that it will be found refreshing to those who have lived through portions of it, a source of grateful instruction to our younger people, and a reliable fountain whence debaters, public speakers and legislators can readily draw when they wish to prime themselves for special occasions.

To complete the plan of the book, a view is taken of the political questions which constitute the issues of the day. They are under discussion now, and will be for some time. Knowledge of them is desirable and proper, and what is found under each subject is simply an impersonal and non-partisan presentation of the facts with a view to making history rather than influencing sentiment.

The effort, throughout, has been to preserve a crisp and cheerful style so as to convey pleasure as well as instruction. If such a history seems in anywise to create a higher respect for our political institutions, or a broadei; and better citizenship, the author's wish in preparing it will not have been a vain one.