pressure as to produce special arrangements for the purpose, and
in this case no such pressure was developed. A companion measure
for civil service reform which was proposed by Senator Pendleton
long remained in a worse situation, for it was not merely left
under the congressional midden heap but was deliberately buried
by politicians who were determined that it should never emerge.
That it did emerge is due to a tragedy which aroused public
opinion to an extent that intimidated Congress.

Want of genuine political principles made factional spirit only
the more violent and depraved. So long as power and opportunity
were based not upon public confidence but upon mere advantage of
position, the contention of party leaders turned upon questions
of appointment to office and the control of party machinery. The
Republican national convention of 1880 was the scene of a
factional struggle which left deep marks upon public life and
caused divisions lasting until the party leaders of that period
were removed from the scene. In September 1879, General Grant
landed in San Francisco, after a tour around the world occupying
over two years, and as he passed through the country he was
received with a warmth which showed that popular devotion was
abounding. A movement in favor of renominating him to the
Presidency was started under the direction of Senator Roscoe
Conkling of New York. Grant's renown as the greatest military
leader of the Civil War was not his only asset in the eyes of his
supporters. In his career as President he had shown, on occasion,
independence and steadfastness of character. He stayed the
greenback movement by his veto after eminent party leaders had
yielded to it. He had endeavored to introduce civil service
reform and, although his measures had been frustrated by the