The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-20
BIRTH OF A GREAT PARTY.
First Republican Convention and the
Contest which Followed.
Philadelphia Ledger.

Philadelphia Ledger.
The national Republican convention Of
1900, appointed TO be held in Philadelphia on
the 18th inst, will be the tslird held by that
party in this city. The first was in 1856.
when the Republican party was launched
on the sea OF national politics. with Ere
mont and Dayton as its candidates. The
second was in 1872. when Grant and Wilson
were made the nominees. Chicago secured
the convention five times-in 1860. 1865. $3.50.
1884 and 1855. II was held in Baltimore in
1864. in Cincinnati in 1876. in Minneapolis in
1892 and in st. Louis in 1896. There are
about a dozen of the survivors of the con-
vention of 1856. and these have been invited
as guests of the assembly of 1900 The
career Of the Wing party practically .ermi-
mated with the campaign OF 1852. Its timid
position on the question of slavery made it
an impotent antagonist OF the Democracy
and its place was taken by the Republican
party. which, although possessing organiza-
lions in various States. had no national
organization until 1856. The preliminary
arrangements were conducted in FIttsburg
on Washington's birthday of hat year and
a convention called TO meet in Philadelphia
on June IL.
While the Pittsburg conference was In
session the American, or Know Nothing"
party had nominated ex-President Millard
Fillmore, of New York, for President. and
Andrew j. Donelson. of Tennessee. for Vice
President. There was a secession from this
convention by delegates, who resisted the
attempt of the national council OF the party
TO dictate the platform for the convention
and who objected 10 the nomination OF any
candidates who were not In favor OF inter-
dieting slavery In territory north of So
degrees 30 minutes by congressional action
The seceders nominated John c. Fremont.
OF California, for President, and ex-Gover-
nor William A.. Johnston. of Pennsylvania,
Cincinnati on June 2. On the seventeenth
ballot James Buchanan. of Pennsylvania.
tors having been President Franklin Pierce,
OF New Hampshire, and stephen A. Doug
las, of Illinois.
When the Republican convention assem-
bled Ii contained representatives from all
the Northern States and Delaware, Mary
land and Kentucky. There appears TO
have been no set rule as 10 the ratio or
representation. An informal ballot was
taken upon the nomination for President,
and John c. Fremont polled s5S; John
Mclean, of Ohio. ls6; Charles Sumner, OF
Massachusetts,, 2, and William II. Seward.
of New York. l. For Vice President. Will
lam L. Dayton. OF New Jersey. polled 296;
Abraham Lincoln. of Illinois. 10; Nathaniel
u. Banks. of Massachusetts. &c; David Will
IS; Jacob Collamer. of Vermont, Is; John A.
King. of New York, 8; s. c. Ponneroy.
of Kansas, s.; Thomas Ford. of Ohio, z:
Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts,, 8; Cassius
NJ. Clay, of Kentucky. 4: William F. John
ston. of Pennsylvania, 2. 1t Is believed
that Fremont's availability consisted In his
popularity as the Pathfinder and the
fact that he was already the nominee OF
the seceders from the American party. The
list of candidates before the convention In
cluded the names of men already cele-
brated. and of some who were TO become
illustrious. Lincoln was TO become Presi-
dent, Seward his secretary of state AMI
Wilson Vice President during Grants sec
ond term.
ance to a call addressed 10 the people OF
the United States without regard to past
political differences or divisions, who were
opposed to the repeal Of the Missouri COM
promise TO the policy of the Pierce ad-
ministration, TO the extension of slavery
into free territory, and in favor of admit
ting kansas as a free State. and OF re-
storing the action of the federal govern
ment TO the principles of Washington and
Jefferson" The platform advocated the
| preservation of the federal Constitution, the
rights of the States and the union OF
the States and was largely taken up with
the slavery question. There was no men
ton Of the tariff or currency In the initial
national platform of the Republican party.
The Wings met at Baltimore on Sept.
IL and nominated Fillmore and Donel-
son. who were already the candidates OF
the American party. After n stormy cam
paign Buchanan was elected. receiving l4
| Fillmore. On the popular vote Buchanan
had 1,S3S,169; Fremont, 1,341.2d, and Fill
more, S74,5s4. Buchanan carried the States
of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware.
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia. Alabama. Florida. Mississippi.
Louisiana. Texas, Arkansas. Missouri. Ten
nessee, Kentucky. Indiana, Illinois and
| California. Fremont carried Maine. New
Hampshire. Vermont. Massachusetts,.
Rhode Island, Connecticut. New York.
| Ohio, Michigan. Wisconsin and Iowa. Fill
more's capture was the solitary State Of
Maryland.
Fremont did not achieve a personal VIC
tory, but as ne was the heroic pioneer OF
the Rockies the great Pathfinder" so
did he blaze the way for the Republican
party, and Philadelphia will be ever MEM
orable as the scene OF the FIRST Republican
national convention.