CHAPTER XXXIX WILLIAM MCKINLEY'S ADMINISTRATION REPUBLICAN-1897-1901 678. McKinley and Hobart Are Elected. At the election of 1896, William McKinley was elected by a majority of ninety five electoral votes over William J. Bryan. Garret A. Hobart was chosen Vice-president. William McKinley (1843-1901) was a native of Ohio. In the Civil War he rose to the rank of major; later he served as congressman from his state. Well educated, gentle, and dignified of character, he endeared himself to the people by his blameless private life, rare tact, and high executive ability. As a politician he was keen and farsighted and knew how to win the esteem and respect of his opponents. His presidential administration, though successful on the whole, was overshadowed by issues resulting from the Spanish War and the acquisition of outlying possessions. WILLIAM MCKINLEY 679. The Dingley Tariff. The Wilson Tariff Act did not secure sufficient revenue to meet the needs of the government; hence, a few days after his inauguration, President McKinley called an extra session of Congress to consider the revision of the tariff. As a result, the Dingley Tariff Bill, presented by Representative Dingley, was finally passed after much opposition from the Senate (1897). This act, in accordance with the policy of the party in power, was thoroughly protective, and raised the duties to the highest average known in our history (to over fifty per cent). Free trade on, articles not manufactured in our country was again provided for. 680. The Monetary Commission. In order to meet the demand of the monetary plank in the Republican platform of the campaign, the President appointed a monetary commission composed of three members, with Senator Wolcott of Colorado as chairman, to confer and if possible to reach an agreement with other countries concerning an international basis for the coinage of gold and silver. As England refused to enter into any negotiations, and as India had already suspended silver coinage, the commission did not attain the desired purpose. If it had succeeded, current coin would have had uniform value in the countries included in the international union. 681. The Gold Standard Act. The Republicans, in their platform of 1896, favored the maintenance of a "gold standard," but owing to the fact that the majority in the Senate was composed of Democrats and silver Republicans, it was difficult for the party to effect any monetary reform. An act was, however, finally passed (1900) which definitely adopted the "gold standard;" made provisions for the increase of the gold reserve fund to one hundred and fifty million dollars; provided for the establishment of national banks in smaller towns and villages, and authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to issue long-time two per cent bonds, and with the income of these to pay the shorter time three, four, and five per cent bonds. 1 The "gold standard bill" provides that the dollar containing twenty-five and eight-tenths grains of gold, nine-tenths pure, shall be the standard unit of value, and that all forms of money issued or coined by the United States shall be maintained at a parity of value with this standard. It imposes on the Secretary of the Treasury the duty of maintaining this parity. The two per cent refunding measure proved to be very successful. The significance of this measure may be seen from the fact that during its operation, the bonds of the United States bore lower interest than those of any other country; hence, for the first time in the history of the United States its credit was the best in the world. THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 682. The United States' Interest In Cuba. The problems of tariff revision and monetary reform were serious questions, but a grave international complication soon absorbed much of the thought and energy of the nation. Under the QueenMother Christina, regent for Alphonso XIII, Spain's difficulties with the United States about Cuba finally resulted in the Spanish-American War in 1898. Cuba and Porto Rico were the only possessions left to Spain in the New World after the loss of her colonies on the mainland of the American continent. From the time that Florida became a part of the United States, our government had taken a deep interest in Cuba, as it feared that it might pass from Spain to more aggressive hands, especially England or France. Cuba had, furthermore, previous to the Civil War, been much coveted by the southern slave power. President Polk (1848) offered Spain one hundred million dollars for Cuba, but that nation promptly rejected the offer. 683. Conditions in Cuba. Cuba, taken from Spain by the English (1762), was, by the Treaty of Paris, returned to its original owner in exchange for Florida. From this time the progress of the island was rapid under the reforms instituted by Luis Las Casas, the Spanish captain-general. During the nineteenth century, the Cubans were governed by a succession of captains-general, some of whom were honorable in their administrations, others of whom seemed to regard the office solely as a means of acquiring a fortune. A deadly hatred grew up between the Cubans and the Spaniards, which was caused by oppressive measures. These deprived the native Cubans of political and civil liberty, excluded them from public office, and burdened them with taxation. This resulted in repeated uprisings and a rebellion which, secretly supported in America, devastated Cuba for a period of ten years (1868-1878). Spain then promised the Cubans representation in the legislature, together with other needed reforms. Many of her promises were, however, not kept and a new revolt broke out (1895). Three successive governors-general, Campos, Weyler, and Blanco, were unable to suppress the insurrection, which was again secretly supported by American money and Cuban filibustering expeditions equipped in American harbors. The methods of the Spanish authorities in putting down the rebellion were barbarous and resulted in widespread desolation. The non-combatants of the rural population that sympathized with the insurgents were compelled to leave their homes and move to the nearest towns, where thousands died of starvation and disease. Congress voted that supplies be forwarded to the suffering Cubans, and members of the Red Cross Society, led by Clara Barton, went to Cuba to relieve distress. 684. Self-Government in Cuba. The sympathy of the United States was naturally with the Cubans: many Americans resided in Cuba; American capital was invested there, and our commerce with the island amounted to several million dollars a year. Hence, President McKinley undertook by diplomacy to bring Spain and the Cubans to agree upon terms of peace. 685. The Explosion of the Maine. The United States government, in fact, the entire American people, were watching Cuban affairs with intense interest, when, on the night of February 15, 1898, a terrific explosion destroyed the United States. battleship Maine in Havana harbor. Two officers and two hundred and sixty-six sailors went down with the vessel. Captain Sigsbee of the Maine, in his official dispatch to Secretary of the Navy Long, advised that public opinion be suspended. A naval court of inquiry, appointed by the President, finally reported that the disaster was in no way due to fault or negligence on the part of the officers or members of the crew of the Maine, and that there was no evidence to suggest that the Spanish government or any of her officials were concerned in the matter. The Spanish authorities rendered every kindly service within their power to Captain Sigsbee and the survivors. Sensationalists at once made use of the event to inflame the minds of the people against Spain, and the probability of peace or war between this country and the United States was at once openly discussed. In 1911 the Maine was raised at great expense for the purpose of ascertaining whether it was destroyed by a torpedo mine from without or by an explosion from within. Upon investigation, an official statement was made which substan'tially agreed with that of Captain Sigsbee, made some weeks after the disaster (1898), namely, that the Maine was first blown up from without, although the explosion of her own magazines a moment later caused her complete destruction. Notwithstanding the official but interested report of the government, an opinion, supported by weighty marine authority, is still common that the explosion was caused by an overheated magazine beneath the decks of the Maine. 686. Summary of Causes-Declaration of War. The Spanish-American War was of short duration (April 25, 1898-December 10, 1898). Its causes may be briefly summed up as follows: Remote The long existing desire in the United States that Spanish rule in Cuba be ended. The opportunity to bring this |