1882.—Extended trial and final conviction of Guiteau, who set up the plea that his assassination of President Garfield was due to an irresistible pressure from Deity. Nomination of Roscoe Conkling to the Supreme Court. Blaine’s eulogy on Garfield. The Mormon issue revived by Edmunds’ Bill; Chinese issue revived by bill to prevent their immigration for twenty years. California and Nevada make a holiday of Saturday, March 4, and devote it to mass meetings, which said “the Chinese must go.” March 1, Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, makes a great speech against Chinese Bill; Senator Miller, of California, replies.
1883.—Jefferson Davis replies to ex-Judge Jeremiah S. Black’s article on “Secession Secrets.” Death of ex-Attorney-General Black.
1884.—Nomination of James G. Blaine, and John A. Logan, at Chicago, for President and Vice-President, who were defeated by Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks. Death of Hon. Charles J. Folger, Secretary of the Treasury.
1885.—General Ulysses S. Grant, ex-President of the United States, died at Mt. McGregor, July 22d, after a lingering and most painful illness of many months. Death of Vice-President Thomas A. Hendricks, and election of Hon. John Sherman as Acting Vice-President of the United States.
1886.—Marriage of Grover Cleveland and Miss Frances Folsom at the Executive Mansion; and death of General George B. McClellan, General Winfield Scott Hancock, ex-Governor Samuel J. Tilden—all three of whom had been nominated for President of the United States; McClellan in 1864, Tilden in 1876, and Hancock in 1880.
1887.—High License Campaign in Pennsylvania; liquor men resisted and formed Personal Liberty Leagues; Republicans contended for High License and Sunday Laws, and won by 46,000 majority. Death of General Philip Sheridan. In December, at opening of Congress, President Cleveland sent in an Annual Message devoted alone to Revenue Reform; Mr. Blaine wired an answer from Paris in favor of Protection, and in this way the issue was opened.
1888.—Re-nomination of President Cleveland on Tariff for Revenue platform; the Republicans nominated General Benjamin Harrison on a Protective platform. A brilliant campaign followed and resulted in a Republican victory. Warner Miller led a High License battle for Governor of New York; beaten by Governor Hill by 18,000 majority. Delaware elected Anthony Higgins, a Republican, for United States Senator.
1889.—Admission by Congress as States of North and South Dakota, Montana and Washington, making 42 in all. The Pan-American Congress assembled in Washington. Representatives of nearly all the Central and South American governments attended. International Marine Conference also assembled. Race troubles in the Southern States. Death of Jefferson Davis.
1890.—Death of Hon. William D. Kelly, known as “The Father of the House,” after a service of thirty years in Congress.
The McKinley Tariff Bill and the Anti-Lottery Bill become laws. Democratic “tidal wave” in the fall elections, overturning the Republican majority in the House of Representatives and the State governments in many heretofore reliable Republican States.