The Detroit times., 1910-11-05
CAMPAIGNS
CONGRESSIONAL
II-THE ERA OF RECONSTRUCTION
By FREDERIC ! HASKTM

ton, the minority in both houses
congress took heart, the passions
war were beginning To cool, and IN
dominant party was about TO suffer
rebuke. In tho congressional elel
lions OF 1872 the Greeley fiasco cal
,ried down the Democratic congre|
sional tickets and the house the|
chosen consisted of 203 RepubllcaTl
and only SO Democrats.
But the "off" year election of 1S7
was destined TO break the line of ri
publican control A great many seal
dals, including the Credit Mobilier 4
fair, the Belknap impeachment, and
host of other troubles contributed
break down the Republican strengtI
The financial panic of 1873 wd
charged TO the administration, I'll
more especially as a high officer
the treasury department was accusd
OF completely In the gold speculatid
frauds which eliminated I'm the I'd
rible BLACK Friday" The people
the north were beginning to tire
the everlasting conflict between rivI
governments in southern states, an
there was a widespread desire to pe|
NIT the south again TO conduct its ov
affairs.
More than anything else, howeve'
which made against the dominaI
party was the action OF congress
passing the salary grab" act,
which the members doubled their Sd
aries and made the law retroactive
Some members refused TO accept Il
additional salary. Instantly the Wild
country was In an uproar. Every md
who had desired to attack the d
ministration but who feared his Id
atty To the union would be questione
now arose to denounce the sala'
grab. Old timers were defeated al
the Republican candidates wei
moved down like grass. The enc
OF the election was so remarkat|
that II was over 80 years before cd
gress again dared to increase congrf
sional salaries, and then II was ca
full not TO make the mistake OF appI
ing the increase to the then exist
congress. Even at that, scores
members lodged the vote. althou
praying for the success OF the bt
and some voted with their teeth CHI
tering
When the votes were counted II VI
found that the or year election
1874 had brought about another
litical revolution. Less than a decaI
after the close OF the war the Den
Gratis again were in control OF
lower house of congress, having
members 10 107 Republicans and thI
independents.
The Democrats took courage O
resolved TO make one great EFFORT
gain the presidency. They nomin
ed Samuel j. Tilden on what wo1
now be called an anti-graft platfot
they cried out for retrenchment o
reform, and they began a great ca
paign almost two years In advance
the presidential election. The
publIcans nominated Rutherford
Hayes, a dark horse, selected by
combination opposed TO James
elaine, the leading anti-convention
| pirant.
The campaign was a white-hot o
and when it was over, the Democr
ALI over the country celebrated gr'
national victory. But the Repubics
claimed the election. despite the p
ular majority for Tilden. The Rep
lican senate and the Democratic hot
/ finally left the question OF the
puted returns from several states
! an electoral commission. The &C
mission was mae up of eight Rep
| icans and seven Democrats and VI
every crucial question which ca
before II the vote was strictly pa
san. eight for Hayes and seven
Tiden. BY the decision Of this CO
mission Hayes was elected. receiv
1s5 electoral votes to 1874 for Tide
The Democrats were furious,
they we're persuaded 10 submit
gracefully as possible. They had
ried the new house and had mf
gains in the senate. They had
succeeded in placing a Democrat
the White House, but they had
habilitated their organization
there were again two great polit1
parties in the country. In 1873
democrats carried the house agI
and captured control OF the sendI
In 1880 they suffered a setback,
ing both houses. In 1882 they agl|
carried the house, and TWO yell
later eletced the president.
Monday-The Era Of "Norma'
ties"