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John A. Logan, of Illinois.

Number entitled to vote.

Grover Cleveland was elected President and Thomas A. Hendricks as Vice-President.

During this period Congress was divided politically as follows:

Forty-ninth Congress.

Senate 34 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 1 vacancy House-182 Democrats, 140 Republicans, 2 Nationals, 1 vacancy

Fiftieth Congress.

Senate 37 Democrats, 39 Republicans
House-170 Democrats, 151 Republicans, 1 Independent, 3
Laborites..

.Total, 76

66 325

Election of 1888

Democratic National Committee:

Chairman, CALVIN S. BRICE, of Ohio.
Secretary, SIMON P. SHEERIN, of Indiana.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

St. Louis, Mo., June 5, 1888. Chairman pro tem., S. M. WHITE,

Forty-eight years had passed since a candidate for President had been nominated by a Democratic convention by acclamation. At this convention Grover Cleveland was nominated for a second term, by resolution, without opposition.

For Vice-President, Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio, was nominated on the first ballot, receiving 690 votes. Votes were also cast for Isaac P. Gray, of Indiana (105), and for John C. Black, of Illinois (25).

The convention adopted the following platform:

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic party of the United States, in national convention assembled, renews the pledge of its fidelity to Democratic faith, and reaffirms the platform adopted by its representatives at the convention of 1884, and indorses the views expressed by President Cleveland in his last earnest message to Congress as the correct interpretation of that platform upon the question of tariff reduction; and also indorses the efforts of our Democratic representatives in Congress to secure a reduction of excessive taxation.

MAINTENANCE OF THE UNION.

Chief among its principles of party faith are the maintenance of an indissoluble union of free and indestructible states, now about to enter upon its second century of unexampled progress and renown; devotion to a plan of government regulated by a written constitution, strictly specifying every granted power and expressly reserving to the states or people the entire ungranted residue of power; the encouragement of a jealous popular vigilance, directed to all who have been chosen for brief terms to enact and execute the laws, and are charged with the duty of preserving peace, insuring equality, and establishing justice.

PLEDGES REDEEMED.

The Democratic party welcomes an exacting scrutiny of the administration of the executive power, which four years ago was committed to its trust in the selection of Grover Cleveland as President of the United States; but it challenges the most searching scrutiny concerning its fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then invited the suffrages of the people. During a most critical period of our financial affairs, resulting from over-taxation, the anomalous condition of our currency, and a public debt unmatured, it has, by the adoption of a wise and conservative course, not only averted disaster, but greatly promoted the prosperity of the people.

HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE.

It has reversed the improvident and unwise policy of the Republican party touching the public domain, and has reclaimed from corporations and syndicates, alien and domestic, and restored to the people, nearly 100,000,000 acres of valuable land, to be sacredly held as homesteads for our citizens.

PENSIONS FOR THE SOLDIERS.

While carefully guarding the interests of the taxpayers and conforming strictly to the principles of justice and equity, it has paid out more for pensions and bounties to the soldiers and sailors of the republic than was ever paid before during an equal period.

FOREIGN POLICY.

It has adopted and consistently pursued a firm and prudent foreign policy, preserving peace with all nations, while scrupulously maintaining all the rights and interests of our own government and people, at home and abroad. The exclusion from our shores of Chinese laborers has been effectually secured under the provisions of a treaty, the operation of which has been postponed by the action of a Republican majority in the Senate.

CIVIL-SERVICE REFORM.

Honest reform in the civil service has been inaugurated and maintained by President Cleveland, and he has brought the public service to the highest standard of efficiency, not only by rule and precept, but by the example of his own untiring and unselfish administration of public affairs.

RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.

In every branch and department of the government under Democratic control, the rights and the welfare of all the people have been guarded and defended; every public interest has been protected, and the equality of all our citizens before the law, without regard to race or color, has been steadfastly maintained. Upon its record, thus exhibited, and upon the pledge of a continuance to the people of these benefits, the Democracy invokes a renewal of popular trust by the re-election of a Chief Magistrate who has been faithful, able, and prudent. We invoke, in addition to that trust, the transfer also to the Democracy of the entire legislative power.

TAXATION.

The Republican party, controlling the Senate and resisting in both Houses of Congress a reformation of unjust and unequal tax laws which have outlasted the necessities of war, and are now undermining the abundance of a long peace, denies to the people equality before the law and the fairness and the justice which are their right. Thus the cry of American labor for a better share in the rewards of industry is stifled with