USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. II > Part 38
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JOHN W.FOSTER
EDWARD G. MASON
ISAAC N. ARNOLD
ELIAS COLBERT
JOSEPH KIRKLAND
CHICAGO.
RGUS RTG. CO. -
OR NY
IBRARY
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ILLINOIS AUTHORS.
Various causes may be assigned for the existence of this fact. In every new community, the brain power is necessarily exer- cised in the direction of the accomplishment of material, as contradistinguished from intellectual, results. The first struggle of a new state, as of man, is for subsistence; its next for com- petence. Not until these two ends have been attained, does the mind turn toward less utilitarian fields in which talent, as well as genius, seeks to find vent. In a community recently formed, where a bare existence is the "chief end of man," mere thinkers, whose thought turns itself toward no present practical result, are, not unjustly, regarded as dreamers and drones. And as population grows and wealth increases, thought finds a more remunerative market in the fields of practical research than in those of abstract speculation, on the one hand, or of imagi- native flights on the other. In other words-in a fresh settle- ment, the plough is worth more than the pen; in a young city, the expert accountant rises to prosperity, while the savant starves in a garret.
Yet, even in the early history of the State, there were not wanting men like James Hall, whose Illinois Monthly Magazine compared favorably, in point of painstaking research, of variety of matter, and of grace of diction, with similar magazines in older and better settled localities. To the name of Judge Hall, in addition to other writers already mentioned, may be added that of John L. Mc Connel, a native of Jacksonville, Illinois, whose series of novels and sketches, especially his "Western Characters or Types of Border Life," published in 1850-3, attracted wide attention, and were favorably received by the critics.
It may be asserted, however, without successful controversion that, even in these later days, no western writer not connected more or less closely with journalism, has been able to earn a livelihood by his pen. No Illinois author, certainly, has ever received from a single work, any financial return adequate to the time, research, thought, and labor involved in its prepara- tion. It is true that certain books of ephemeral reputation and doubtful value have made fortunes for their publishers, but the fact remains that Illinois has produced but few works which may properly classed in the category of standard literature.
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
The general reading public of the West is not yet sufficiently and keenly alive to the value of literary works of high merit. The sense of discrimination is lacking. Over and over again, the imprimatur of a well-known publishing house serves, like charity, to "cover a multitude of [literary] sins." Even period- ical literature languishes in the West, if it be of local origin. The "great magazines" are able to "point with pride" to the vast proportions of their subscription lists in Chicago alone. Yet the encouragement held out to writers, who are peculiarly identified with local and home production, is of the most languid and half-hearted sort.
Illinois, however, is not without men of letters, whose con- tributions would adorn any periodical in the land. These writers, nevertheless, find themselves compelled, as a rule, to seek a market for the product of their pens in eastern cities rather than in the metropolis of their own State. Why should not Chicago and its tributary territory afford support to a dis- tinctively literary journal of the highest order of excellence? The legal and medical professions have their journals, which command the attention of the entire country. The weekly issues of the religious press rank with the best publications of that description in the land. Trade-journalism finds there some of the best and most widely-circulated exponents of commercial interests. Why should not the guild of authors "go and do likewise?"
Among distinctively Illinois authors, whose works have found a permanent and honored place in literature, may be mentioned, as the oldest in the field of historical research, next to Judge James Hall and John M. Peck, the name of Henry Brown, who wrote the, first history of the State in 1844. Perhaps the fore- most name of those who followed him is that of Isaac Newton Arnold, whose "Life of Lincoln," "Lincoln and Slavery," and "Life of Benedict Arnold," are regarded as standard works.
Elihu B. Washburne, in addition to his able editorial work upon the "Edwards Papers" and "History of Edwards County," was also the author of a life of Governor Coles; his most elab- orate work being "Recollections of a Minister to France."
