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ration； but after a few days of debate a motion to lay it aside was carried by the Democrats with the assistance of enough Republicans to give them a majority。 This was the end of force bills； and during President Cleveland's second term the few remaining statutes giving authority for federal interference in such matters was repealed under the lead of Senator Hill of New York。 With the passage of this act； the Republican party leaders for the first time abandoned all purpose of attempting to secure by national legislation the political privileges of the negroes。 This determination was announced is the Senate by Mr。 Hoar and was assented to by Senator Chandler of New Hampshire； who had been a zealous champion of federal action。 According to Mr。 Hoar； 〃no Republican has dissented from it。〃
The facts upon which the force bill was based were so notorious and the bill itself was so moderate in its character that the general indifference of the public seemed to betray moral insensibility and emotional torpor。 Much could be said in favor of the bill。 This latest assertion of national authority in federal elections involved no new principle。 In legalistic complexion the proposed measure was of the same character as previous legislation dealing with this subject； instances of which are the Act of 1842； requiring the election of members of the House by districts； and the Act of 1866； regulating the election of United States Senators。 Fraudulent returns in congressional elections have always been a notorious evil； and the partisan way in which they are passed upon is still a gross blemish upon the constitutional system of the United States； and one which is likely never to be removed until the principle of judicial determination of electoral contests has been adopted in this country as it has been in England。 The truth of the matter appears to be that the public paid no attention to the merits of the bill。 It was viewed simply as a continuation of the radical reconstruction policy； the practical results of which had become intolerable。 However great the actual evils of the situation might be； public opinion held that it would be wiser to leave them to be dealt with by state authority than by such incompetent statesmanship as had been common in Washington。 Moreover； the man in the street resented the indifference of politicians to all issues save those derived from the Civil War。
Viscount Bryce in his 〃American Commonwealth；〃 the most complete and penetrating examination of American political conditions written during this period； gives this account of the party situation：
〃The great parties are the Republicans and the Democrats。 What are their principles； their distinctive tenets； their tendencies？ Which of them is for tariff reform； for the further extension of civil service reform； a spirited foreign policy； for the regulation of railroads and telegraphs by legislation； for changes in the currency； for any other of the twenty issues which one hears discussed in this country as seriously involving its welfare？ This is what a European is always asking of intelligent Republicans and intelligent Democrats。 He is always asking because he never gets an answer。 The replies leave him deeper in perplexity。 After some months the truth begins to dawn upon him。 Neither party has； as a party； anything definite to say on these issues； neither party has any clean…cut principles； any distinctive tenets。 Both have traditions。 Both claim to have tendencies。 Both certainly have war cries； organizations； interests； enlisted in their support。 But those interests are in the main the interests of getting or keeping the patronage of the government。 Tenets and policies； points of political doctrine and points of political practice have all but vanished。 They have not been thrown away； but have been stripped away by time and the progress of events； fulfilling some policies； blotting out others。 All has been lost； except office or the hope of it。〃
That such a situation could actually exist in the face of public disapproval is a demonstration of the defects of Congress as an organ of national representation。 Normally； a representative assembly is a school of statesmanship which is drawn upon for filling the great posts of administration。 Not only is this the case under the parliamentary system in vogue in England； but it is equally the case in Switzerland whose constitution agrees with that of the United States in forbidding members of Congress to hold executive office。 But somehow the American Congress fails to produce capable statesmen。 It attracts politicians who display affability； shrewdness； dexterity； and eloquence； but who are lacking in discernment of public needs and in ability to provide for them； so that power and opportunity are often associated with gross political incompetency。* The solutions of the great political problems of the United States are accomplished by transferring to Washington men like Hayes and Cleveland whose political experience has been gained in other fields。
* Of this regrettable fact the whole history of emancipation is a monument。 The contrast between the social consequences of emancipation in the West Indies； as guided by British statesmanship； under conditions of meager industrial opportunity； and the social consequences of emancipation in the United States； affords an instructive example of the complicated evils which a nation may experience through the sheer incapacity of its government。
The system of congressional government was subjected to some scrutiny in 1880…81 through the efforts of Senator George H。 Pendleton of Ohio； an old statesman who had returned to public life after long absence。 He had been prominent in the Democratic party before the war and in 1864 he was the party candidate for Vice…President。 In 1868 he was the leading candidate for the presidential nomination on a number of ballots； but he was defeated。 In 1869 he was a candidate for Governor of Ohio but was defeated； he then retired from public life until 1879 when he was elected to the United States Senate。 As a member of that body； he devoted himself to the betterment of political conditions。 His efforts in this direction were facilitated not only by his wide political experience but also by the tact and urbanity of his manners； which had gained for him in Ohio politics the nickname of 〃Gentleman George。〃
In agreement with opinions long previously expressed in Story's 〃Commentaries；〃 Senator Pendleton attributed the inefficiency of national government to the sharp separation of Congress from the Administrationa separation not required by the Constitution but made by Congress itself and subject to change at its discretion。 He proposed to admit the heads of executive departments to participation in the proceedings of Congress。 〃This system；〃 said he； 〃will require the selection of the strongest men to be heads of departments； and will require them to be well equipped with the knowledge of their offices。 It will also require the strongest men to be the leaders of Congress and participate in the debate。 It will bring those strong men in contact； perhaps into conflict； to advance the public weal and thus stimulate their abilities and th