That with the Sioux was caused by the great influx of whites into the Sioux reservation in Montana immediately upon the discovery of gold in the Black Hills. The leader of the Modocs was CAPTAIN JACK, who was captured and hanged for having murdered GENERAL CANBY, the commissioner sent to treat with him before the war was instituted. The leader of the Sioux was SITTING BULL, and his tribe was a powerful one. A sad episode connected with this war was the massacre of

GEN CUSTER.

a regiment of soldiers under GENERAL CUSTER. They had unwisely penetrated too far into the country of the hostiles, were surrounded near the Big Horn River by the whole tribe, and put to death. Sitting Bull and his band were subsequently driven northward into the British possessions.

The debt of the United States Government incurred by the war amounted to about two thousand seven hundred and fifty million dollars. Tariff and internal revenue taxes were levied, and the decrease in the public debt, while Grant was President, was marked. A part of this debt consisted of bills-called from their color "green-backs"- which the government had obligated itself to redeem in coin. The great number of these bills put into circulation inflated the currency of the country, and produced an effect (1873) similar to that produced in 1837

In the election of a successor to Grant, the Republicans nominated RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, of Ohio, and for VicePresident, WILLIAM A. WHEELER, of New York. The candidates of the Democrats were SAMUEL J. TILDEN, of New York and THOMAS A. HENDRICKS, of Indiana. The contest

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

was very close. A number of fraudulent and corrupt practices in several departments of the government had been brought to light during Grant's administration. The President himself was a man of integrity, but had been unwise in the choice of several

of his subordinates. These proved false to the trust reposed in them. The discovery of these frauds greatly weakened the Republican party, and the desire of change was so widely felt that enough rallied under the campaign cry of Tilden and Reform to make it seem, immediately after the election, that the Democratic party had vanquished its antagonist.

The votes of three States, Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida, were claimed by both parties, and for a time excitement ran high, and bloodshed and conflict seemed imminent. But the Civil War had taught its lesson, and temperate coun

cilings prevailed. To determine the result of the election, an ELECTORAL COMMISSION was created. This consisted of fifteen persons, five of whom were judges of the Supreme Court; five, Senators; and five, Representatives. As constituted, eight were Republicans and seven Democrats. The returns from each of the contested States were examined; and upon every matter coming up before the commission the decision was reached by a strictly partisan vote-eight to seven. Hayes and Wheeler were declared elected (1876).

Hayes served one term of office. In the first year of his administration, war with the small tribe of Nez Percé Indians in the Northwest arose; it was brought to an end by GENERAL O. O. HOWARD, who pursued the hostiles fifteen hundred miles, and compelled them to surrender. Several calamities befell the country during the course of this administration. These included great railroad strikes and yellow fever epidemics. The railroad strikes (1877) extended over wide areas, and occasioned dangerous riots in Pittsburg, Chicago, St. Louis and other places. In the first named city more than one hundred lives were lost, and three million dollars worth of property was destroyed.

The yellow fever epidemics occurred in 1878 and 1879. Many places in the South were visited by the fatal disease, the portion suffering the most being the Mississippi Valley. Science has of late demonstrated that this dread scourge originates in the warmer latitudes, and that it can be excluded from this country by disinfection and quarantine, a most perfect system of which is now in successful operation at a station, established by the State of Louisiana for the purpose, near the mouth of the Mississippi River.

In the presidential election of 1880 the principal candidates were JAMES A. GARFIELD, of Ohio, and CHESTer A. Arthur, of New York, proposed by the Republicans; WINFIELD

SCOTT HANCOCK, of New York, and WILLIAM H. ENGLISH, of Indiana, by the Democrats. The Republican candidates were elected by an unquestioned majority. The newly elected President was a man of unusual ability, and his administration bid fair to be as wise and well directed as any with which this country has been blessed. But scarcely had he served four months when he was stricken low by the bullet of an assas

sin.

The murderer was one of many who had gone to Washington expecting to share in the spoils of office distributed by every President since the days of Jackson.

Called to the highest office in the land, Vice-President

Arthur manifested unexpected ability

Death of Garfield.

Garfield had been opposed to degrading the public service by making appointments to office of trust and honor a reward for party services. In consequence of this, many were disappointed. In his efforts to purify politics of some of its evils he incurred the displeasure and opposition of many leaders of his party. Two of these, SENATORS CONKLING and PLATT, of New York, resigned their seats, returned to their constituents for reelection, but were not sent back. Charles J. Guiteau, a lawyer of Chicago, of uncertain mental balance, was among those who shared in the animosity against the President, and it was by his act that the death of the President was accomplished. The deed was committed at a railroad depot in Washington (July 2, 1880), and after eighty days of suffering the President passed away, at Elberon, N. J. (September 19, 1SS1).

JAMES A. GARFIELD.

in the administration of its affairs. The country was now entering upon an era of great industrial prosperity. In 1881 there was held at Atlanta an exposition that revealed to an astonishing extent how rapidly the South was conforming to new industrial conditions. At New Orleans, three years after, a WORLD'S EXPOSITION was opened, exceeding in magnitude anything of the kind ever held in the world before. President Arthur at Washington set in motion the massive and intricate machinery connected with this exposition by directing a current of electricity over a telegraph wire between Washington and New Orleans.

In the election of a successor to Arthur, the candidates of the principal parties were, of the Republicans, JAMES G. BLAINE, of Maine, and JOHN A. LOGAN, of Illinois; of the Democrats, GROVER CLEVELAND, of New York, and THOS. A. HENDRICKS, of Indiana. The election was again very close, and the contest was narrowed down to the State of New York, which was found to have given a small majority for the Democratic candidates. Thus, after an interruption of twenty-four years, a Democratic President was again called to administer the executive affairs of the government.

QUESTIONS.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR

When was the reunion of States completed? What were the principal events of Grant's administration? What do you know of the Washington Treaty? Modoc War? Sioux War? The debt incurred by the war? "Green-backs?" Who were the candidates in the election of Grant's successor? What do you know of the disputed election of 1876? Electoral commission? What had strengthened the Democratic party? What were the principal events of Hayes' administration? What do you know of the Nez Percé War? Railroad riots of 1877? Yellow fever epidemics of 1878-'79? Election of Garfield and Arthur? Death of Garfield? What two expositions were held during Arthur's administration? What do you know of the election of Cleveland and Hendricks?

CHAPTER II.

The United States of To-Day.

The administration of Cleveland will always be remembered for the firm and conscientious manner in which the President discharged the duties of his office. He had served the people of New York in several official capacities-Sheriff of Erie County, Mayor of Buffalo, Governor of the State,