party named Wharton Barker of Pennsylvania. The Socialist Democratic party named Eugene V. Debs of Indiana; the Socialist Labor party, Joseph F. Maloney of Massachusetts. The Union Reform, or Direct Legislation party named Seth H. Ellis of Ohio.

It will be seen from this statement of the number of parties appearing since the war that the tendency of the American people has been more and more in the direction of independence in voting. However, the Democratic and Republican parties have held the contest pretty closely in hand, and are to-day the two large parties before the American people. The only other party for political honors which has secured a vote in the electoral college since the civil war is the People's party, which secured, as already stated, twenty-two votes in the contest of 1892.

NATIONAL FEELING

704. The New Unionism.-The way for a future union was cleared by the Declaration of Independence; a form of union was created by the constitution; a real union exists only in ihe hearts of the people. For over a century we have been slowly filling out the form of union. The task has caused much strife, several compromises, and one war. Only by bitter experience have we learned that union is necessary for our peace and happiness. Much of this trouble might have been avoided if the people had not been so widely scattered that misunderstandings could easily arise. Mountains, dense forests, and broad plains frequently separated one portion from another. At the present time, distance is annihilated by four great agencies which have been highly developed in America-the locomotive, the newspaper, the telegraph, and the telephone. The whole people have become so united by business, by friendships, by family relations, by sympathy and by national pride in their mutual achievements, that a union of hearts has replaced the earlier union

of form.

We no longer say as did our fathers "The United States are," but we say "The United States is."

705. The New American Era.-It is a common saying that since the recent war with Spain the United States has entered upon a new era; that it has adopted a policy of holding colonies; and that it has taken its place among the nations of the world. Although this country was never entirely separated from the other nations during the century of its home development, nevertheless the holding of such scattered possessions as colonies must give it a share in the world councils. It will also be obliged to adjust its home affairs to the welfare of its colonies. All this will be the work of years.

How can the United States succeed in the future as it has succeeded in the past? Only by holding true to the high ideals which prompted the fathers in their work; only by cultivating national honesty and national pride; only by realizing that we are the heirs of the ages and that we have inherited the evils of the past, which we must cast out, as well as the good of the past which we must preserve. Above all, we shall prosper and be safe only by each member of the republic assuming his full share of the public duties; by voting at each election, if that right shall have been granted him, for the best candidate; by refusing to sell this precious birthright; by paying his just share of the public taxes; by accepting office, if he can fill it, whether it pays a salary or not; and by always speaking well instead of ill of the great republic which God and our fathers have given to us.

HISTORICAL TABLES

STATES AND TERRITORIES, SETTLEMENT, ADMISSION, POPULATION, AREAS

$22,071,594

Illinois ..............