12. Printing, Newspapers, and Books.-The improvements made in this country in the means of spreading information, have kept pace with every other kind of civil progress. The press, that mighty engine of civilization, has been ever busy-ever increasing its power to meet the

*

demands of the people for knowledge. In 1898 twenty thousand periodicals were issued in the United States, from every day to quarterly; and the number of books published in the same time was nearly five thousand.

13. Literature.—American literature is rich in works of genius. The writings of Washington

Irving are everywhere admired for their easy, natural, and beautiful style, their kindly influence, and playful

* Washington Irving was born in New York city, in 1783. He at first devoted himself to legal studies, which he soon abandoned for the pursuits of literature. His first writings consisted of contributions to the " Morning Chronicle," a journal edited by his brother, Peter Irving. "Salmagundi" appeared in 1807, a series of amusing articles' partly written by himself, James K. Paulding, and his brothers, Peter and William. The production which first gave him a decided reputation was the famous "History of New York, by Diedrich Knickerbocker," published in 1809. This is a work of inimitable humor, and was read with the greatest delight on both sides of the Atlantic. Sir Walter Scott was charmed with it. The "Sketch Book" was published in London, and greatly increased the author's reputation. It contains some of the most beautiful and touching pieces of composition in the language. He also published "Life and Voyages of Columbus," "The Alhambra," "Bracebridge Hall," "Life of Washington," and many other popular works. Irving died at Tarrytown in 1859.

12. The press? What is said of it? Periodicals? Books? 13. American literature? Irving? Cooper? Bancroft, etc.?

humor.

Cooper, the American novelist, has never been surpassed in the power of description, particularly of the peculiar features of Indian life, and life on the ocean. Bancroft, Hil

dreth, Prescott,

and Motley, stand among the

best writers of history the world has ever produced. The History of the United States, by George Bancroft, is a work of wide-spread fame. It occupied many years of its gifted author's life, and is

read in every part of the world.

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT

14. American poets may justly claim a place with the most celebrated of all countries. William Cullen Bryant t has written poems which must be as lasting as the language

* George Bancroft was born at Worcester, Mass., in the year 1800. He early manifested remarkable talent, graduating at Harvard College with the highest honors, at the age of seventeen. The publication of his great work, "The History of the United States, was commenced in 1834. He filled several important political offices, dying in 1891.

+ William Cullen Bryant was born in Massachusetts in 1794, and died in 1878. He was distinguished not only as a poet but as a journalist.

itself. There are few school children who have not learned to admire "Thanatopsis," the "Planting of the Apple Tree," and a host of others, which have been used as the means of cultivating the taste of our youth, and impressing upon their minds sentiments of truth, beauty, and tenderness. * Longfellow and Whittier must also be added as among the great poets, not only of our own country, but of the world. This brief list would be greatly extended if we should include all who have achieved for themselves fame, and added luster to the literature of their country.

CHAPTER XXII

Recent Administrations

1. Twenty-eighth Presidential Election.-The Republicans were the first to move.

Their platform of “facts

and principles" favored a protective tariff, and opposed the "free coinage of silver except by international agreement with the leading commercial nations of the world." For President they nominated William McKinley, of Ohio. Their candidate for Vice-President was Garret A. Hobart, of New Jersey.

2. The Democrats "demanded the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the present legal rate of 16 to 1," meaning that 16 ounces of coined silver should be

*Henry W. Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, in 1807. He held the position of professor in Bowdoin and Harvard Colleges. His chief poems are "Evangeline" and "Hiawatha "; but many of his minor pieces are very widely popular. He died in 1882. ↑ John G. Whittier was born near Haverhill, in Massachusetts, in 1807. His death occurred in 1892.

equal, as money, to 1 ounce of gold. They put in nomination for President, William J. Bryan, of Nebraska, and Arthur Sewall, of Maine, for Vice-President. This demand as to the free coinage of silver displeased many “Sound Money Democrats," in consequence of which a Democratic National Convention was held, when other candidates were put in nomination, not, however, with any expectation of winning, but to help the Republicans.

3. The Populists followed the lead of the Democrats in respect to the coinage of silver and gold, and also nominated William J. Bryan, for President. Other parties made nominations; but the contest was mainly between the Republicans and the Democrats. After the most exciting canvass since the great Civil War, the Republicans were successful (November 3, 1896).

4. Venezuela and the Monroe Doctrine.-A month later President Cleveland's last annual message was sent to Congress. In it he announced that the long-standing dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela in regard to the boundary between the latter republic and British Guiana was about to be settled by arbitration, as had been proposed by our government. In a previous message he had declared "that this government is firmly opposed to a forcible increase by any European power of territorial possessions on this continent." This was said under a conviction that the

Text Questions.-1, 2, 3. How was the Presidential canvass in 1896 opened ? What stand did the Republicans make as to the coinage of money? The Democrats? The Populists? How were the Democrats divided? What candidates were put in nomination? What was the result of the election? 4. What announcement was made as to Venezuela? What previous declaration had been made? What induced Cleveland to make that declaration? What do you understand by the Monroe Doctrine? How does Cleveland's declaration differ from Monroe's (note)? What is said of a commission ?

English meant to seize the lands in dispute, and was a new form of the declaration made by President Monroe seventythree years before, hence known as the Monroe Doctrine.* Congress consenting, the President appointed a commission of four persons to determine the true division line between Venezuela and British Guiana," but before the commission was ready to

WILLIAM MCKINLEY

66

of March, 1897, at the age of fifty-four years, he is the President of the United States.

6. Insurrection in Cuba.-We were at peace with all nations, but our relations with Spain, growing out of the in

*Monroe declared that "as a principle, the American continents are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power" (1823).

5. Who succeeded Cleveland as President? When was McKinley inaugurated? How old was he then? State what you can of his previous life. 6. How is Cuba situated? State what you can of its history to 1898 (p. 23). How were the people there treated by Spain? What offer was made by President Grant?