Neither Democrats and Republicans were willing to take strong stands on issues important to the voters. James Bryce, who first visited the United States in 1870, observed upon the issues of both parties. He wrote, “neither party has, as a party, anything definite to say on these issues; neither party has any clean- cut principles, any distinctive tenets. Both have traditions. Both claim to have tendencies. Both have certain war cries, organizations, interest and listed in their support. But those interests are in the main interest of getting or keeping the patronage of the government. Distinctive tenets and policies, points of political doctrine and points of political practice, have all but vanished. They have not been thrown away, but have been stripped away by time and the progress of events, fulfilling some policies, blotting out others. All has been lost except office or the hope of it” (The American Commonwealth, 1888 699)..