The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-08-20
Questionable Honor.

4.
Strong, Maine, 19.-On the 9TH OF
August, 1854, county convention
Fas held here, which was organize
and named the Republican party. II
nominated a full county ticket and
adopted Republican platform. 1t
is claimed by PEOPLE of Franklin
County, that this convention gave
birth to the Republican party OF the
United Sta es. The claim is dis
puted, but the surviving members
of The convention claim it was The
frat formally to adOps the name
"Republican" and adopt distinctly
Republican platform. They cele-
brated their thirtieth anniversary
to day.
The date was postponed from the
9Th to the 9th in order not to inter-
fere with other celebrations. The
town is crowded with people and
decked with flags, streamers and
banners. On the list is printed the
original platform OF the convention
OF 1854. A new Blaine and Logan
pole, forty feet long, was raised. A
procession formed at 1915 to escort
the speakers to the grave. Seven
grand army posts headed the plo-
cessi0n; then followed shout Fifty
political veterans, present as dele.
gates at the convention thirty years
ago. Exercises were held in Hard
Wood grove, on the hillside, where
the people began to gather
as early as s O'clock. The
meeting vs. called to order at once.
Ni'son Eingley Jr., presided. He
made brief spsech, principally
confined to a review of the birth
and caresr of the Republican party,
closing with an eulogistic reference
to the paftiss present. Candidate
Blaine, accompanied by Hannibal
Hamlin and ex Governor ROBBIE, ar
rived at 2 O'Clock and were received
with enthusiastic cheers. Governor
Robbie first addressed the meeting in
a brief spec ch. He caused consid
cradle merriment by calling for all
in favor OF Blaine for President to
raise their hands. The whole as
semhly appsl emily Responded. "Aud
now" continued the COVE rnor,
"all those in favor of
anyone el-e raise their hands," One
man held up lis hand, amid roars OF
laughter, whereupon the Governor
exclaimed: "Miy 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 tie Republican party was
first organized, will, 1 presume, re-.
main like tue birth plsc of Homer,
a subject Of continued dispute.
Seven cities claimed the latter, and
eeven states may claim the for
mer. 1t could hardly be doubts d
that a great thought, common
to the minds OF milIions OF men
could fi2d expression at The same
time and at a place widely separ tied;
bat l think it is historically true that
the patriotic man who met in this
town of strong in 1854. we're the
pioneers of the great movement
which resulted in the oYganiz stion
OF the Republican party. The men
Of that day builded better than they
knew: and in it was a move
ment whose grandeur and
whose destiny conld not then
be measured. Great parties never
CONS by a whereas ard rule. They
grow. Parties cannot be impro-
vised or extemp9rizad. They come
from an instinct in the masses of
the people and are not the product
of political orders. Thus it was
with the federal party, with the old
Republican party, with the Demo-
cratic party, with The wing party,
and with that great party whose
existence we celebrate to-day.
I am here to exchange congratula
lions with old neighbors and old
friends congratulations on all that
has been accomplished, congratala.
tons that the spirit and courage of
the party may continue It's great
work in the future. Blaine's speech
was fr, quently interrupted by a.
plause and he closed amid great en-.
thusiasm. Congressman Burroughs,
Of Michigan, was the last speaker.