Public Events and Presidential Elections: Harrison and Cleveland
Mr. Cleveland's administration was generally successful. There was no partisan legislation possible. His marriage to Miss Frances Folsom, in 1886, greatly increased his popularity. He aroused more antipathy by his vetoes of special pension bills than by any other acts of his term. Instead of allowing these to go as a matter of course, as his predecessors had done, he investigated each case and, when convinced of their impropriety, he wrote veto messages which by their wording greatly offended many old soldiers and others. In 1887 he determined to make the tariff an issue and, in his annual message, made a terrific assault upon the principle of protection to American industries. This was done against the advice of many of his friends. The House passed a low tariff measure, known as the Mills Bill, but it was not acted on by the Senate. He was unanimously renominated at the Democratic Convention, which met at St. Louis June 5, 1888, with Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio, for Vice-President, Mr. Hendricks having died. The platform indorsed Mr. Cleveland's views on the tariff. Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, was the Republican candidate, and was elected, with Levi P. Morton as Vice-President. The electoral vote stood: Harrison, 233; Cleveland, 168. The popular vote was: Harrison, 5,444,053; Cleveland, 5,538,536.
The tariff act known as "the McKinley Bill" was prepared and put through the House. It provided for an average of higher duties than had ever been laid, but also greatly increased the free list. In the Senate the bill met opposition, where a bill to put Congressional and Presidential elections under Federal control had aroused the Southern Democrats, who professed to see in it a return of negro domination. By skilful manoeuvring Senator Quay made an arrangement by which the election law was dropped and the tariff bill passed.
Foreign matters had a serious aspect during this administration. In New Orleans an Italian society, known as the "Mafia," had long secured immunity from punishment for crime by means of political influence. A number of particularly foul murders had been committed and no one convicted. On March 14, 1891, a mob gathered, broke open the jail, and shot down seven Italian prisoners who were awaiting trial, and hanged two others. Italy at once demanded an apology and reparation. Mr. Blaine replied that it was a matter for Louisiana and not the United States to settle. The relations between the two countries became strained. The Italian Minister went home, and ours left Rome. Eventually the matter was healed over, $25,000 recompense given the families of the murdered men, and friendly relations were restored.
A more serious incident was that with Chile. In 1891, during one of the periodical revolutions, the existing government was overthrown. Our Minister granted asylum to the deposed President, and he escaped the fate common in South American revolutions. This greatly angered the successful revolutionists, who soon took an opportunity to wreak their vengeance. The revolutionary steamer Itata was seized by the United States, but sailed away suddenly. She was followed, and surrendered at Iquique. This made matters worse. The United States cruiser Baltimore lay in Valparaiso harbor and some of her crew (October 16th) went ashore as usual. A mob collected and drove the blue jackets back to the boats, killing two and wounding several. This was an insult not to be brooked. President Harrison demanded an immediate apology and indemnity. Chile at first was not disposed to agree to this, whereupon rapid preparations were made for war. At this Chile backed down and made the reparation demanded, though not with very good grace. The sum paid was $75,000. The body of the killed boatswain's mate, Charles W. Riggin, was disinterred, taken to his home in Philadelphia, and lay in state in Independence Hall, and was buried with military and popular honors.
In 1889 Dom Pedro was driven from his throne as Emperor of Brazil and a republic was established.
A dispute with Great Britain was submitted to arbitration. Claiming the sole right to catch seals in Bering Sea, the United States government had seized some Canadian vessels engaged in shooting seals on the high seas. Our contention was that we owned the seals. The matter was decided against us, and we paid the damages.
Various political and personal reasons explain the return of Mr. Cleveland to power in 1892. The electoral vote was: Cleveland, 277; Harrison, 145. The popular vote was: Cleveland, 5,556,562; Harrison, 5,162,874.
A modification of the McKinley tariff act was enacted, the President refusing to sign the measure as altered by the Senate.
There was no partisan legislation during the rest of Cleveland's administration. In both of his terms Mr. Cleveland largely extended the scope of the civil service law, for which he was criticised by Republicans, who claimed that he first allowed departments to be filled with Democrats. Much dissatisfaction also was caused by the fact that the bonded indebtedness was increased $262,000,000. Part of this was to pay expenses, but most of it to maintain gold payments during the silver excitement. One contract made by the administration with a Wall street syndicate for bonds at a low price which the latter sold at a high price, caused great dissatisfaction. It was necessary, however, to get gold, as the "endless chain" worked rapidly.