Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-20
Who Named the Republican Party?

J the n1tleth anniversary of the OrSanl-
cation OF the Republican party in this
state has revived many memories of
tentative. early day Republicanism.
The Hon. Frederick w. Seward, in his
speech at Saratoga, described the
| Anti ebraSka League of 1854 as
hastily formed of Wings, Democrats.
Free Sellers, 'Hurds, 'Softs,' Hunk
ers' and Barn Burners diverse in
origin, but United in purpose, which
clystallized into the Republican
party In every state in the North
ana West powerful influences were at
work to disrupt Old partisan ties and
to create new ones; and by the end of
the year the intruding organization
had become national, with a distinct
Platform and an accepted party desis-
nation. 1t is easy enough to show to
What influences Repubicanism owed
its birth and its amazing growth. But
| when and how it got its name. is il
problem which still puzzles the his
! torian.
! In Mr.. Francis Curtis's recent two
volume work, THE Republican Party"
| a thorough and painstaking effort is
| made to fix the credit for naming the
party. After weighing all the evidence
the author arrives at the conclusion
! that 1.-The entire credit should not be
given to one man." This decision is
doubtless sound. Yet an examination
of the conflicting claims made for the
honor of baptizing the new orgitniza-
| ton will develop some facts of very
general and timely interest In many
quarters the belief is firmly held thlt
Horace Greeley named the party. Mr..
Greeley himself never made that claim.
Yet it can be easily established that,
whoever first suggested the party
designation. Mr.. Greeley, through the
columns of The Tribune and in private
correspondence. did more than any one
else to secure its general acceptance.
The testimony on this point is in
controvertible. A. N. Cole of Wells
VILE AlleSany county, recognized as
the Father Of the Republican Party
in New York State" has put on record
the fact that in April, 1854, when he
was engaged in organizing a new anti
slavery party in western New York, he
wrote to Mr.. Greeley, asking him to
suggest an appropriate party name.
Mr.. Greeley's reply was: call it Re-
publican no prefix, no suffix, but
plain Republican, This letter was
published in Mr.. Coles newspaper,
The Genesee Valley Free Press. But
neither the original letter nor a copy
of the newspaper issue containing it
has been preserved, both the letter and
the files of the newspaper having been
destroyed in fire which occurred in
Mr.. Coles office in 1851. In The
Tril,, yr r.
title Republican until June IS, 1874,
when he published an editorial entitled
Party Names and Public Duty" In
this he said:
Accepting and upholding those ideas |
of public policy which used to |
characterize the Wing party prior to
1882, and agreeing substantially with |
the Free Democratic party in all it |
&nirms with regard to slavery, we |
could wish to see a union of all those |
members of the two parties who be-
lieve resistance to the extension OF
Slave Territory and Slave Power the
most urgent public duty of our day.
We should not much care whether
those thus united were designated
Wing" Free Democratic" or some
thing else: though we think some
-imple name like Republican would
more fifty designate those who had
united to restore our union to its true
mission of champion and promulgator
of Liberty. rather than ropagandist of
Slavery.
This editorial appeared three weeks
in advance of the Under the Oaks"
convention ut Jackson. Mich, which
Incorporated the title Republican"
into itr platform. 1t also antedated all
the other anti-Neb"aska or "Repub-
lican" state conventions of that year.
Mr.. Greeley had earlier written to
leaders in Michigan urging the use of
the new party designation.
In his history Mr.. Curtis publishes an
interesting summary also of the part
played by \. f. Bovay, of Ripon. Wis.
in naming the Republican party. Mr..
Bovay organized an anti-Nebraska
party novement in Ripon in February
1854. But as early as 1857 he had been
convinced Of the necessity of creating
n new party to fight slavery. In 1852
while the Scott Pierce canvass was in
progress. Mr.. Bovay-according to n
writer in The Chautauquan for
September, 1897. Mr.. Charles NJ
Har, ey-had a talk with Mr.. Greeley
at Loveioys Hotel in this city. in
which he Rovay) perdicted the dis
solution of the Wing party and the
founding of Il newer and stronger party
on its ruins Asked by Mr.. Greeley
what came the new organization would
take, Mr.. Bovay answered "Republi-
can" Letters are also given which
show that Mr.. Bovay early in 1854 was
urging Mr.. Greeley to cooperate with
the coming movement and to advocate
in The Tribune the use by the new
party of the designation previously
recommended To these suggestions
Mr.. Greeley finally assented on June
1f. 1854. and from the publication of
the article already quoted the general