John G. Nicolay and John Hay, who, notwithstanding their long official residence at Washington, may well be claimed as
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. ILLINOIS AUTHORS.
citizens of Illinois, the State of their early manhood and start in life, have gained well-merited fame as the authors of the great work "Abraham Lincoln, a History," as well as for other valuable contributions to history and literature .*
Edward Gay Mason has made many valuable contributions to the early history of Illinois, a branch of study of which he has made a specialty. Among these are "Illinois in the 18th Cen- tury," "Kaskaskia and its Parish Records," and papers on La- Salle, the first settlers of Chicago, and "The Story of James Willing - An Episode of the Revolution." He is also the editor of "Early Chicago and Illinois," published by the Chicago Historical Society, of which he is president, having succeeded E. B. Washburne, who followed Isaac N. Arnold.
George P. Upton, who has been known for many years as an author, besides his editorial work on the Chicago Tribune and contributions to the press under the pseudonyme of "Peregrine Pickle," has risen to a higher plane in the field of technical literature through his biographies of Haydn, Wagner, and Liszt, and his four volumes upon the standard operas, and other musical works.
John W. Foster, a long time resident of Chicago,t was a dis- tinguished geologist, and his works, "The Mississippi Valley, its Physical Geography," and "Prehistoric Races of the United States," have found an honored place upon the shelves of the best libraries in the United States and Great Britain.
Elias Colbert, also a writer on the Chicago Tribune, is the author of those valuable scientific works, "Astronomy with the Telescope," "Star Studies," and also a "History of Chicago."
William Mathews, a resident of Chicago from 1856 to 1880, and for many years professor of rhetoric and English literature in the University of Chicago, is the author of those well-known and popular works, "Getting on in the World"-reprinted in London, and translated into Swedish and Magyar-"The Great Conversers," "Words, their Use and Abuse," and "Hours with Men and Books," and several others of equal merit.
Dr. William F. Poole, the Nestor of western librarians, in
* In a note to the author, Mr. Nicolay says, "The title of citizen of Illinois is one of which I have always been proud, and have no present wish to change."
+ Where he died in June, 1873.
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
addition to his great work of "An Index to Periodical Litera- ture," is the author of many valuable and scholarly papers illustrating western history, notably "The West" contributed to Winsor's "Narrative and Critical History of America," "The Ordinance of 1787," and "Anti-Slavery Opinions before the Year 1800."
Bishop Samuel Fallows, distinguished as a soldier, divine, and scholar, has added to his fame by the authorship of his valuable works of reference entitled "Supplementary Dic- tionary," "Handbook of Abbreviations," and "A Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms."
Benjamin F. Taylor was not only a popular war-correspon- dent of the Chicago Evening Journal, and contributor to war- literature in his "Campaign and Field" and "Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain," but is better known as the author of "The World on Wheels," and as a poet of rare genius and great versatility.
Franc B. Wilkie, for many years a leading editorial writer on the Chicago Times, has done some very strong work under the nom de plume of "Polutio," and is the author of valuable studies in his "Walks about Chicago" and his "History of the Great Conflagration."
Other writers, not heretofore mentioned, who have contributed carefully-prepared volumes relating to the history of the West and Chicago, may be mentioned as follows: Mrs. John H. Kin- zie, author of "Wau-Bun;" John S. Wright, Henry H. Hurlbut, Rev. Wm. H. Milburn, the "blind preacher; Hiram W. Beckwith, Rufus Blanchard, L. D. Ingersoll, Rev. James B. McClure, and George S. Phillips-"January Searle."
In the domain of fiction and poetry, while the number of those who have plumed their wings for ambitious flights is legion, but few can be said to have reached the lofty height at which they had aimed.
Eugene Field, widely known as one of the wittiest writers on the western press, has found an appreciative public for his two volumes a "Little Book of Profitable Tales," and a "Little Book of Western Verse." They have attracted not only admiring readers in this country but have been approvingly read and reviewed in Europe.
EUGENE FIELD
GEO.F. ROOT
MARY H. CATHERWOOD
6EO. P.UPTON
WY F POOLE
FERGUS OTE 00
CHICAGO.
