[CHAPTER I. DRIFT AND DYE IN LAW—MAKING]
General Revision and Extension of State Constitutions.—Introduction of Australian Ballot in Various States.—Woman Suffrage in the West.—Negro Suffrage in the South.—Educational Qualification.—“The Mississippi Plan.”—South Carolina Registration Act.—The “Grandfather” Clause in Louisiana Constitution.—Alabama Suffrage.
[CHAPTER II. THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1888]
Tariff Reform Democratic Creed.—Republican Banner, High Protection.—Republican Convention at Chicago.—Nomination of Benjamin Harrison for President.—Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Harrison.—Political Strength in the West.—National Association of Democratic Clubs and Republican League.—Civil Service as an Issue in Campaign.—Democratic Blunders.—The “Murchison” Letter.—Lord Sackville-West Given His Passports.—Use of Money in Campaign by Both Political Parties.—Tariff the Main Issue.—Trusts.—“British Free Trade.”—Popular Vote at the Election.
[CHAPTER III. MR. HARRISON’S ADMINISTRATION]
Steamship Subsidies Advocated.—Chinese Immigration and the Geary Law.—Immigration Restriction.—Thomas B. Reed Institutes Parliamentary Innovations in the House of Representatives.—Counting a Quorum.—The “Force Bill” in Congress.—Resentment of the South.—Defeated in Senate.—The “Billion Dollar Congress” and the Dependent Pensions Act.—Pension Payments.—The McKinley Tariff Act and “Blaine” Reciprocity.—International Copyright Act Becomes a Law.—Mr. Blaine as Secretary of State.—Murder by “Mafia” Italians Causes Riot in New Orleans.—The Itata at San Diego, California.—The “Barrundia” Incident.—U. S. Assumes Sovereignty Over Tutuila, Samoa.—Congressional Campaign, 1890.
[CHAPTER IV. NON-POLITICAL EVENTS OF PRESIDENT HARRISON’S TERM]
Commemorative Exercises of the Centennial Anniversary of Washington’s Inauguration as President.—Verse Added to Song “America.”—Whittier Composes an Ode.—Unveiling of Lee Monument.—Sectional Feeling Allayed.—The Louisiana Lottery Put Down.—The Opening of Oklahoma.—Sum Paid Seminole Indians.—The Messiah Craze of the Indians.—The Johnstown Flood.—The Steel Strike at Homestead, Pa.—Congressional Investigation.—Riot in Tennessee Over Convict Labor in the Mines.—Mormonism.—America Aids Russia in Famine.
[CHAPTER V. THE WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION]
Preparation for the World’s Fair.—Columbus Day in Chicago.—In New York.—Presidential Election of 1892.—The Campaign.—Cleveland and Harrison Nominated by the Respective Parties.—Populism.—Gen. Weaver Populistic Candidate.—Reciprocity in the Campaign of 1892.—Result of the Election.—Opening Exercises of the World’s Fair.—The Buildings and Grounds.—The Spanish Caravals.—The Court of Honor.—Burning of the Cold Storage Building.—Government Exhibits.—Midway Plaisance.—The Ferris Wheel.—Buildings Burned.—Fair Not a Financial Success.—The Attendance.
[CHAPTER VI. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT]
Growth of Population in Cities and States.—Centre of Population.—The Railroads.—Industrial Progress.—Development of Use of Electricity in Telegraph, Telephone, Lighting, and Manufacturing.—Niagara Falls Harnessed.—Thomas A. Edison.—Nikola Tesla.—The Use of the Bicycle.—Growth of Agriculture and Improvement of Implements.—Position of Women.—The Salvation Army Established in America.—Its Growth and Work.
[CHAPTER VII. MR. CLEVELAND AGAIN PRESIDENT]
Democratic Congress.—President Extends Merit System.—Anti-Lottery Bill.—President Calls a Special Session of Congress.—Sale of Bonds to Maintain Reserve of Gold.—The Wilson Tariff Law Passed.—Income Tax Unconstitutional.—Bond Issues.—Foreign Affairs.—Coup d’état of Provisional Government of Hawaii.—Special Commissioner.—Queen Liliuokalani.—Queen Renounces Throne.—President Cleveland’s—Venezuelan Message.—Measures to Preserve National Credit.—Venezuelan Boundary Commission.—Lexow Committee Investigation in New York City.—Reform Ticket Elected.—Greater New York.—American Protective Association.
[CHAPTER VIII. LABOR AND THE RAILWAYS]
The March of the Coxey Army.—Arrest of Leaders.—The American Railway Union—Strike.—Refusal of Pullman Company to Arbitrate.—Association of General Managers.—Federal Injunction.—Federal Riot Proclamation and Troops Detailed.—Governor Altgeld’s Protest.—Debs.—“Government by Injunction.”—Commission of Investigation.—General Allotment of Indian Lands Under the Dawes Act.
[CHAPTER IX. NEWEST DIXIE]
Harmony Between North and South.—Consecration of Chickamauga-Chattanooga Military Park.—Agricultural Development in the South.—Manufactures.—Natural Products.—Southern Characteristics.—The “Black Belt.”—Montgomery Conference on the Negro Question.—Lynching.—Booker T. Washington and the Tuskegee Institute.—Negro Population.
[CHAPTER X. THE MEN AND THE ISSUE IN 1896]
Free Silver Coinage Issue in the Campaign.—Republican Convention in St. Louis.—The Money Plank in the Platform.—Withdrawal of Senator Teller and Free Silver Delegates.—William McKinley and Garret A. Hobart Nominated for President and Vice-President.—Sketch of Life of William McKinley.—Democratic Convention Held in Chicago.—Demand for Free and Unlimited Coinage of Silver.—William J. Bryan Makes “Cross of Gold” Speech.—Delegates Refuse to Vote.—W. J. Bryan and Arthur Sewall Nominated.—Sketch of William J. Bryan.—Thomas Watson Nominated for Vice-President by Populist Convention.—National or Gold Democratic Ticket.—Speeches Made by Candidates.—Result of the Election.