Evening star., 1896-02-12
Inception Of the Republican Party
on District Soil.
THE HISTORIC POLITICAL STRUGGLE
Splendid Achievements of Wash
ington Men in the Fifties.
A S R Rim G ST DRY

To the old republicans of the District of
Columbia who will participate in the cele-
bration on the 22d of February of the
founding of the party the intervening fort
night will be rich in "reminiscences. OF
those who Joined in the beginning of the
party very few survive after the lapse OF
forty years. The beginning of the republi-
can party is variously accounted for. There
was a sporadic appearance of republican
clubs in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Massa-
chusetts and Pennsylvania. The earliest
date to be claimed for the organization of
republican club has been, for many years,
a matter Of dispute. 1t ia, however, gen-
orally conceded that the republicans Of the
District Of Columbia first pero the op-
portuntty and the possibility Of organizing
great national party.
Five men met Informally in the early part
of June, 1855, and talked of the idea of
forming club. The result was that on the
18th Of that month a small club was or
ganfzed and platform was adopted.
The Original Members.
The members of that club which began
the work of national organization that ulti-
mately resulted in the election of Abraham
Lincoln, during the years 1855 and 1856
were VIM. Blanchard, Martin Buell., w. w.
Bassett. Jacob Bigelow. d. j. Bishop, Geo.
o.
VIM. Durr, F. S. Evans, B. B. French,
Jacob Fussell, d. r. Goodloe Jas. Gooch, j.
c. Gibson, Joseph Gerhardt A. Higley.
David Miller. ]. r. Mcclellan, VIM. Ock-
stadt, j. F. Polk, ]. w. Pegg, VIM. Pope,
S. L. Partridge. A. c. Richards, j. H. Rob-
erts, c. p. Russell, H. j. Schreiner and NJ.
NJ Ward.
The moving spirit in the organization was
MI. Lewis Clephane, to whom, for q state
ment OF facts concerning those times, the
iocal historian must always turn. He says
that for some time no president was
chosen. the hope being that Francis p
blair, ST., the veteran editor of the Globe
would consent to accept the position. Per-
suasion failed for weeks to induce him to
do SO. as he had decided in his old age to
retire from active politics. Finally, how
ever, 1t was arranged that the club should
elect him president and he would resign
with letter for publication defining his
l. 1856, and was published in all the promi-
| nent newspapers of the country, and print
ed In pamphlet form by the association and
| largely circulated. 1t had a powerful eff
feet, says Mr.. Clephane, upon the demo-
| cratic party, and caused many to desert old
party ties and unite with the republican
party.
A few days later the club, through a
committee consisting of Daniel r. Goodee,
H. s. Brown and Mr. Clephane, issued an
address to 1.-The friends of the republican
movement throughout the United States"
The object Of this address was to multiply
the organization of clubs all over the
country.
Urging Organization.
I'VE recommend prompt organization
said the address. IF there be but six
persons in your town who sympathize with
you in this movement organize with these
six. Do not despair. If republican as
socation can be put in successful opera
ton in Washington city, under the i'm
| mediate frown of the national government,
and in city dedicated to slavery, where is
| there the city, town or village in the north,
east or west that cannot DO likewise?"
I'VE appeal, sir, to you. to make this
personal duty-o set about at once bring
ing the friends of the republican movement
together, for the purpose of organization
| on platform similar to the one which ac-
companies this. and which you will find
SO liberal on the slavery question that
every man who is not entirely welded to
slavery and its interests may stand upon
1t, without its interfering with any of his
former party predictions.
And now a word to the association
we represent. You will perceive in the
fou1 tn and fifth articles of the constitution
its main object. We propose to act In
concert with the republican members of
Congress and all associations that may
be formed throughout the states, similar
TO our own, as national committee for
the dissemination OF political Informal ton
among the masses. We have taken hall
In a central position, established reading
room for the benefit of our visiting repub-
lican friends, and have made arrange
ments for the issue in pamphlet form of all
important speeches that may be made
during the present Congress. We have
| also engaged the services of very compre-
tent German translator with the intention,
should the cans be afforded. to have
many of the speeches translated into the
German language"
This appeal stimulated the formation of
clubs. Hundreds of republican associa-
tons were formed in the year 1855, which
| maintained their organization with in
creasing membership and influence up to
and past the inauguration of Lincoln in
1851. There had been sporadic organiza-
| tons Of political anti-slavery clubs as far
back as 1854 in several of the states, but
there was never any effort at general or
gan1Zation, and when election Time came
| they usually coalesced with the other par
| ties in order to carry some local ticket
There were then almost a dozen different
abolition, whig. free soil, peoples party,
anti-Slavery and the American or know
nothing party.
A National Convention.
In response to feeling that there was
an opportunity to form out Of the scattered
| fragments Of parties one general strong or
| ganizatlon there was issued January IL,
| 1856, a call signed by the governors of
| five states who were partially elected by
republican votes and We're in affiliation
with the republican organization, for
convention to be held in Pittsburg Feb
! ruary %, 1856, for the purpose Of perfect
| Ing the national organization, and pro-
viding for national delegate convention
| of the republican party at some subsequent
| day to nominate candidates for the presi-
dency and vice presidency, to be supported
| at the election in November, 1885,
| This Pittsburg convention, held forty
| years ago, is regarded as the beginning Of
| the existence of the party as a national
party. Mr.. CIephane was present as dele
| gate from the District of Columbia. Mr..
blair was sent from Maryland. There were
| free soilers. knownothings, abolishionists,
| wings and democrats in the convention, all
| pulling at cross purposes. Nothing was
| done. After an unsuccessful caucus the
| hight Of February 81, a successful effort
| was made to get together before the con-
vention opened next morning a few men
| representing leading states to discuss fu-
| ture plans. There met in this meeting
| Owen Lovejoy Of Illinois. VIM. Dennison of
| Ohio, E. D. Morgan OF New York, Gov K
| S. Bingham of Michigan, J. w. Stone of
| Boston, C. NJ. X. Puleston Of New Jersey
and Mr.. Clephane.
! AS result of this conference the conven-
| ton was organized with Mr.. Blair for pres
| ident. The convention recognized the Re-
publican Association of Washington, an i'm