STOR
Ny LIBRARY
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ILLINOIS AUTHORS.
Major Joseph Kirkland, literary editor of the Chicago Tribune, has achieved success in his three stories "Zury," "Phil," and "The Captain of Company K." At present, he is engaged upon an historical work, "The Story of Chicago," to appear in 1891.
Mrs. Mary Hartwell Catherwood has struck a popular chord in her novels, "The Romance of Dollard," the "Story of Tonty," and the "Lady of Fort St. Johns," illustrating the romantic period of the old French regime in a style singularly picturesque and graceful.
Among other authors, aside from those who have distin- guished themselves as writers upon subjects connected with their professions of the law, medicine, and theology, whose works either already have achieved or are destined to acquire a repu- tation not ephemeral in its character, may be named the follow- ing: David Swing, Carter H. Harrison, William H. Bushnell, Wm. Henry Smith, Van Buren Denslow, John J. Lalor, Chas. H. Ham, William S. B. Matthews, Opie P. Reed, John McGovern, Eugene A. Hall, Elwyn A. Barron, Stanley Waterloo, Fred. H. Hall, Harry B. Smith, W. D. Eaton, George M. McConnel, Col. Frederick C. Pierce, John F. Finerty, Mrs. Hattie Tyng Griswold, Gen. John Basil Turchin, Howard L. Conard, Henry G. Cutler, Mrs. Celia P. Woolley, Frances E. Willard, Mrs. Elizabeth Reed, Alice B. Stockham, Mrs. Caroline F. Corbin, Mrs. Margaret F. Sullivan, Mary Allen West, Ida Scott Taylor, Elizabeth S. Kirkland, Helen E. Starrett, and Frank Gilbert.
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CHAPTER XLIX.
The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments - Politics and Politicians-Party Management-Election Statistics.
W TITH one exception, the record of the executive adminis- trations of the state government of Illinois has been of a character alike satisfactory to the people and creditable to the occupants of the gubernatorial chair.
In the early days, when the first constitution proved adequate to the needs of a primitive people, candidates for official honors were selected on the score of availability, rather than because of intellectual qualifications or broad influence. Among the governors of those days, only Edwards and Reynolds made any pretensions to oratory Since 1856, however, nominees for this office have been chosen from among the leading-although not always the most distinguished-members of the respective political parties. Of the fifteen chief executives chosen by the people, ten have been lawyers, four farmers, and one a business man. None of them have been native Illinoisans, although Governors Reynolds and Ford, while born in Pennsylvania, came to this State in their early years. Matteson and Bissell first saw the light in New York. Of the rest, ten were natives of Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky, while one, French, traced his descent from New England's sturdy stock. All of them had been members of the legislature except Coles and Ford; Edwards having served in the general assembly of Kentucky. Nine have been members of congress. No scandal, impugning his personal integrity, has ever been attached to any governor of Illinois save Matteson. None of them, unless Matteson may have been an exception, ever made any money out of the office, having generally in fact left it poorer than when they entered upon its duties.
Under the first constitution, the duties of the office were light and easily performed; but they have gradually become more onerous as well as important with the growth of the State
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THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
and the increase in the number of state-institutions and depart- mental bureaus, until at present they tax to the utmost the time, the ability, and the industry of the incumbent. The powers committed to the executive of passing upon all the laws enacted by the legislature, of taking "care that the laws be faithfully executed," of calling special sessions, of appointments to and removals from office, are large, and demand at times the exercise of the highest order of legal and executive talent.
Four of those elected to the office of lieutenant-governor have, in consequence of the resignation or death of the governor, succeeded to that position, namely: William L. D. Ewing, John Wood, John L. Beveridge, and John M. Hamilton.
The other offices of state, constituting the executive depart- ment, have generally been filled by men of high character and distinguished administrative ability, nearly all of whom under the last and present constitution have received a second nomin- ation and election, which they had justly earned.
