Inefficacy Of Government Institutions During Progressive Era

Issues of the spoils system, the tariff and bimetallism began major topics for debate in the late nineteenth century’s “Gilded Age” (1870-1900) but were also pawns that enabled the self-licking ice cream cone that was the American bureaucracy in those days (Corbet et. al. 2014). Inner governmental corruption prevented progress on these fronts, at the expense of the American government institution, its people and the economy.

In the late 19th Century, the government had a hand in many of the essential services provided to the people but was largely uninvolved in the actual welfare of Americans. Instead, community organizations fraternal associations sprung up to fill these gaps and represent the ideas of their members (Corbet et. al. 2014). These groups worked largely off of a lesser version of the spoils system themselves. For example, if a member required legal representation it was expected they would repay the favor later to a club member who helped them out. These associations grew in popularity and began to have more and more impact in areas of business and politics. As membership grew to exponential numbers, leaders of these groups were able to rally Americans in support of or in opposition to a candidate up and down the federal and state level government chain. Eventually, these leaders began to use the patronage and connections that came embedded in the support system of their associations to run for President of the United States.

The problem with this is that it bred years of corruption and federal governmental inefficacy. Newly elected presidents were unable to accomplish work for the American people as much of their terms were spent paying back and empowering individuals who had helped them into office. Such was the case in the presidential election of former Ohio governor, Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. What is ironic about this election is Hayes’ campaign promoted the elimination of the spoils system via civil service reform as well as the establishment of coin currency to prevent federal inflation of currency value (Corbet et. al. 2014). However, in order to win the electoral vote, Hayes had to accede to Southern Democrat demands to half any further reconstructive efforts in the south. Hayes’ journey to the presidency was paved in agreements and favors that would prove to own him and American politics during his term—limiting his ability to actually fulfill any of the promises he made.

This proved to be the trend going forward where the spoils system elected US presidents who in turn elected patrons to powerful positions—and seriously undermined the ability of a president to have any real impact on improving the American condition. Those in power benefitted from the spoils system and politics were centered on ensuring it stuck around meaning that any sort of reform that benefitted the people actually posed a threat to this ‘good ole boys’ club. This corruption trickled down to major business owners, who profited off of the utilization of high foreign import tariffs to force Americans to buy their goods. Attempts on behalf of a president to lower these tariff’s would result in a inner party mutiny, as was demonstrated by the 1884 election between republican President Chester Arthur and democrat Grover Cleveland (Corbet et. al. 2014). The efforts to undermine Arthur actually won Cleveland the presidency—which led to stronger tariff and spoils’ system reform efforts. In summary, each presidential election consisted of corrupted officials seeking to eradicate the White House of any force that threatened their power by replacing them with someone new who could be manipulated.

This level of corruption greatly influenced American currency. While it would have benefitted the working class to introduce silver to the current gold standard through bimetallism, such a move would have meant less wealth for businessmen. Since these moguls had great power in politics, their influences greatly prevented the government from serving the majority of its population. Limited gold reserves continued to grow the great disparity between the working class and the wealthy—which in turn kept the wealthy powerful and the poor in debt (Corbet et. al. 2014).

In conclusion, this period of American history was marked by the election of government officials that did not work for the people--but were instead owned by the pocketbooks of the wealthy and influential—thus precluding these beneficial progressive measures. As a result, the poor became poorer and the spirit of the bicameral democratic republic was compromised. Actions that might have benefitted the people such as the institution of a governmental meritocracy (vs. the spoils system), the lowering of tariff’s on imports and the institution of silver as part of the ongoing currency would have greatly benefitted the economy and prosperity of the general populace, as well as empowered the government to serve its people and not just itself.