Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-28
With Supplement.
ORIGIN OF THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY

ton more or less discussed for the last
twenty years. 1, has been said that It's
origin was in Pennsylvania, others have
claimed it in Ohio; and still others in
Michigan.
our good friends in Franklin County, IN
this State, have said it was born there.
think on the question OF time, none SO
hack beyond 1854. Having been an actor
in the political scenes OF those days, pro-
pose, briefly, 10 vlndicste the truth OF his
tory, and show that the great Republican
p arty OF this country had its origin in the
good county Of Oxford, in the State oil
Maine. Political organizations never
originate, pursuant TO well defined plans
formulated 10 advance. In this country
they are the outgrovth OF ideas, which
have engaged the attention OF the public
mind. and which can be best advanced by
cooperative action New questions,
which invite political action, when ignored
DIV old existing parties, create the necessity
for new political organizations, and III
this wsy they are born.
In 1872, think, on the 7th day otJuly'
a Democratic County Convention, to nom
mate Senators and County officers, met on
Paris Hill. Every town and plantation
was represented. The members OF this
convention were divided into two wings
one OF which supported o'Neil W. Robin
son and Lyman Rswson, for the Senate
and the other, James Walker and John J.
Holman. This division Of sentiment orig
.nsted in the action OF portion Of the
party. in boiling Gov HubbArd's re-nom-
nation. DR. John Hubbard, that year,
was the regular democratic candidate for
Governor, and over twenty thousand dem
ocrsts bolted his nomination, on account
oshls approval OF the Maine Liquor Law,
and voted for Arson G. Chandler. The
Chandler wing or the convention, support
cd Walker and Holman. and the Hubbard
wing Robinson and Rswson.-E. l.. Os-
good. OF Fryeburs, and others, led the
former forces, while Elbridge Gerry, OF
Waterford, AMI others, led the latter.
The fight was long and obstinate, lasting
through the night, until about three O'Clock
the next morning, resulting In the triumph
u the Chandler boilers.
\ resolution was offered by the writer
OF this article, pleiSIng the support OF the
convention 70 regular nominations, and
was laid on the table, by vote OF the Chan
der men. This, and other irregular, out
raceous proceedings on the psrt Of the ma
ilrity, lea % the cSl.i0s Of a Mass Con
veutlou OF the democracy OF old oxford,
20 uomius,e @ new senatorial county tick
e. THIS convention met at Norway. and
was largely attended, nearly every town ia
the county being represented. Hon Noah
Prince. % BuckGe,i. who was then Presi-
dent oi the Senate, presided. Hon. W.
W. Bolster was secretary and DR.. Thos.
II. Brown. was chairman ofthe committee
on resolutions. 10 was an enthusiastic
convention. composed, very largely, OF the
influential true democracy Oft the county.
Hon. Isaac stanley, OF DiNdel1, snd iona
than Moore, OF StoIehlm, were nominated
for the Senate, and William W. Bolster,
County Attorney. other names were al
ded, making fan county ticket. This
ticket poiled handsome vote. Elisha
Winter. who was uoninsted by the Whigs
sud subsequently placed upon this ticket,
was elected Walker and Holman were
elected by very small majority, and at
the next session Or the Legislature, there
being 10 choice OF Governor, by the peo-
pie deserted their party and voted for the
WING candidate, Wm- G. Crosby, for Gov
ern0r. who was elected. This Norway
convention. although it did not elect all It's
nominees, was the death OF the Old demo
cratic party ia oxford County.
The next year, ,lS53) Albert Pillsbury
was nominated BY the democrats, at their
Convention, AZ Bangor, for Governor.
This convention was s drunken, disgrace
n, affair. Many Of the delegates LEFT it
10 disgust, with the desire that aDother
candidate should be put into the field, that
they could couscientiOusly support. Pub
lie sentiment in the party, was ripe for
revolt. but there WAS no one who would
take the responsibility TO lead of.
At length, the men who called the Nor
way convention, inaugurated measures,
which resulted in calling Mass State
Convention. The call for the same was
written by your correspondent, who, in
company with the late Hon. Rufus S.
Stevens, went TO Portland, had 1t printed
and sent 70 different parts OF the State.
Hon. Arson p. Morrill, was nominated
for Governor, by reclamation, and at the
following Stats election received l,o27
votes, defeating PIllsbury and the Demo-
cratic party.
The next year, Morrill, was elected Gov
ernor.
twill be thus seen, that the convention
a. Norway, in ls5., was the first organized
revolt against the old democratic party
that this revolt led TO the nomination of
Morrill,, and the decentralization OF that
party, aud the subsequent union Of demo-
Gratis, Wings, andfree sellers which origin
ally made up the republican party.
Had there been no Norway convention
in 1852. there would have been no Portland
convention ia 1888, and no union triumph
10 the fsn elections Of 1854. The republic
can party in Maine, was really and sub
stausially formed at AuSusts, in the winter