The offices of secretary of state and auditor, under the first constitution, were considered worthy the ambition of such men as Douglas, Trumbull, and Shields; but in later years they have been given to business men, the greater portion of whom would have been much better off today had they "kept out of politics."
In no other department of the state government have so many changes been effected as in the legislative. Under the first constitution, the general assembly had the selection of all the judges, the state treasurer, auditor, attorney-general, public printer, and prosecuting attorneys. To be a member of a body exercising so much power as this excited the aspirations of the most able and influential citizens in every county. Its sessions were attended by all the leading men of the State as interested on-lookers, or as applicants for positions for themselves, or for their friends, and the state capital became the focus of political interest and power. The national government, with which com- munication was so seldom and difficult, and the direct effect of whose laws was hardly ever felt by the people of the State, was virtually shut out of public notice by the predominating interest taken in the transactions of the state legislature.
The proceedings were simple and direct, as were the dresses
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
and habits of the members. Much of the business was determined by action on petitions and resolutions. There were at first only seven committees, namely: those on the judiciary, finance, elec- tions, petitions, propositions and grievances, militia, and internal improvements. Bills were introduced on motion for leave, and were sometimes negatived when their titles were made known. The change by which the law-making power is virtually con- trolled by committees has been gradual, yet complete. The rules of the thirty-sixth general assembly provide for forty- nine committees for the house and thirty-five for the senate. The appointment of these committees by the speaker, which work was formerly done within three days, now requires as many weeks. The chairmanships of certain committees, such as the judiciary, railroads, corporations, appropriations, insurance, print- ing, and others, are coveted by reason of the power which these positions confer. All bills introduced are now required to be printed and referred to "the proper committee" for con- sideration. They are in charge of the chairman, upon whom the duty of calling the committee together for agreeing upon a report devolves. He may hasten or retard its action at his pleasure; and only direct interference of the general body by resolution, the adoption of which may be difficult to secure, can compel action contrary to his own will. Woe be to that bill which falls into the hands of an unfriendly chairman, as an ad- verse or even delayed report from the committee generally kills it. Inexperienced members frequently become impatient over the failure of a committee to report upon their favorite meas- ure, and are unable to find out what the matter is until they find their bill, though reported upon favorably, so far down on the calendar as to render its passage hopeless. Their eyes are then opened.
A bill in itself unobjectionable is also frequently delayed in committee by the preference given to more favored or important measures, or by its reference to a sub-committee which holds it back. Sometimes, indeed, when, after repeated failures to do so on request, a chairman has at length felt compelled to call his committee together to consider a particular bill, finding there is no other way to compass its defeat, he reports that the bill has been mislaid or lost-thus still practically controlling legislation.
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THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
The committees on the judiciary and judicial department are the most important, and upon their proper constitution depends the hindrance or defeat of the many foolish, absurd, and vicious measures introduced. They should be the legislative charnel- houses of all bad bills; and their chairmen should be not only judicially-minded law-makers but incorruptible citizens. They ought to be appointed solely upon their merits and fitness for the position; but, instead of this, their selection is too often made dependent upon how many votes they can command in caucus to secure the nomination of the speaker. Their attitude with regard to contending factions in the party and the desira- bility of contributing to the success or failure of either, also not infrequently affect the result. Sometimes, indeed, in cases of sharp conflicts over the speakership, leading chairmanships have been "farmed out," by reason of which method of dis- position, inefficient, if not incompetent, members have received the best places, to the exclusion of those possessing the neces- sary qualifications to fill them.
The lack of spoils to distribute, under the second constitu- tion, and the reduced powers granted to the legislature, together with the vastly-increasing interests of internal growth, which occupied the attention of the people, caused a diminished attendance upon the sessions of the general assembly until the important question of corporation privileges brought about the era of special legislation. The lobby began to make its influ- ence felt as early as 1855, and from that time until the adoption of the constitution of 1870 increased in power. The number of bills enacted into laws was in direct proportion to the influ- ence which it exerted. That money was sometimes shamelessly used, as well as the promise of the rewards of office, there can be no doubt. Yet so carefully were the tracks of the go-betweens covered that but few of their transactions have ever come to light-really none of them in tangible form.
