I. Grant to McKinley (1869–1901)

1537. Diamond, Sigmund, ed. The Nation transformed; the creation of an industrial society. New York, G. Braziller, 1963. xiv, 528 p. 63–17876HN57.D53

Bibliography: p. 524–528.

A selection of writings on the Gilded Age, stressing its economic, social, and intellectual developments. The accelerated growth of industry altered the existing environment and created numerous problems in American society. At the turn of the century, the American people realized that organized programs were needed to cope with the changing economy and the glaring inequalities that it had produced. The Nationalizing of American Life, 1877–1900 (New York, Free Press [1965] 338 p. Sources in American history, 6), edited by Ray Ginger, is another series of excerpts pertaining to the political, economic, social, and cultural problems of the age. The Glided Age, a Reappraisal ([Syracuse, N.Y.] Syracuse University Press, 1963. 286 p.), edited by Howard Wayne Morgan, consists of essays by 10 historians on American life during this period. John S. Blay’s After the Civil War; a Pictorial Profile of America from 1865 to 1900 (New York, Crowell [1960] 312 p.), reflects the transformation of the United States during this 35-year span.

1538. Faulkner, Harold U. Politics, reform, and expansion, 1890–1900. New York, Harper[1959] 312 p. illus. (The New American Nation series) 56–6022 E661.F3. Bibliography: p. 281–304.

A descriptive history, concentrating on the political, economic, social, and expansionist activities of the United States. Faulkner notes that the shift from a predominantly rural and agricultural environment to an urban and industrial society caused profound changes in the economic and social structure of the Nation. During this decade reform movements were initiated to cope with the problems of a modern industrial state, and the country moved from a position of relative isolation to one of involvement in world politics. The victory over Spain and the imperialism which resulted from it, according to Faulkner, signaled the dawn of a new age. The 1890’s were a watershed separating "not only two centuries but two eras in American history ."

1539. Glad, Paul W. McKinley, Bryan, and the people. Philadelphia, Lippincott [1964] 222 p. (Critical periods of history) 64–11853 E710.G55

"Bibliographical essay": p. 211–218.

During the campaign of 1896 both William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic and Populist nominee, and William McKinley, the Republican candidate, emerged as spokesmen for a particular economic order and the social values connected with it. McKinley was a representative of business and industry and subscribed to the concept of the "self-made man." William Jennings Bryan represented an agrarian ideal that stressed the role of the independent yeoman farmer in the tradition of Jefferson. The author considers that the election of 1896 signified the triumph of industrialism over agrarianism. Henceforth farmers would no longer play their previously powerful role in American politics.

1540. Hayes, Rutherford B., Pres. U.S. Hayes: the diary of a President, 1875–1881, covering the disputed election, the end of Reconstruction, and the beginning of civil service. Edited by T. Harry Williams. New York, D. McKay Co. [1964] 329 p. 64–10784 E682.H48

The diary of Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893) covers his nomination for the Presidency, the 1876 campaign, the controversial election and its outcome, and his record as Chief Executive. Not a day-to-day journal, it is significant for Hayes’ comments on the end of Reconstruction, the Republican Party, reform in the Gilded Age, the role of the President, and his relations with Congress. There is much detail on Hayes’ views on the money and currency question, civil service, and the strugglewith Congress over the rider bills. The diary also depicts the social activities of President Hayes and his wife. This edition, based on a typed copy of the original manuscript, includes an introduction, a chronology of Hayes’ administration, and biographical notes on his contemporaries. In Hayes of the Twenty-third; the Civil War Volunteer Officer (New York, Knopf, 1965. 324 p.), T. Harry Williams studies Hayes’ four-year service in the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

1541. Hays, Samuel P. The response to industrialism, 1885–1914. [Chicago] University of Chicago Press [1957] 210 p. (The Chicago history of American civilization) 57–6981 HC105.H35

The period discussed in this work was marked by vast changes in the American economic system. Technological innovation and industrial expansion greatly altered traditional functions of work and employment. The author states that industrialism provided for every American an opportunity to enjoy a higher standard of living, but it also demanded drastic changes in his life. "It forced upon every one a new atmosphere, a new setting, to which he had to adjust in his thought, play, worship, and work." During these years new political parties, such as the Populists, Progressives, and Socialists, sought in their programs to reform a society increasingly regimented and dehumanized by industrialism. Ray Ginger’s Age of Excess; the United States From 1877 to 1914 (New York, Macmillan [1965] 386 p.) aims at synthesizing the economic, social, cultural, and political issues of the Glided Age.

1542. Merrill, Horace S. Bourbon leader: Grover Cleveland and the Democratic Party. Edited by Oscar Handlin. Boston, Little, Brown [1957] 224 p. (The Library of American biography) 57–12002 E697.M4

"A Note on the sources": p. [209]–210.

