[Illustration] CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I.--AMERICAN IDEALS 1 II.--TRUE AMERICANISM 15 III.--THE MANLY VIRTUES AND PRACTICAL POLITICS 35 IV.--THE COLLEGE GRADUATE AND PUBLIC LIFE 47 V.--PHASES OF STATE LEGISLATION 63 VI.--MACHINE POLITICS IN NEW YORK CITY 102 VII.--SIX YEARS OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM 134 VIII.--ADMINISTERING THE NEW YORK POLICE FORCE 160 IX.--THE VICE-PRESIDENCY AND THE CAMPAIGN OF 1896 189 X.--HOW NOT TO HELP OUR POORER BROTHER 214 XI.--THE MONROE DOCTRINE 228 XII.--WASHINGTON’S FORGOTTEN MAXIM 247 XIII.--NATIONAL LIFE AND CHARACTER 271 XIV.--SOCIAL EVOLUTION 303 XV.--THE LAW OF CIVILIZATION AND DECAY 329 XVI.--[1]REFORM THROUGH SOCIAL WORK 355 [Illustration] FOOTNOTES: [1] Reprinted through the courtesy of the S. S. McClure Co. AMERICAN IDEALS [Illustration] I AMERICAN IDEALS[2]