Ex-Senator George H. Williams, of Oregon, was selected in his stead. Mr. Borie had previously. resigned his position as Secretary of the Navy, to which Hon. George M. Robeson, of New Jersey, was appointed.

THE CIVIL SERVICE--DIFFICULTIES IN ITS MANAGEMENT.

The war had vastly augmented the civil service establishment. When President Grant entered the executive office, there were single bureaux of departments more extensive than had been some of the departments, or perhaps any of them, before the war. These had large numbers of officials at the national capital and throughout the country. One of the ill results of the war was this necessary increase of public offices. Many persons in every community directed their energies to office-getting as though it were a regular business. When President Grant was inaugurated, Washington swarmed with office-seekers; with many thousands of men asking the privilege of serving their country in public place. Many were necessarily disappointed, and hence arose a certain disaffection in the Republican party, which, aided by some opposed to the existing laws imposing duties on imports and the plan of internal taxation in being, culminated in the Cincinnati Convention of May, 1872, which is treated at length in subsequent chapters of this book.

Meanwhile, however, the vast patronage of the Government was distributed to the general satis

faction of the body politic, and, in the main, to the good of the service. It is believed that no more mistakes were made than were inevitable under the system in force.

Another great source of embarrassment to the Administration of President Grant-as it necessarily would have been to any administration—was the conflicting opinions among members of the Republican party upon questio..s which, of comparatively little moment during the war, had by this time come to be of grave importance. The patriotic public willingly endured high taxation to sustain those who were periling their lives to save the Republic and the cause of freedom. The war ended, and the armies disbanded, it was proper for the Government to cut off many of the sources of revenue. Upon the question of how this could most wisely be done, there was, and there still is, wide difference of opinion among patriotic states

men.

If it was impossible to secure unanimity of sentiment among Republicans during the war, when it was necessary for the Executive to exercise extraordinary powers, and the people to make extraordinary sacrifices both of substance and opinion, it would require a miracle to secure such unanimity in an era necessarily requiring many changes of policy, many changes of law. The ocean is said to be more dangerous to navigators just after a storm than during its prevalence. There is an irregular wildness about the waves as they settle back to

calmness, which is peculiarly perilous. Such was the political situation when President Grant assumed office. It was more difficult to administer the Government to the satisfaction of the party in power after the war than it had been during the

war.

SUCCESS OF GRANT'S ADMINISTRATION.

And yet there has been constant progress and success. Taxation has been greatly reduced, and that without giving so rude a shock to systems in being, to which the trade and commerce of the country had become accustomed, as to produce a financial panic. Large numbers of officials in the internal revenue department have been dispensed with by reason of this reduction, and taxation by this mode now rests but upon a few articles. The free list in the tariff has been considerably increased, and duties upon a large number of the necessaries of life and national development have been reduced. The expenditures of the government have been considerably diminished. The national debt has been paid to the amount of three hundred millions of dollars, in round numbers, during the first three years of President Grant's administration. A large amount of the government bonds, bearing six per cent. interest per annum has been converted into a like amount of bonds bearing six per cent. interest. Thus, by the action of a Republican Congress, ably sustained by a Republican administration, have the finances of the nation been successfully conducted,

and the public credit maintained against every assault, and even from time to time improved in the great commercial marts of Christendom. Nor has there been any considerable revulsion in the business of the country. The material wealth of the Republic has been constantly augmenting; its great cities have been all the time prosperous; the agricultural capacities of the nation have never ceased to grow; labor has been well paid, and the laboring man has constantly grown in the public esteem and in power; the development of all the material interests of the land has simply been stupendous. Even the South, which suffered most of the calamities resulting from the war, is in a situation of rapid recuperation, and will surely be more wealthy and progressive than ever before, ere the first centennial of American Independence.

These plain facts, which are known and read of all men, demonstrate the general success of President Grant's administration, and show that the Republican party continues to be entitled to the confidence of the American people.

CHAPTER V.

HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

(CONTINUED.)

The Campaign of 1872-Action of the Forty-Second Congress at its Second Session--$60,000,000 Taxes Taken Off-Amnesty Extended GreatlyForce Bill Discontinued-The House Votes to Abolish the Franking Privilege-Everything Investigated-Call for a National ConventionSpirit of the Party-Unanimous for Grant-The Convention is HeldIts Doings in Detail-Harmony and Enthusiasm-Platform of 1872Grant's Letter Accepting the Nomination.

"What are you going to do in Congress next winter?" the writer asked of one of the most distinguished Senators, nearly a year ago.

O, make Presidents," was the answer.

Such being confessedly the main purpose of both political parties during the session next preceding each Presidential election, we may properly reckon the political campaign of 1872 as having commenced with the assembling of the second session of the Forty-second Congress, on the first Monday of December, 1871.

The meaning of the Senator's expression is obvious, viz that the Congressmen of each party would endeavor to shape legislation so as to secure the success of their party in the ensuing campaign; and this means, of course, where voters are as free and intelligent as in America, that the dominant party will endeavor to enact good and wholesome