Under the admirable provision of our present constitution, prohibiting special legislation, venality has taken a new direc- tion. The many rich and powerful corporations which have grown up in the State within the past few years are made the subject of attack by the introduction of propositions to impose certain legislative burthens upon them or in some way to restrict
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
their power. In some instances, doubtless, meritorious amend- ments are intended, but more frequently the object of the author of the bill, if he acts with the majority and is influential, is a menace which can be satisfied only by the inducement of a consideration.
Perhaps the contrast between former general assemblies and those of the present is in no way more distinctly presented than in their personal composition. As a general thing, the best men of a district are not now, as in former years, selected-especially in the large cities. The leading lawyers, many of whom are the salaried attorneys of large corporations, or are in the enjoy- ment of a practice which will not admit of being neglected, find no longer any inducement to surrender their business for the equivocal honor of going to the legislature. Wealthy merchants, manufacturers, traders, large farmers and dealers in stock, are too much absorbed by the demands of an exacting occupation to devote either time or attention to the affairs of state, other than as they may personally affect them.
The influence of congressional enactments has been more directly felt in Illinois during the last two decades than ever before. This accession of influence may be attributed to several causes-the extension and improvement of transportation facili- ties have practically reduced the distance between the state and national capitals; the war of the rebellion demonstrated the necessity for a strong central authority; and the increase in the number of states has rendered more concentration of power in a federal head desirable for the facilitation of commerce, the adjustment of conflicting claims, and the advancement of the common good. Problems relating to trade, revenue, currency, taxation, and transportation are no longer confined, as regards either their discussion or their solution, to the contracted inter- ests of any particular state. These considerations, in connection with the fact that general statutes have been enacted covering almost every conceivable subject, and that consequently little new legislation outside of appropriation bills is required, are urged by leading citizens as an excuse for their indisposition to legislative service. This leaves the field open-notably in the larger cities-to the occupation of ward politicians, small office- holders, and saloon - keepers, who seek political preferment either for themselves or their friends.
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LEGISLATIVE CONTRASTS.
Another noticeable feature in the composition of today's general assemblies consists in the proportion of members of foreign birth. Prior to the war, they could be numbered on the fingers of one hand, and were confined to those who had been long resident in the State and had become distinguished for their services. In the legislature of 1869, the number had increased to ten, while in that of 1875 it had arisen to twenty- eight, and in that of 1889 to thirty-three. At the same time, even this number is not out of proportion to the naturalized voters in the State, who naturally claim the right of selecting a fair share of representatives from their own class.
Although special legislation is now prohibited, the number of bills introduced is so large that only about one in ten has any chance of becoming a law. The most of these are in the nature of amendments, often very trifling ones, to existing statutes. Others are ventures in new fields or efforts toward additional restrictions upon corporations, by which the author expects to reap some personal advantage or to please his constituents, rather than to benefit the people of the State. A new member often presumes that it is essential to his influence in his district that his constituents shall frequently see his name in the papers, as the author of particular bills, whereas the greatest service he could render them, and his surest step toward fame, would be to refrain from posing as a would-be statesman.
Another notable contrast between legislatures of the present and those of the earlier periods is to be observed in the relative influence of speech-making. Formerly, the merits of a con- tested measure were fully and oftentimes eloquently discussed on the floor of both houses by the ablest talent the State could furnish. That time has gone by. Very little debate is now heard, and the speeches which are attempted are generally short and far from being rhetorical.
Before the days of the telegraph and daily press, the pro- ceedings of the general assembly were only to be gathered from crude and incomplete letters published in weekly newspapers or from the member's own report on his return home; in which case, doubtless, the part taken by himself was not underesti- mated. Nowadays, in the voluminous reports furnished by reporters and special correspondents. the member is not only
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
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