The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-11-21
HIsToRY oF PoLTTIcAL PARrIEs.

United States is an interesting study.
In colonial times the two parties were
Rhig and tory, the former opposing the
exactions OF the crown and the latter
supporting the monarchy. After the
revolutionary war the wings were di-
vided in sentiment one desiring a gov
eminent republic IN form and demo-
cratic in >pirit. The other desired a
republican form of government with
strong checks upon the peopIe-Iiberty
regulated by law and the law strength
ened by central authority of the ma
tionaI government. The tory party Of
course went out of business.
The strong government wings be
came the strong federal party and the
wings, contending for state rights and
opposing the Capitalization ofHpOwer,
became the anti-federal party. Among
the great leaders Of the federal party
were Washington, Adams and Hamil-
ton. Among the anti-federals we're
Jefferson, Randolph and Madison. In
1888 the anJi-federal party became the
republican party, so the opposing par
ties stood federal and republican
equivalent to the democratic party
The federal party was defeated in
1900, John Adams being the president
ial candidate of the federals and Thorn
as Jefferson of the republicans. In
1905 the republicans changed their
names to democratic party. Jefferson
served two terms and at the close of
his administration recommended the
policy which became a law that after
January 1, 1905 the African slave trade
should be abolished. The republican,
or democratic, party remained in pow
er from 1900 to 1910.
After its defeat in 1900 the federal
party broke up and the national party,
afterwards called the national repub-
Iican party, was formed, but in 1886 the
name wing was adopted and in 1910
William Henry Harrison, grandfather
of Benjamin Harrison, was elected as a
whig. In 1874 the democrats elected
Polk and in 1S4S the wings elected
Taylor as president. The democrats
elected Pierce in 1852 and Buchanan
in 1856.
Pro-slavery aggression and anti-slav-
cry opposition in the p years proceed
ing the formation of what is now called
the republican party had brought into
existence several parties. There was
the national liberty party, the free sol
party, the loco focOs, the lunkers, the
barn burners and the American party
The latter however being opposed to
the naturalization of foreigners and
their election to office. In the break
up of parties the republican party was
formed in 1856, Fremont and Dayton
being the nominees for president and
vice president.
10 1860 Lincoln was elected and
since that time the history Of parties
is within the memory of men now Iiv
ing.
Two things are quite remarkable
about the history of parties in the
United States and these are-parties
change or swap names and change and
swap policies. The democratic party
was once called republican and favored
protective tariff. Those old partie:
changed sides on great financial quest
ions, such as the currency and a ma
tiOnal bank. The present republican
party once stood for bimetalism but
now stands for a gold standard AMI q
strong segment Of the party whose fun
damental doctrine was a high protect
i've tariff now stand for reciprocity and
a modification of the tariff.
That the peoples party should breal
up is not strange. The old federal
WING and American parties broke up
to say nothing ofsmaller parties which
went into the organization of the re
publican party. There is only room
for two great parties in the United
States.
A minority party that fails to come
into national prominence and take the
reins Of government viii go to piece:
sooner or later. Reforms that it advo
Gates VIII be taken up and carried out
by one OF the old parties, that viii trim
its sails to catch q favoring breeze
The democrats in 1896 stole the pOpuI
ist platform and the trend OF events
now seem TO indicate that the repub
Iican party wiz steal the dnmOcratiC
platform so far as "tarif reform" i: