T
 

CHAPTER VIII

THE IVrODERN  CITY AND ISLAND
1,877-1909

\HE depression which had followed the panic of 1873 continued
through 1877—8, and it was not until 1879 that a revival of
industry and commerce occurred, which soon spread to every
section of the country. The decade of 1880—90 was one of general
prosperity. The long and bitter struggle for the Presidency between
Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate, and Samuel J. Tilden,
the Democratic nominee, was finally settled in favour of Hayes, who
opened his administration by withdrawing the Federal troops from
southern districts, thus leaving the South to manage its own affairs.
This action virtually ended the period of reconstruction. The issues
which grew out of the struggle of 1861—5, although still appealed to
for political purposes, had ceased to be vital, and new questions, largely
connected with finance and protection, began to occupy public attention.
In I 879 the election of a governor in New York State was decided in
favour of Alonzo B. Cornell, the Republican candidate. This was con¬
sidered to be due to the fact that in the Democratic nominating conven¬
tion at Syracuse the Tammany delegates had bolted the renomination of
Governor Robinson, and nominated John Kelly, leader of the Tammany