of the Navy, other officials in Washington, and personal friends of the "high contracting parties."

A resolution was introduced into the Senate in June (1886), proposing an amendment to the Constitution to prohibit Polygamy within the bounds of the Republic; defining marriage, and providing punishment for those who should violate the laws to regulate the institution in accordance with the definition of marriage.

Numerous private pension bills were presented to the President from time to time, many of which on careful examination he felt constrained to veto. His first veto message was issued early in May, 1885. From that time. until 1888 he sent back to Congress about one hundred vetoed bills.

Early in Mr. Cleveland's administration vexatious treatment of American fishermen by the authorities of the Dominion of Canada, occurred. They fitted out cruisers to observe and prevent any encroachment of American fishermen within Canadian waters, and these annoyed the fishermen and produced great irritation. Matters were assuming such a threatening aspect that the Secretary of State opened correspondence on the subject in July, 1886, with the British minister at Washington, which finally led to the negotiation of a treaty early in 1888, the avowed object of which was the removal of all causes of misunderstanding in relation to the treaty of October, 1818, and the "promotion of friendly intercourse and good neighborhood between the United States and the possessions of her Majesty in North America." It agreed to the appointment of a mixed commission to carry out the terms of the treaty. Late in August, (1888) the Senate of the United States rejected the treaty, whereupon the President, in an exhaustive message, asked for fuller powers to enforce retaliatory measures toward Canada, in accordance with a former law of Congress, authorizing retaliatory Acts.

On the day before the adjournment of Congress early in August (1886) the President submitted to the Senate a new extradition treaty with Japan, which covered more offenses than any other similar treaty with foreign powers. It was suggested by the Japanese government.

At the close of August the most destructive earthquake ever felt in this country occurred most severely, at Charleston, S. C., and vicinity. There were ten principal shocks at Charleston, between the night of August 27th and September 1st. The tremor was felt over an area of 900,000 square miles, or one quarter of the United States. The most destructive shock occurred on the night of August 31st. It destroyed many buildings and

about forty lives (a large portion of them among the Negro population), and more or less injured almost every structure in Charleston. People rushed from their houses and encamped in the streets. The Negroes, believing that the world was coming to an end, huddled in groups at the corners of the streets, shouted incoherent prayers and sang hymns, while the groans of the wounded and dying swelled the dreadful chorus. It was truly a night of horrors in the stricken city. The sympathy of the whole country for the sufferers was instantly aroused and munificent aid was sent to the authorities of Charleston. Its shattered and ruined buildings were soon repaired or rebuilt, and prosperity soon made the city glad.

An effort was made among the Temperance members of the Republican party to make the doctrine of sobriety a leading feature in its character. For that purpose a "Republican Anti-Saloon League" was formed in many parts of the Union, and in Sept., 1886, a National organization was effected at a convention held at Chicago, which was attended by about 200 delegates, who represented sixteen States and one Territory. A National Committee was appointed, with Albert Griffin of Kansas, the originator of the movement, as chairman.

The Bartholdi statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World," presented by the French people to those of the United States, was unveiled in New York Harbor, on Oct. 24th, 1886. It was a gala day in the city and harbor, though the weather was inclement. The event was celebrated by an immense procession in the city, and a gathering of a vast multitude of water-craft of every description in the harbor, laden with men, women and children. The imposing special services of the occasion were observed on a platform in front of the Statue, on Bedloe's Island, in the afternoon. There was an opening prayer, a presentation address by Count de Lesseps, the constructor of the Suez and Panama Canals, an address of acceptance by the President of the United States, and speeches by Senator Evarts and Chauncey M. Depew.

At about the middle of the following month, ex-President Arthur died, when the President ordered the Executive Mansion and the Government buildings to be draped in mourning for thirty days.

In January, 1887, a bill was reported in the Senate to incorporate the Maritime Canal Company, and a resolution calling on the President to enter into negotiations with the Government of Nicaragua, with a view to obtaining concessions from, and entering into a convention with that Republic for the construction of a Ship Canal through the State of Nicaragua from the Atlantic

to the Pacific oceans, the canal to be built either by the United States govern ment or its citizens. At about the same time an act was passed to create a Department of Agriculture and Labor.

An Inter-State Commerce Act-a most important measure-for the regulation of traffic between the States, whether the transportation shall be by railroad or otherwise, was adopted on January 21st, 1887. The President immediately appointed five Commissioners to carry out the designs of the Act. On the same day the Senate ratified a new treaty with the Hawaiian government, which extends the commercial relations of the United States with the islands for some years. On May 4th, the Queen of Hawaii arrived at Washington on her way to attend the Jubilee of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain.

The Centennial celebration of the adoption of the form of the National Constitution, by a convention at Philadelphia at the middle of September, 1787, was celebrated in that city during three days (Sept. 15, 16, 17, 1887), ́ with imposing civic and military parades, ovations, et cetera. The more intellectual proceedings occurred on Saturday the 17th, when the President of the United States and Justice Miller of the Supreme Court made addresses. The form of the constitution was agreed to on Sept. 15, and it was signed by the members of the Convention, on the 17th, 1787.

