National Republican., 1875-11-27
OUR FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY,

ago. the first issue of the NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN was made, and it seems an aus
picious and appropriate time for review
of its progress. Those who recur to that
eventful period in American history, and
remember how intolerant the great ma
jority of the residents of Washington were
of fanything favored with Republican prin-
ciples viii appreciate the boldness of the
undertaking and the hazardous character
of the enterprise; but the founders of the
national. REPUBLICAN, in devotion to
what they believed to be right gladly
risked their capital, and without faltering
asserted their political principles. In the
first number they stated, in their judgment,
the time had arrived "when the great Re-
''pubIican party of the United States ought
"to be fairly represented in the daily press
"ofthe National Metropolis" and agaia in
the same article, ''this journal will advo-
"cate and defend the principles of the Re-
"publican party, and endeavor to disabuse
"the public mind of groundless prejudices
(Which have been engendered against it
"by the false accusations of its enemies.
"Having the utmost confidence that the
administration of Mr.. Lincoln will be
' such as to merit our appreciation, we ex-
"pect to yield it cordial, but not servile
" support. In the great issue that is likely
"to be made with his administration, by
"the enemies of the Republican party, the
"people of Washington and the District of
Columbia have more at stake than the
"people of any other portion of our COM
"mon country. We believe that to sup
sport Mr.. Lincoln's administration will be
synonymous with maintaining the in
"tegrity of the Federal Union, against the
Vaccinations of those who would rend
" it asunder."
This article.of faith and modest announce
ment seems harmless now, but at that time
it was a fame of fire, inviting the desperate
leaders and supporters of secession to an
encounter which more than once placed the
lives of the founders of the NATIONAL Re-
PUBLICAN in extreme personal peril; in
fact, it is the truth of history to say that it
was as much as mans life was worth to
be prominent as Republican in Washing
ton then, and Republican associations and
individuals of the party were often at the
mercy of crazed mobs. Only those who
did the work can fully appreciate the strug-
gle the founders of the NATIONAL REPUB-
LIcAN had in carrying it through the first
year of its existence, and at times its staunch-
est supporters almost quailed in the fight; for
# truth and justice and patriotism had not
been on their side, it would have been
most unequal contest In this connection,
too, the present attitude of the NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN towards the New York Iri-
6un6 makes the following reference appro-
PIRATE: The news of our enterprise had
reached New York, and it provoked i'll
nstured comment in the Tribune, and the
first issue of this journal said, in reply:
"The New York Tribune has heard that
somebody proposes to starts q Republican
"journal at the Federal City, and is greatly
concerned lest it may assume to be the
"'organ' of Mr.. Lincoln's administration.
"We are happy to have it in our power to
"quet the apprehensions of the Tribune on
"this point by giving positive assurance
that the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN viii
not be, or assume to be. the 'organ'
"of Mr.. Lincoln's administration, or
"of any politician, or set Of poll
ticians whatever From that day to
this, however, the NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAN has defended and supported the cardi-
nal principles of the Republican party and
the wise and patriotic measures of Repub-
lican administrations and Republican Con-
gresses. In this support there has been no
uncertain sound, no flag of truce, no deser-
ton to the enemy, no breeding of party
dissension, and no timidity in exposing
traitors within the party and their plottings
for its destruction; hence the position Of the
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN in the party of
which 1t Is the friend and exponent is one
of high honor, and that of the New York
Tribune place to be regretted. Consis-
tency is one of the most prominent features
carved upon the history of this newspaper.
Its friends and readers have always known
just where to find it; and this one quality,
80 persistently adhered to, has contributed
much toward the high national character
and extended influence it has won through.
Out the country, for there is not q newspa-
per to-day in the United States so much
quoted.
Here we leave general reference for mo-
ment to refer to matters Of local interest in
the history of the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
It's first Office in 1860 was in the wigwam,
at the corner of Indiana avenue and Second
street, with a branch Office on Seventh
street. opposite the Post Office. In 1851 the
office was removed TO the corner OF seventh
and D streets, but larger accommodations
being required, it was again, in 1862, re-
moved to Ninth street. between Pennsyl-
Ysnia avenue and D street. In 1856 1t was
again removed to the commodious building
belonging to the late Peter Force, corner
of Tenth and D streets. and there the
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN was published for
nearly eight years, when, December 20,
1873 it was removed to the corner of
Thirteenth street and Pennsylvania avenue,
and into building built expressly forit. 1t
is somewhat notable fact as win be OBJ
served, that all its moves have been west
ward. The star of its empire has taken
fhAt course. During the fifteen years of its
existence it has made five moves, each time