Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-06-18
REPUBLICAN NOMINEES,
THE ORIGIN OF PARTIES

THE ORIGIN OF PARTIES.
AS this is what is called an ''off year
in politics-no particular issue or policy
of great moment depending for the time
upon the decision of the voters, and
only the general disg-st of the Repuoii-
cans of the state with what is called the
gang at Harrisburg to at all endan-
ger the usual Republican maJority-a
note Of the parties or factions at the be-
ginning of our National Government
may be of interest.
When, after the close of the War for
independence, the colonists recognized
that the further usefulness of the Artl-
cles Of Confederation, which had served
them during the war. was at an end,
and that "a more perfect Union" was
necessary for their common defense and
general welfare, two factions or senti-
ments almost Immediately developed.
One of these favored a strong central
government as being essential to the
financial and commercial success of the
new government, and also as restraint
upon revolutionists and anarchists;
while the others feared Capitalization
as tending towards monarchy, and fav-
ored the sovereignty of the states as the
best security for continued republican
government
Washington, Hamilton, Jay, Adams
and others favored strong central
government, and at that time were call
ed Federalists; while Jefferson, Henry,
Mason, Harrison and others favored
state sovereignty, and were called anti
Federalists or Republicans.
The Constitution adopted was com
promIse-the state sovereignty idea ap-
pearing in it in the equal representa-
tion in the Senate of the states-large
and snail alike.
Washington was elected President,
and framed his cabinet; and he and
Hamilton applied themselves towards
paying off the national debt and estab-
fishing a national credit. Congress, af
ter warm contest between the factions
adopted some revenue measures sug-
gested by Hamilton, including a fax on
foreign and domestic splits.
The collection of this tax was resisted
in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washing
ton and Fayette counties of this state;
riots followed during which several
men were killed; an army Of several
thousand men was organized to resist
the collection of the tax; General eNev-
lille, the Collector, was driven out of
the country; and there was sentiment
In favor of establishing new republic
west Of the mountains. all Of which
Washington crushed by sending an
army of fifteen thousand men TO Pitts
burg.
During Washington's administration
the contest between the two factions
was waged with bitterness, and besides
this, the French Revolution was in pro-
gress at that time, and emissaries from
that country made trouble in this-par-
ticularly in the Mississippi valley.
Washington was succeeded by
Adams, also Federalist; and then the
states rights or local sovereignty idea
prevailed, and Jefferson was elected,
and that party. first called Republican
and afterwards Democratic, continued
in power. with the exception of the one
month that Harrison was in Office, un
til the election of Taylor and Fillmore
by the Wing or Tariff party built up
by Henry Clay, in 1s49.
They were succeeded by Pierce and
Buchanan, Democrats 1.-The latter being
the only Pennsylvania ever elected
President. Then came the anti-Slavery
agitation, and the election of Abraham
Lincoln, on that issue in 1861, followed
by the secession of the Southern states
from the Union and the Civil War
and the political history of the country
since is well known to the present gen.
GRAFTON.
The Republican party OF today is the
successor of the original Federal party
in that it .favors a strong, central gov
ernment; and also of the Wing party,
as it adopted Henry Clays protective
tariff ideas.
1t has met and solved the money and
all other great questions that arose, the
country has prospered wonderfully un-
der its administrations, it now has a
President who can be trusted to do his
duty in curbing corporate greed, the
lower house of Congress has also shown
a disposition to do what is right in that
direction, and the only menace to the
party and to the Nation at present is
the bunch Of millicnares who have
bought their seats in the United States
Senate with money, and hold them by
patronage, and who block legislation.
vital to the general welfare.