The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-05-02
Names of Political Parties.

Name of Political Parties
At the close of the Revolutionary war,
there was but one political party in the
United States, and that Original party
was known universally as the american
( whig Party who had fought the war to
( a successful issue, and had united TO or
/ saDize and sustain new constitution and
government. The war ended in Issi, and
for the next FIVE years few changes IN
politics occurred, but by l7s7, the Wings
or National Party, under the leadership
Of the first President, Washington, Ham
4 ilton, and their associates. that party be-
came known rs .-Federaiists, and all the
opponents of the Wings and their policy
united and formed new party and CALI
ed themselves -Anfi-Federalists."
This Anti-Federalist Party was COM
posed Of all who feared the establishment
of the new central political power, and
these who dreaded the addition of Fed
eral to State taxes, and this party oppos-
ed the ratification Of the new Coastitu-
ton. in conventions and outside, with all
their power and ability. Alexander
Hamilton, the great statesman and finan-
cier. holding the leadership of the Fed
eralists, held the control Of the gov srn-
ment during these trying and troubions
times.
The Anti-Federalist party, early in l7s9,
changed the party name and called Them
selves Republicans" in opposition TO
the monarchical Federalists, as they were
then tauntingly termed by their oppo-
nents. In i7s9 Thomas jefferson return
ed from France, wholly engroSsed and
inspired by the scenes and political de-
velopments of the French Revolution,
and under his influence and leadership,
by 1898, the party in opposition to Wash
ington. Hamilton, and the ether FEEDER
alists. adopted new name and called
themselves the Democratic Republican
Party" Both parties continued to sus-
tain their respective names until the close
of Jefiersons administration, when the
Democrats dropped the word Republican
from their party name and styled them
selves the Democratic Party" as they
have been known ever since that time,
and under this name that party elected
James Madison President in 1872. After
the war Of 1912 the Federalists gradually
faded away and in a few years the party
name of Federalists became extinct, but
their successors, as opponents of1he Dem
ocratie party and policy, formed new
political organization and adopted the
name Of the "Whig Party" the first name
of the party afterward called Federalists.
Wings and Democrats were, Therefore,
the only parties known in the political
field when Andrew Jackson was elected
President in 1923, and so continued, with
some local and unimportant variations
until 1852, when the great Wing Party,
as was tersely said ut the time, died OF
an attempt TO swallow the fugitive slave
law" In 1882 the American party, conf
posed of seceaers from both the old par
ties. was formed. This was a secret, oath
bound political organization, whose name,
nature. and object were not known, even
to members, until they reached the high
er degrees, and thus the party became
known by the popular name OF know
Nothings." Its design was to oppose the
easy naturalization Of foreigners, aud to
elect oaly native-born citizens 10 office.
After the election Of 1856 the Southern
Democrats withdrew their support from
this party and it then disappeared from
the politics of the country.
The Free Soil party was formed in
1852. and embraced all members of all
other parties who we're opposed to the
extension of slavery into the free States
and territories, and for the next four
years this new party increased very rap
idly.
The passage of the Kansas Nebraska
( bill by the Democratic Congress in 1854,
quickly and firmly united all opponents
of the ruling Democratic slave oligarchy
/ policy into the great National Republ-
can Party and the Republican National
/ Convention, in 1886, adopted that name
and nominated John c. Fremont for
/ President and james Buchanan was
nominated and elected by the Democrats.
/ In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected by
/ the Republicans, which election resulted
Z in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, dur
/ ing which time patriotism nearly oblii-
Grated party lines, and The wardestroyed
the slave power, emancipated the slaves
and settled foregT that great political
I question that had divided the great par
ties ever since the origin of the govern
ment. The Republican Party retained
/ the political power and control of the
National Government for twen,y-four
years, until 1881. when that party was
defeated by the Democrats. who elected
Mr.. Cleveland, the present President.
Since 1884 both parties have settled into
their old position, with tariff reform as
/ the ruling political question Of the hour,
and as Democratic and Republican voter 5
will contest and decide the campaign Of
lSSS; the Prohibition and Labor Party
being also in the field with suggested
candidates for President
IrX. Try. Again.