Here's a look at some of the political issues and controversies that troubled the magazine writers of Victorian America - along with some Victorian decisions that may still be affecting us today!

The Creed of Fair Trade, by David A. Wells (Atlantic Monthly, 1875)

The Silver Question Geologically Considered, by N.S. Shaler (Atlantic Monthly, 1878)

A geological analysis of the question of using a gold or silver standard for currency.

The National Bank Circulation (Scribners, 1879A)

On the dangers of giving banks the power of issuing currency.

The Increase of Divorce (Century Magazine, 1882A)

Some statistics on divorce in various US states, as well as other countries.

The Pawnshop (Harper's Monthly, 1882A)

The Free Library Movement (Century Magazine, 1882B)

Evils of Our Public Land Policy, by Edward T. Peters (Century Magazine, 1883A)

Is the Jury System a Failure? by Albert Stickney (Century Magazine, 1883A)

Both Sides of the Question (Reader Responses) (Century Magazine, 1883B)

A response to the article above, "Is the Jury System a Failure?"

Municipal Extravagance, by Arthur Blake Ellis (Atlantic Monthly, 1883)

The Convict Lease System in the Southern States, by George W. Cable (Century Magazine, 1884A)

The author regards the system of "leasing" convicts for outside work as brutal, degrading, and without any financial gain - as well as shortening the lifespan of the prisoners involved.

The Suppression of Pauperism, by D. Mcg. Means (Century Magazine, 1884A)

Suggestions on how to avoid an influx of impoverished emigrants to the US.

The Foreign Elements in Our Population, by Joseph Edgar Chamberlin (Century Magazine, 1884B)

Statistics on numbers of emigrants vs. "British-American" residents in various parts of the US.

Economic Mistakes of the Poor (Century Magazine, 1885A)

Will the Land Become a Desert? by Joseph Edgar Chamberlain (Century Magazine, 1886A)

An examination of the potential risks of over-harvesting timber.

The Relative Strength and Weakness of Nations, by Edward Atkinson (Century Magazine, 1887A)

Lots of statistics about population, production, transportation, colonies and land holdings, etc., comparing the US to other countries.

The Relations of the US and Canada: A Canadian View, by Charles H. Lugrin (Century Magazine, 1889B)

Safeguards of the Suffrage, by Washington Gladden (Century Magazine, 1889A)

Opinion piece on who should, and should not, be permitted to vote in America, with discussions of how immigration laws ought to be tailored accordingly.

The Single Tax on Land Values (Century Magazine, 1889B)

Taxation (Century Magazine, 1890B)

Several articles on proposed methods of taxation in the US.

Trade with South America, by Alfred Batch (Century Magazine, 1890B)

The Chinese Leak, by Julian Ralph (Harper's Monthly, 1891A)

An interesting look at laws and loopholes surrounding Chinese immigration to the West Coast (most of the loopholes relating to Canada).

The Distribution of Ability in the United States, by Henry Cabot Lodge (Century Magazine, 1891B)

"America for the Americans," by Edward Anthony Bradford (Harper's Monthly, 1892A)

An examination of a controversy over "foreign landlords" in the US.

The Gothenburg System [of Liquor Licenses] in America, by E.R.L. Gould (Atlantic Monthly, 1893)

If Public Libraries, Why Not Public Museums? by Edward R. Morse (Atlantic Monthly, 1893)

It's hard to imagine a time when, in America, there were none...

A General Free Library Movement (Century Magazine, 1893A)

Governmental Care for Working-Men, by C.C. Johnston and M. Carey Lea (Century Magazine, 1893A)

A look at Ohio's employment offices, and a look at Germany's programs for employment.

The Problem of Poverty, by Washington Gladden (Century Magazine, 1893A)

"The growth of pauperism, if not of poverty, seems to be due in part to the decay of two old-fashioned social virtues. One of these is family affection. The individualism of the last half-century has weakened the family bond. The other old-fashioned virtue ...is the manly independence which is the substratum of all sound character."

The Census and Immigration, by Henry Cabot Lodge (Century Magazine, 1893B)

Arguments in favor of restricting immigration into the US.

The Public Health, by T. Mitchell Prudden, MD (Century Magazine, 1893B)

On scientific advances in the identification and treatment of diseases, and the need for a government bureau of public health.

The Consular Service and the Spoils System (Century Magazine, 1894B)

Responses by several consular ex-ministers of the US in response to a letter from The Century regarding civil-service reform and the proposition to take the consulship out of the spoils system. Wikipedia defines a spoils system as "a practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives government civil service jobs to its supporters, friends and relatives as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party—as opposed to a merit system, where offices are awarded on the basis of some measure of merit, independent of political activity."

A Plan to Save the Forests, by George S. Anderson (Century Magazine, 1895A)

A series of responses to an inquiry set forth by Century Magazine, as to whether national forests should be preserved by military control.

Our Foreign Trade, by Fenton T. Newbery (Century Magazine, 1896A)

The Possibilities of Permanent Arbitration (Century Magazine, 1896A)

How India Has Saved Her Forests: A Lesson to the United States, by E. Kay Robinson (Century Magazine, 1898B)

Thoughts on American Imperialism, by the Hon. Carl Schurz (Century Magazine, 1898B)

Century Magazine: Topics/Letters (Scribner's, 1879; Century Magazine, 1882-1897)

Each issue of The Century (and its predecessor, Scribner's) featured a editorial section titled "Topics of the Time." Its primary focus was on the political issues and controversies of the day. Here we bring you both the "Topics" and "Letters" section, year by year, to offer an overview of America's political controversies of the 19th century. (The "Topics" for 1879 are from Scribner's; the remainder are from Century.)

1879A • 1879B • 1882A • 1882B • 1883A • 1883B • 1884A • 1884B • 1885A • 1885B • 1886A • 1886B • 1887A • 1887B • 1888A • 1888B • 1889A • 1889B • 1890A • 1890B • 1891A • 1891B • 1892A • 1892B • 1893A • 1893B • 1894A • 1894B • 1895A • 1895B • 1896A • 1896B • 1897A • 1897B

See also

• The Labor Movement

• Copyright Law & Controversies