The first session of the Fiftieth Congress began on December 4th, 1887. The most prominent topic of the President's annual message was revenue reform, the curtailment of the receipts of Customs duties, and the reduction of the enormous accumulation of hoarded coin in the treasury. He recommended a reduction of tariff taxes, which were necessarily imposed for war purposes. The message caused the subject of a tariff for "revenue" and a tariff for "protection" to become a vital question at issue in the Presidential campaign of 1888. There being a difference of opinion on the subject by members of the two great political parties, made the issue of the campaign extremely doubtful and intensified its conduct.

In January, 1888, the President nominated L. Q. C. Lamar, his Secretary of the Interior, to a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States. In expectation of the nomination, the Secretary had resigned his position in the Cabinet on the 7th of January.

The great miners' strike in the Schuylkill coal region that so affected the Reading railroad and the coal supply of the country, ended at about the middle of February by agreement, when 20,000 laborers who had been idle for weeks resumed work.

On the first of March, Mr. Mills, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, made public their tariff bill, known as the "Mills Bill." Its general plan is based on the suggestions of the President's last annual message, recommending tariff reform by reducing the rate of duties imposed on certain articles. It caused long and earnest debates in and out of Congress. The Bill passed the House of Representatives, in which the Democrats had a majority, on July 13th, but was opposed by the Senate, in which the Republicans preponderated in numbers.

Early in March, 1888, the German population of our country were deeply moved by tidings of the death of the aged Emperor of Germany, who was ninety-one years of age. The President of the United States directed the American minister at Berlin to make known that "the death of the venerable Emperor had deeply aroused the sorrow and sympathy of the people and government of the United States."

The most severe storm of snow and wind ever known in the Middle and Eastern States of the Union, was experienced in that region on the 12th and 13th of March. It was like a genuine "blizzard" of the Western States. It paralyzed all human operations out of doors for several days, preventing transportation of every kind, and almost every kind of labor but shovelling

snow.

Morrison R. Waite, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United' States, died on March 23d, and was succeeded on the 20th of July following by Melville W. Fuller, of Illinois.

regu

The text of a treaty with China concluded in 1880 for the purpose of lating, limiting or suspending the arriving of Chinese laborers to, and residence in, the United States, was made public at about the beginning of April. Soon afterwards a bill for the restriction of Chinese immigrants to Chinese officials, teachers, students, merchants or travellers for pleasure or curiosity, with the permission of their government, these persons identified by certificates, and the repeal of the Chinese act of May 6th, 1880, introduced into the House of Representatives late in April 1888. The Chinese government rejected the Treaty, and the Chinese Emigrant Restriction Bill was passed in September. At about the same time a bill for the division of the Territory of Dakota, and constituting the southern half a State bearing that name, and the northern part a Territory named Lincoln, passed the Senate. It was defeated in the House.

Lieutenant-General Sheridan, commander-in-chief of the armies of the

United States, was prostrated at his residence in Washington by the effects of "fatty degeneration of the heart" at near the close of May. On the first of June he was given the rank and commission of "General." He lingered between life and death until August 5th, when he died at his cottage home at Nonquitt, Massachusetts.

Since 1884, a third political party, known as the "Prohibition Party," which labors for the prohibition of the manufacture, importation and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, has rapidly increased in strength, and has assumed a national character. The Prohibitionists held a national Convention at Indianapolis on the 30th and 31st of May, nominated General Clinton B. Fiske of New York for President of the United States, and John A. Brooks of Missouri for Vice-President, and adopted a national platform. A Democratic National Convention, held at St. Louis on June 5, 6, and 7th nominated President Cleveland for the high position he occupied, and Allen G. Thurman of Ohio for Vice-President. They adopted a platform of principles in agreement with the President's annual message in December, 1887. The Republicans held their National Convention at Chicago from June 19th to June 25th. There were many candidates for the presidency, nineteen persons receiving one or more votes for the nomination. They also adopted a platform of principles. They nominated General Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, a 'grandson of President W. H. Harrison, for President, and Levi P. Morton, of New York, for Vice-President.

On the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, soldiers of the National and Confederate armies who were engaged in that decisive struggle met in friendly reunion. The special re-union ceremonies were held in the National Cemetery and the most cordial good feeling prevailed.

During the months of August and September (1888) the city of Jacksonville, Florida, was frightfully scourged by yellow fever, while the rest of the Union seems to have been almost entirely free from the dreaded pestilence. The first session of the Fifty-first Congress closed on October 20. It was the longest session of Congress ever held. Ten days afterwards (October 30) the British Minister at Washington, Lord Sackville West, was dismissed by the President, for words uttered in a reply to a correspondent in California who made insinuations of bad faith and deception on the part of the President, in his dealings with the fishery question. In his reply, the Minister acquiesced in his correspondent's opinions of the character of the President. His letter was marked "private." As fore-determined by the correspondent, it