The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-20

WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?
The probable formation of a new po-
litical party at St. Louis, July %, having
for its chief aim the restoration of sill
yer to its proper place as one of the
money metals of the country, calls to
mind the history of the formation of the
Republican party which had for its sole
aim the restriction of slavery extension.
The conditions now and then are not
greatly different. The following bit of
history, which may be repeated, is taken
from the Globe Democrat:
When, on January %, 1854, Stephen
A. Douglas presented his Kensas-Ne-
braska bill to the senate to repeal the
Missouri compromise, and give slaN cry
an equal chance with freedom in the
territory north of SO degrees 30 minutes
north latitude, the more agaciOus Wing
and Democratic opponents of slavery ex-
tension began to see that this new peril
to freedom could not be successfully
combatted in the old parties, and new
organization was at length determined
upon. February %, 1854, gathering of
representative Wings, Democrats and
Free Sellers was held at a church in
Ripon, Wis, at which the new party
idea was put forward, aud on March 20 a
new party was started in that town, the
party's sole Issue being opposition to
slavery extension. At this meeting the
Republican name was adopted The
name was accepted in the adjoining
towns in Wisconsin, and by the state con-
vention on July ID. Before the latter
date, however, the movement had ex-
tended to many other states in the north.
and with it went the name. The move
ment received an impetus from meet
ing of 30 Wing and Democratic mem bers
h.l6 a. Rha in ali
ington of two Massachusetts members.
Ellis and Dickinson, May 25, the day
after the bill was scnt to President
Pierce. These congressman used their
influence to extend the new party and
make il accept the Republican name.
Several state conventions adopted the
name in 1854. the first of them being
that which met at Jackson, Mich, July 6.
By the close of 1855 the new party had
extended over the whole north, though
it was yet in a somewhat nebulous con-
dition, and many of its members called
themselves along to this time merely
Anti n braska men. & national organiza-
ton was not yet formed, but steps were
taken toward it in January, 1856, whsn
the chairmen of the Republican state
committees of several states jointly is
sued a call for meeting of representa-
tives of the party throughout the coun-
try, to convene at Pittsburg on February
22, 1856. This gathering, of which
Francis P. Blair of Maryland, was made
permanent president, and George w.
Julian of Indiana, chairman of the COM
mittee on organization, was participated
in by many of the leading anti-slavery
men of the country. At this meeting a
Republican national committee was
formed. From the formation of this
committee at the conference or conven-
ton of representative Republicans which
met on February 90. 1856, at Pittsburg,
the life of the Republican party ma
tional organization dates. The national
committee formed at that Pittsburg gath
ering called Republican national nomi-
mating convention, which met at Phila-
delphia on June II, 1855, and put up
John c. Fremont for president and Will
liam L Dayton for vice president.