A critical biography reappraising Grover Cleveland (1837–1908). The first Democratic President after the Civil War, Cleveland took office in 1885 but lost to Benjamin Harrison in 1888. He regained the Presidency in the election of 1892. During his early years in New York State politics, Cleveland had acquired a reputation for efficiency and honesty as an elected official. In 1884 he was the choice of the Bourbon Democrats, the most influential men in the party, to receive the presidential nomination. The Bourbon Democrats, "the conservative spokesmen of business," backed Cleveland during both of his administrations. By following Bourbon strategy, Cleveland ran two successful presidential campaigns on the platform of ending corruption and waste in governmental operations. The Cabinet Diary of William L. Wilson, 1896–1897 (Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press [1957] 276 p.), edited by Festus P. Summers, is a private account of the last 14 months of Cleveland’s second administration from the viewpoint of his Postmaster General. In "I Am a Democrat"; the Political Career of David Bennett Hill ([Syracuse, N.Y.] Syracuse University Press, 1961. 315 p.), Herbert J. Bass concentrates on Hill’s career as Governor of New York State, 1885–91, and his subsequent influence in the Democratic Party as U.S. Senator, 1892–97.

1543. Morgan, Howard Wayne. William McKinley and his America. [Syracuse, N.Y.] Syracuse University Press, 1963. 595 p. illus. 63–19723 E711.6.M7

Bibliographical references included in "Notes to chapters."

This biography presents William McKinley (1843–1901) as a transitional figure in the history of the American Presidency. He had neither the conservative views of Cleveland, his predecessor, nor the modern ones of Theodore Roosevelt, who followed him. The author places special emphasis on McKinley’s 30-year career in national politics and illustrates his role as an internationalist in the formulation of American foreign policy. He also shows that, contrary to current historical interpretations, McKinley sympathized with labor and outlived his rigid conservatism on the tariff question. The 25th President, Morgan maintains, was of much stronger moral and political vision than is usually recognized. McKinley Republicanism helped restore confidence and prosperity to a depression-stricken generation. In the Days of McKinley (New York, Harper [1959] 686 p.), by Margaret Leech, is a detailed review of McKinley’s first administration.

1544. Nye, Russel B. Midwestern progressive politics; a historical study of its origins and development, 1870–1958. [East Lansing] Michigan State University Press [1959] 398 p. 58–9111 F354.N8 1959

An updated edition of no. 3446 in the 1960 Guide. In The Populist Response to Industrial America; Midwestern Populist Thought (Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1962. 166 p.), Norman Pollack considers Populism as "a progressive social force" and the Populist Party as a group seeking to alleviate the economic and social inequalities created by industrialism. Ignatius Donnelly; the Portrait of a Politician ([Chicago]University of ChicagoPress [1962] 427 p.), by Martin Ridge, is a full-length treatment of the Minnesota reformer and Congressman.

1545. Sage, Leland L. William Boyd Allison; a study in practical politics. Iowa City, State Historical Society of Iowa, 1956. 401 p. illus. 56–63186 E664.A43S3

"Bibliography: manuscript collections": p. 333–334. Bibliographical references included in "Footnotes" (p. 335–383).

William Boyd Allison (1829–1908) represented the State of Iowa in the U.S. Congress for 43 years. His political career began in 1863 with his election as a Republican to the House of Representatives, where he served for eight years. He was elected Senator in 1872 and continued in that office for six terms. Allison maintained a high standing in the Republican Party and was a serious contender for the presidential nomination in 1888. He was offered Cabinet positions during the administrations of Garfield, Harrison, and McKinley but chose to retain the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee instead. The Iowa Senator is perhaps best remembered for the bill bearing his name, the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, which provided for the coinage of silver dollars. Shelby M. Cullom, Prairie State Republican (Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1962. 328 p. Illinois studies in the social sciences, v. 51), by James W. Neilson, is a biography of the U.S. Senator from Illinois who was instrumental in establishing the Interstate Commerce Commission.

1546. Sievers, Harry J. Benjamin Harrison. Introduction by Hilton U. Brown. Chicago, H. Regnery Co., 1952–[59] 2 v. illus. 67–27226 E702.S54

Vol. 2 has imprint: New York, University Publishers.

Bibliography at end of each volume.

CONTENTS.—1. Hoosier warrior, 1833–1865.—2. Hoosier statesman; from the Civil War to the White House, 1865–1888.

The first two volumes of this projected three-volume study of Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901) chronicle his rise from local political leadership in Indiana to his election as the 23d President in 1888. Volume 1 covers Harrison’s early life through his Civil War service as a Union officer. After the war Harrison returned to his law practice in Indianapolis and reentered State politics. He was defeated in the gubernatorial election of 1876 but was elected U.S. Senator five years later. Harrison was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate in 1888 to run against Grover Cleveland. Although Cleveland received a plurality of the popular vote, Harrison was elected with a majority of the electoral votes. A second edition, revised, of the first volume of this biography, Hoosier Warrior; Through the Civil War Years, 1833–1865 (New York, University Publishers [c1960] 374 p.) contains a new preface and an enlarged index.