The Detroit times., 1910-11-05
CAMPAIGNS
CONGRESSIONAL
By FREDERIC J HASKIM
XI-THE ERA OF RECONSTRUCTION

tion. the minority In both houses o
congress took heart, the passions o
war were beginning TO cool, and the
dominant party was about 20 suffer a
rebuke. In the congressional cleo
tions OF 1872 the Greeley tiasco car
ried down the Democratic congress
sional tickets aud the house theIN
chosen consisted OF 2O3 Republican,
and only SS Democrats.
But the "off" year election OF 1870
was destined TO break the line OF Rel
publican control. A great many scam.
dals, including the Credit Mobilier af.
fair. the Belknap Impeachment, and n
host OF other troubles contributed ID
break down the Republican strength
The financial panic OF 1873 waf
charged TO the administration, thd
more especially as a high oficer Oh
the treasury department was accused
Of completely I'm the gold speculation
frauds which eliminated in the teri
rible BLACK Friday" The people al
the north were beginning TO tire Of
the everlasting conflict between rival
governments in southern states, anS
there was widespread desire to pei
init the south again to conduct its owl
affairs.
More than anything else. howeveT
which made against the dominans
party was the action OF congress III
passing the salary grab" act, bI
which the members doubled their sat
aries and made the law retroactive
Some members refused to accept tn
additional salary. Instantly the Who'll
country was in an uproar Every maj
who had desired to attack the all
ministration but who feared his LON
atty TO the union would be questioned
now arose TO denounce the saiarH
grab. Old timers were defeated AMI
the Republican candidates werI
moved down like grass. The effed
OF the election was so remarkably
that Il was over 80 years before corl
gFess again dared to increase eongEe4
sional salaries, and then It was card
full not TO make the mistake OF applIl
ing the increase to the then existinll
congress. Even ar that. scores d
members lodged the vote. although
praying for the success OF the bill
and some voted with their teeth cha
tering.
When the votes were counted It wal
found that the on year election d
1874 had brought about another pl
litical revolution. Less than a decaol
after the close OF the war the DemV
Gratis again were In control OF thl
lower house OF congress. having Isl
members to 107 Republicans and threl
independents.
The Democrats took courage anl
resolved to make one great EFFORT
gain the presidency. They nominal
ed Samuel ]. Tilden on what woull
now be called an anti-graft platforrl
they cried out for retrenchment anl
reform. and they began a great carl
paign almost two years in advance
the presidential election. The r
publicans nominated Rutherford II
Hayes. a dark horse. selected by II
combination opposed 10 James t
Blaine. the leading anti-convention
pirant.
The campaign was a white-hot oni
and when It was over, the Democrat
all over the country celebrated a gret.
national victory. But the Republican,
claimed the election. despite the POI
ular majority for Tilden. The Repu
lican senate and the Democratic hous
finally left the question OF the dt
puted returns from several states
an electoral commission. The con-
mission was made up Of eight Repul
licans and seven Democrats and upo
every crucial question which cam
before II the vote was strictly part
san. eight for Hayes and seven fo II
THden. BY the decision OF this con
mission Hayes was elected. receivin
1S5 electoral votes to 1874 for Tilden
The Democrats were furious, bl
they we're persuaded to submit FL
gracefully as possible. They had ca
ried the new house and had mad
gains in the senate. They had nS|
succeeded in placing a Democrat q
the White House, but they had ri
habilitated their organization anI
there we're again two great politici|
parties in the country. In 1878 TIL
Democrats carried the house agai
and captured control or the senat
In 1880 they suffered a setback, 10
ing both houses. In 1882 they agai
carried the house. and two yeai
later elected the president.
Monday-The Era Of Normal Pol
ties"