secured an excellent naval harbor at Pago Pago. The English and Germans, just as keen for trade as the Americans, also sought to obtain a footing in Samoa. The consequences were, first, troubles with the natives, and then quarrels among the three powers for the control of the islands. These disputes became particularly acute during Harrison's administration. In 1889 the three nations appointed members to a joint conference to settle the status of the islands and the rights of each nation in them. It was agreed that there should be a joint protectorate. This was impracticable, for it virtually left the troublesome situation unchanged. There was more trouble, and in 1899 the affair was finally settled by dividing the islands between Germany and the United States.

Of more importance was the position of the Sandwich Islands. The value of these in helping to secure the trade of the far east had been perceived as early as 1850. But nothing was done to secure a foothold. In 1893, a revolution led by resident Americans, broke out in Hawaii. The native queen, Liliuokalani, was deposed and a republic set up. The new governors sought at once to place Hawaii under the care of the United States. A treaty of annexation was quickly drawn up, and sent by President Harrison to the senate. Before that body could act Harrison had retired from office, and his successor withdrew the treaty. For the time being the islands were left to their own devices.

660. Campaign of 1892. In this year, owing to the McKinley Act, the tariff was again the predominating issue between the parties. Again the candidates were Harrison and Cleveland, but this time Cleveland was elected over Harrison by a vote in the electoral college of 277 to 145. Adlai E. Stevenson was elected vice-president.

CLEVELAND'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION

DEMOCRATIC: 1893-1897

661. The Panic of 1893: Sherman Act Repealed.—Before any attention could be given to the tariff, a much more

pressing problem forced itself upon public notice. The demand that silver should be placed on the same footing with gold had grown stronger with the passage of time. Yet silver did not cease to sink in value, and by 1890 the silver in a dollar was worth only a little over half that sum in gold. Nevertheless, in that year a new law, called the Sherman Act, increased the amount of silver purchased in each month to 4,500,000 ounces, for which treasury notes were issued by the government. But silver coin was not yet receivable in payment of all debts. Many believed that silver now threatened to drive gold out of the country, and thus make it impossible to pay debts excepting in silver. In 1893 a terrible financial panic overran the country, and the opponents of silver coinage declared that it was due to the silver law. However this may be, business men were panic-stricken; no one would lend money, and creditors tried to force those who owed them to pay their debts at once. This state of affairs was ruinous to business. Consequently trade ceased, firms began to break; laboring men were thrown out of work, and extreme suffering resulted. In August, 1893, therefore, President Cleveland called a special session of congress to repeal the Sherman Act. Driven on by the president and the pressure of public opinion congress did so. But the panic was not ended. The silver advocates said that this proved that silver had nothing to do with it; the opponents of silver said that silver had started the panic, and that once started a panic could not be stopped immediately.

662. The Wilson Bill-1894: The Income Tax.-Congress now turned its attention to the tariff. The result was the

the efforts of Presi

Wilson Bill of 1894, which, in spite of dent Cleveland, left many high duties. An income tax was also passed in connection with the tariff, but the supreme court soon declared the law unconstitutional.

663. Cleveland and the Monroe Doctrine. -For many years trouble had been brewing between England and the little

The cause lay in the

South American state of Venezuela. rival claims of the two countries to gold-producing lands in South America. The boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela had never been clearly defined, and both parties claimed all the territory in dispute. As Great Britain was the stronger power and would not listen to the proposal of arbitration, Venezuela was sure to lose in the end. So she appealed to the United States. Cleveland and his secretary of state, Richard Olney, agreed that the Monroe doctrine was applicable to the case. Consequently in his message of 1895 the president insisted that Great Britain should submit the dispute to arbitration. Many of the English people were astounded and enraged at what they considered American impudence, and for a few weeks even a resort to war was talked of on both sides of the Atlantic. England, however, was unwilling to go so far, and finally consented to arbitration.

664. New States. In 1876, Colorado had become a state. In November, 1889, the territory of Dakota was cut in two and the states of North and South Dakota created, while Montana and Washington followed as new members of the union a few days later. The next year, 1890, Idaho and Wyoming were admitted, and in 1896 Utah became the forty-fifth state. This increase in the number of states is a remarkable witness to the rapid growth of the United States.

665. Oklahoma.-Another evidence of the same rapid development of the country was seen in the settlement of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Territory was created in 1890 out of the western part of Indian Territory. Settlers immediately rushed in; cities and towns grew up in a few months, and to-day the territory has a population of nearly a half million, a much larger number than some of the states can boast. The inhabitants have petitioned for admission to the union as a state, a petition which must shortly be granted.

666. The Presidential Campaign of 1896.—In the presidential campaign of 1896 the Democrats declared for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of "sixteen to one," while the Republicans declared for a single gold standard. Three distinct political parties, the Democrats, the People's party, and the Free Silver Republican party, nominated William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska as their candidate. The Republicans nominated William McKinley of Ohio. McKinley was elected by a vote in the electoral college of 271 to 176 cast for Mr. Bryan. G. A. Hobart of New Jersey was elected vice-president.

MCKINLEY AND ROOSEVELT'S ADMINISTRATION

REPUBLICAN: 1897

667. William McKinley, the twenty-fourth president of the United States, was educated at Poland Academy, Ohio. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the union army, and rose to the rank of brevet-major. In 1867 he began the practice of law. In 1877 he was elected as a representative to congress, and remained there until 1890. He was then elected governor of Ohio, which position he held for two terms. 1896 he became president of the United States, and was reëlected in 1900. In September, 1901, he was assassinated at Buffalo, New York.

In

McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio, January 29, 1843, and died at Buffalo, New York, September 14, 1901.

668. The Dingley Tariff: The Gold Law.-Though the tariff issue had not played a conspicuous part in the campaign of 1896, many Republicans wished to repeal the Wilson Bill and restore high duties. Consequently, as soon as McKinley was made president, he summoned a special session of congress to pass a tariff act. The result was the Dingley tariff of 1897. The Gold Standard Act, making the gold dollar the standard of value, was passed by congress in March, 1900.

669. Cuban Affairs.-The misgovernment of Spain in Cuba gave rise to endless annoyance to the United States,