Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-20
Birth of the Repuhlican Partr Ceiehrai


STRONG (Me.), August 19th.-On the 9TH
of August, 1854, County Convention was
held here, which organized in the name of
the Republican party, nominated full
county ticket and adopted Republican
platform. 1t is claimed by the people of
Franklin county that this Convention gave
birth 10 the Republican party ofthe United
States. The claim has been disputed, but
surviving members ofthe Convention claim
that it was the first to formally adopt the
name of Republican" and a distinctly
Republican platform. They celebrated the
Both anniversary to-day. The date was
postponed from the 7th to the 10Th, in or
der not to interfere with other celebrations.
The town was crowded with people, and
decorated with flags streamers and BAN
ners. On one was printed the original
platform of the Convention of1S54. a new
Blaine and Logan banner, forty feet long,
was raised. The procession formed at 1915
to escort the speakers to the grove Seven
Grand Army Posts headed the procession.
Then followed about fifty political veterans,
present as delegates at the Convention
thirty years ago. The exercises were held
in Hardwood Grove on the hillside, where
the people began to gather as early as
o'clock, The meeting was called to order
at once. Nelson Dingley, Jr., presided.
He made brief speech, principally a re
view of the birth and career OF the Repub
lican party, closing with eulogistic refer
ence TO the party's present candidates.
Blaine, accompanied by Hannibal Hamlin
and Ex-Governor Robie, arrived at > o clock,
and were received with enthusiastic cheers.
Gov. RObic first addressed the meeting in a
brief speech He caused considerable mer-
rimcnt by calling for all in favor of Blaine
for President to raise their hands. The
whole assembly apparently responded.
And now" continued the Governor, "all
those i'll favor of any one else
raise their hands, One man held
up his hand amid roars of laughter,
whereupon the Governor exclaimed, May
God have mercy on his soul Blaine was
loudly called for and upon coming forward
was received with wild applause. He said:
Fellow-citizenS, the place and time where
the Republican party was first organized
will, presume, remain like the birthplace
of Homer, subject to amending dispute
Seven cities claimed the latter, and seven
States may claim the former 1t could
hardly be doubted that great thought
common to the minds of million of men
could find expression at the same time and
place widely separated but | think it is
historically true that the patriotic men who
met III this town of Strong III 1854 were
the pioneers of great movements, which re-
suited in the organization of the Republi-
can party The men of that day builded
better than they knew, and in movement
whose grandeur and whose destiny could
not then be measured. Great parties never
come by whereas and rule-they grow
Parties cannot be improvised or extempo-
rized. They come from an instinct of the
masses of the people, and are not the
product of political labors. Thus it was
with the Federal party, with the old Re
publican party, with the Democratic party,
with the Wing party, and with that great
party whose existence we celebrate to-day
| am here to exchange congratulations
with my old neighbors and old friends
congratulations on all that has been accom-
plished-congratulations on the spirit and
courage of the party. May it continue in
its great work in the future" Blaine's
speech was frequently interrupted by ap-
plause, and he closed amid great enthusi-
asm. Congressman Burroughs, of Michigan
was the last speaker.
A