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lieutenants in every county； and captains in every town。 Its
confidential agents kept the leaders constantly informed of the
political situation in every locality； and its discipline made
the wish of Van Buren and his colleagues a command。 Federal and
local patronage and a sagacious distribution of state contracts
sustained this combination。 When the practice of nominating by
conventions began； the Regency at once discerned the strategic
value of controlling delegates； and； until the break in the
Democratic party in 1848； it literally reigned in the State。
With the disintegration of the Federalist party came the loss of
concentrated power by the colonial families of New England and
New York。 The old aristocracy of the South was more fortunate in
the maintenance of its power。 Jefferson's party was not only well
disciplined； it gave its confidence to a people still accustomed
to class rule and in turn was supported by them。 In a strict
sense the Virginia Dynasty was not a machine like Van Buren's
Albany Regency。 It was the effect of the concentrated influence
of men of great ability rather than a definite organization。 The
congressional caucus was the instrument through which their
influence was made practical。 In 1816； however； a considerable
movement was started to end the Virginia monopoly。 It spread to
the Jeffersonians of the North。 William H。 Crawford； of Georgia；
and Daniel Tompkins； of New York； came forward as competitors
with Monroe for the caucus nomination。 The knowledge of this
intrigue fostered the rising revolt against the caucus。
Twenty…two Republicans； many of whom were known to be opposed to
the caucus system； absented themselves。 Monroe was nominated by
the narrow margin of eleven votes over Crawford。 By the time
Monroe had served his second term the discrediting of the caucus
was made complete by the nomination of Crawford by a thinly
attended gathering of his adherents； who presumed to act for the
party。 The Virginia Dynasty had no further favorites to foster；
and a new political force swept into power behind the dominating
personality of Andrew Jackson。
The new Democracy； however； did not remove the aristocratic power
of the slaveholder； and from Jackson's day to Buchanan's this
became an increasing force in the party councils。 The slavery
question illustrates how a compact group of capable and
determined men； dominated by an economic motive； can exercise for
years in the political arena a preponderating influence； even
though they represent an actual minority of the nation。 This
untoward condition was made possible by the political sagacity
and persistence of the party managers and by the unwillingness of
a large portion of the people to bring the real issue to a head。
Before the Civil War； then； party organization had become a fixed
and necessary incident in American politics。 The war changed the
face of our national affairs。 The changes wrought multiplied the
opportunities of the professional politician； and in these
opportunities； as well as in the transfused energies and ideals
of the people； we must seek the causes for those perversions of
party and party machinery which have characterized our modern
epoch。
CHAPTER III。 THE TIDE OF MATERIALISM
The Civil War； which shocked the country into a new national
consciousness and rearranged the elements of its economic life；
also brought about a new era in political activity and
management。 The United States after Appomattox was a very
different country from the United States before Sumter was fired
upon。 The war was a continental upheaval； like the Appalachian
uplift in our geological history； producing sharp and profound
readjustments。
Despite the fact that in 1864 Lincoln had been elected on a Union
ticket supported by War Democrats； the Republicans claimed the
triumphs of the war as their own。 They emerged from the struggle
with the enormous prestige of a party triumphant and with
〃Saviors of the Union〃 inscribed on their banners。
The death of their wise and great leader opened the door to a
violent partizan orgy。 President Andrew Johnson could not check
the fury of the radical reconstructionists； and a new political
era began in a riot of dogmatic and insolent dictatorship； which
was intensified by the mob of carpetbaggers； scalawags； and
freedmen in the South； and not abated by the lawless promptings
of the Ku…Klux to regain patrician leadership in the home of
secession nor by the baneful resentment of the North。 The soldier
was made a political asset。 For a generation the 〃bloody shirt〃
was waved before the eyes of the Northern voter； and the evils；
both grotesque and gruesome； of an unnatural reconstruction are
not yet forgotten in the South。
A second opportunity of the politician was found in the rapid
economic expansion that followed the war。 The feeling of security
in the North caused by the success of the Union arms buoyed an
unbounded optimism which made it easy to enlist capital in new
enterprises； and the protective tariff and liberal banking law
stimulated industry。 Exports of raw material and food products
stimulated mining； grazing； and farming。 European capital sought
investments in American railroads； mines； and industrial under…
takings。 In the decade following the war the output of pig iron
doubled； that of coal multiplied by five； and that of steel by
one hundred。 Superior iron and copper； Pennsylvania coal and oil；
Nevada and California gold and silver； all yielded their enormous
values to this new call of enterprise。 Inventions and
manufactures of all kinds flourished。 During 1850…60
manufacturing establishments had increased by fourteen per cent。
During 1860…70 they increased seventy…nine per cent。
The Homestead Act of May 20； 1862； opened vast areas of public
lands to a new immigration。 The flow of population was westward；
and the West called for communication with the East。 The Union
Pacific and Central Pacific railways； the pioneer
transcontinental lines； fostered on generous grants of land； were
the tokens of the new transportation movement。 Railroads were
pushing forward everywhere with unheard…of rapidity。 Short lines
were being merged into far…reaching systems。 In the early
seventies the Pennsylvania system was organized and the
Vanderbilts acquired control of lines as far west as Chicago。
Soon the Baltimore and Ohio system extended its empire of trade
to the Mississippi。 Half a dozen ambitious trans…Mississippi
systems； connecting with four new transcontinental projects； were
put into operation。
Prosperity is always the opportunity of the politician。 What is
of greatest significance to the student of politics is that
prosperity at this time was organized on a new basis。 Before the
war business had been conducted largely by individuals or
partnerships。 The unit was small； the amount of capital needed
was limited。 But now the unit was expanding so rapidly； the need
for capital was so lavish； the empire of trade so extensive； that
a new mechanism of ownership was necessary。 This device； of
course； was the corporation。 It had； indeed； existed as a trading
unit for many years。 But the corporation