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CHAPTER 8 The Last Refuge of a Scoundrel Contemporary historia n Henr y Adam s sai d o f politic s i n th e Gilde d Age, "Th e perio d wa s poo r i n purpos e an d barre n i n results. " Hi s verdict—"One migh t searc h th e whol e lis t o f Congress , Judiciary, an d Executive durin g th e twenty-fiv e year s 1870—189 5 a n d find n t t 'e bu t damaged reputations"—remain s a popular one . That th e Gilde d Ag e leave s a n impressio n o f politica l stagnatio n i s largely du e t o it s processio n o f conservativ e presidents . B y compariso n with Gladston e an d Disrael i i n Englan d an d Bismarc k i n Germany , Lincoln's successor s cu t poo r figures a s statesmen . The y though t o f themselves a s administrators rathe r tha n a s party leaders . What author ity the y di d hav e wa s base d o n politica l influenc e rathe r tha n popula r appeal. Ulysses S. Grant (1869—77 ) wa s deceived b y his associates, wh o took advantag e o f hig h offic e fo r financial gain . Rutherfor d B . Haye s (1877—81) trie d t o resuscitat e th e presidenc y an d s o fel l ou t wit h hi s party. Jame s Garfiel d (1881 ) wa s fatall y wounde d thre e month s afte r taking offic e an d dea d afte r six . Cheste r A . Arthu r (1881—85 ) aban doned th e spoil s syste m tha t ha d sustaine d hi m an d wa s rejecte d b y hi s party. Grove r Clevelan d (1885—8 9 an d 1893—97 ) pursue d persona l prejudices rathe r tha n part y principle s an d lost the election of 188 8 by a fluke. Benjami n Harrison' s tenur e o f offic e (1889—93 ) w a s t n e nadi r o f 244 "15—14—13: Th e Great Presidential Puzzle. " A perplexed Senator Rosco e Conkling (18291888 ) o f Ne w York , autocrati c bos s o f th e Stalwar t Republican s oppose d t o civi l servic e reform, draw n wit h thistl e hai r an d a n intrusive , pointe d nose , use s bloc k heads o f pres idential aspirant s t o fin d a winner . Considerin g the controversia l contenders , Grant , Blaine , Butler, an d Sherman , Conklin g doe s no t kno w tha t th e Republicans ' compromis e an d victorious candidat e wil l tur n ou t t o b e Congressma n Jame s Garfiel d (183 1 —1881) o f Ohio. Garfield' s suppor t fo r civi l servic e refor m prompte d Conkling' s ras h resignatio n from th e Senat e an d ensure d hi s political exile. Conklin g eked out a few broken las t year s until h e wa s los t i n a terribl e snowstor m i n th e hars h winte r o f 188 8 an d die d o f exposure . (Lithograp h afte r Wale s reproduce d i n Puck o f Marc h 17 , 1880 ; Librar y o f Con gress .) presidential authority . Thus , i n popula r legen d a s wel l a s i n actualit y these ar e th e du d presidents : Grant , a presiden t discredited ; Hayes , a president defied ; Garfield , a presiden t defunct ; Arthur , a presiden t dis missed ; Cleveland , a presiden t denied ; an d Harrison , a presiden t de rided . Politicians wer e dedicate d t o a n America n drea m o f opportunit y fro m the exploitatio n o f fabulous , unrealize d natura l resources . Ye t thei r parties wer e imperfec t vehicle s for coordinatin g governmen t an d popula r will. Willia m Hazlitt' s descriptio n o f Whig s an d Torie s i n earl y nine teenth -century Englan d i s...

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