Public Events and Presidential Elections: Venezuela and Sioux

The important foreign episode of the administration was a controversy with Great Britain over the Venezuela boundary. For many years there had been a dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela as to the boundary line between the latter and British Guiana. The matter came to a crisis when gold was found in the disputed country. Great Britain finally laid down a line as its minimum boundary and brought matters to a crisis by offering to arbitrate only over a small amount of territory in dispute. In this situation, invoking the Monroe Doctrine, Mr. Cleveland sent an ultimatum, with an implied threat of war, that the whole subject must be arbitrated. The ultimatum admitted of no compromise, and was so brusque that war seemed inevitable if Great Britain refused, as seemed likely, to accede to our demands. She did accede, and the matter was submitted to arbitration. The message to Congress, sent December 17, 1895, caused a small panic in financial circles, as it was believed that war was inevitable.

Populism and free silver had much to do with the campaign of 1896. Mr. McKinley was the Republican candidate. The Democratic Convention nominated William J. Bryan, of Nebraska, a brilliant orator and former Congressman, who had hardly been mentioned for the place, but who carried the Convention by storm in an eloquent speech for free silver. Arthur Sewall, of Maine, a prominent ship-builder and capitalist, got second honors. McKinley won in November, with Garret A. Hobart, of New Jersey, as Vice-President. The electoral vote was: McKinley, 271; Bryan, 176. The popular vote was: McKinley, 7,107,822; Bryan, 6,288,866.

Esteeming the tariff question of prime necessity, an extra session of Congress was called. Mr. Dingley prepared a new high protective measure, which passed both houses after many amendments, and became a law in 1897. Manufactories once more became busy, and a sudden rise in the price of wheat, due to an unusual foreign demand, aided powerfully in restoring prosperity. In the year 1898 the foreign trade balance was more than $600,000,000 in our favor, the domestic trade was the greatest ever known, while railroads and other enterprises largely increased their earnings.

Several conflicts with Indians had occurred subsequent to the Civil War. A massacre of settlers in Minnesota was followed by severe punishment and the tribes migrated to Dakota. In 1866 a two years' war broke out because of attacks on gold-seekers who passed through the Sioux reservation. In 1876 the movement against the Sioux resulted in the massacre of General Custer and his force of two hundred and fifty cavalry. Other encounters have periodically occurred, but the educational efforts with young Indians at the Carlisle school are having excellent results and promise still better.

The unexampled prosperity of the country has been demonstrated to the world from time to time, the first notable exhibition being that of 1876.

In the last year of Grant's term was held the exhibition at Philadelphia, to celebrate the Centennial of American liberty. Philadelphia was selected because the Declaration of Independence was signed there. It was by far the greatest world's fair that had been held up to that time. The city set aside a large portion of Fairmount Park for the purpose, and here were erected six large buildings and hundreds of smaller ones. The expense was borne largely by local enterprise, but the Government loaned $1,500,000, which was repaid. The total expense was $8,500,000, part of which was defrayed by the city, and part by the State. The rest was raised by subscription to stock in the enterprise, a portion of which was repaid. The total number of visitors was just under 10,000,000, and the largest on any one day was 274,919. The exposition was open from May 10 to November 10, except Sundays, a total of 159 days. It was opened with appropriate ceremonies by President Grant and Emperor Dom Pedro, of Brazil.

The exhibits came from all parts of the world, and for the first time in our history our people had an opportunity to compare their own products with those of other nations. The visitors likewise came from all over the world, and the result was most gratifying. While it was discovered that in the useful arts, particularly in machinery, our own country was in the lead, it was found that in the decorative arts we were far in the rear. It is impossible to estimate the effect of this exhibition upon the refinement and culture of the great masses of the people. Heretofore most of our energies had been directed towards getting the necessaries and comforts of life and developing our great resources; there was a natural pride over our accomplishments in many walks of life that led us to underestimate the rest of the world; but when the people beheld what the older nations accomplished, their respect grew, and many valuable lessons were learned. The decoration of houses has proceeded rapidly since that time, and the uses of color have been extended. Our artists and artisans got new ideas, and originality was stimulated so that our fabrics and artistic designs of all kinds are in most cases equal to any in the world and very often far superior. It is in teaching such lessons as these, and in educating those who have few advantages of travel, that such exhibitions are of the highest value. Thirty-eight foreign governments took part in the exhibition.