The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-07-14
Republican S0mi-Centennial
The 5Oth Birthday of the Party to be OBJ
served at ottawa, ILL.,, August LIST.

Fifty years ago, Oh August l, 1894,
the Republican party was launched
the political sea at Ottawa, III.
1t has been decided to celebrate the
golden anniversary in notable style on
the 1stof August, 1904, at that place,
and already extensive preparations are
under way by the leading members of
the party i'll Illinois. 1t may not be
possible 10 secure the presence OF Pres
ident Roosevelt, although he will be
given an urgent invitation. The noml-
State officers and many other men
prominent in public life will be pres
ent and deliver addresses. The semi
centennial celebration is to be the for
NAL commencement of the campaign of
1904 in Illinois, and if the attendance
from outside States is up to expecta-
tions, it may be said TO be the begin
ming of the campaign for the party In
the entire country. No more interest
ing political anniversary could be cee
brated, and the fact that the Republl-
can party is fifty years OF age and with
a matchlesS record in the political his
tory of the United States will be
powerful aid to the success at the polls
in November. The leaders of the Or
ganiZation in central Illinois are keen
" appreciative of the effect of a sue
cessful demonstration for such an oc
casion, and that it will grow to nation
al scope and Importance seems assured.
The meeting i'll Ottawa on August l,
1854. promises to grow in historic inter-
est when Its history is exploited and
some of he events connected there
with are recalled. SO far as known,
there is but one survivor, and he is J.
+. Linton of Columbus, Ohio. Mr..
Linton is now living in retirement, but
enjoys excellent health. He has pre-
pared a number of articles OF an his
turical nature. which will be replete
with interest in connection with the
anniversary. Bronson Murray, one OF
the participants, resided III Pontiac,
H., for a number of years, but later
went to Boston, where he resided for
long time. Nothing has been heard
from him for some time, and it is
thought that he is dead. leaving Mr..
Linton as the lone survivor of the IA
nous gathering.
THE OTTAWA CALL.
The latter recalls that Cassius NJ.
CLAW of Kentucky visited northern IL
linois about month prior to the Otta-
wa convention in 1854 and addressed
meetings in Chicago, Joliet, Ottawa,
La Sale. Bloomington and other places,
exciting a great deal of anti-slavery en-
thusiasm. His speeches had an Intiu-
ence towards the calling Of the Ottawa
convention. The call was brief, and
read: ga general mass meeting for all
those opposed to the encroachmentS of
slavery, without distinction of party,
to organize such opposition rs may be
deemed necessary and expedient.'
The Rock Island railroad granted a
half-fare to those attending. The at
tendance was estimated at 500. The
farmers were in the midst of their har-
yesting and hands were demanding
from - to s. per day. The time, there
fore, was inopportune for a large at
tendance OF those present it was es-
timated that about one-half had been
acting with the Wing party, one-fourth
with the Democratic, and the remain
ing fourth with the Free Sellers. The
meeting WAS harmonious upon the
question of restricting slavery and
keeping it out of the territories, but
there was some difference of opinion
as to the eXpedlency OF organizing a
new party, and when it came to the
choice of a name, SOME vigorous OBJ
.Jtt GlOllS Ntlt llldut w Illt hdlllt Ilt-
publican" In the end, however, the
resolutions We're unanimously adopted
substantially as reported by the com
mittee. 1t the delegate convention
held IN Bloomington on the 18th of
September, to nominate a candidate
for Congress, objections We're made
botA to the name and some of The
planks in the Ottawa platform.
The questions were debated with a
good deal of warmth throughout the
greater part of the afternoon but it
WAS finally decided that the party was
formed, It's principles agreed upon and
its name fixed at Ottawa, and that the
convention had but one duty to per-
form, simply to choose congressional
candidate \ resolution was adopted
declaring that NO person could be
eligible to a nomination unless he I'M
equivocaIly stood upon the platform of
principles adopted at Ottawa, and
pledged himself. if defeated for the
nomination, not to run as the candidate
of any other organization. Jesse O.
Norton was then called upon and in a
brief speech fairly and unequivocally
accepted the situation. Churchill Cot
fin followed in felicitous speech, in
dorslng everything done at Ottawa,
NllIUIdNlHS from Cle contest IOf Con-
gress and moving the nomination of
Norton by reclamation. Abraham
Lincoln addressed meeting in Bloom
ington in the evening after adjourn
menJ of the Ottawa convention, and
approved of the movement and name.
1t viii be noticed by those who search
the flies of the papers published III Hi
nois at that time that the suggestion
of the convention that all succeeding
county conventions be called under the
name Republican was acted upon
generally throughout the State during
the following month.
SCENE OF FIRST CONVENTION
Mr.. Linton says that the famous
Ottawa convention was held in the
open air in front of the present site of
the courthouse. At that time it was a
commodious yard with large shade
trees. Wells Wait was the temporary
president of the convention and Judge
E. S. Leland the permanent. The sec
retaries were E. L. Bridges, La Sale;
Thaddeus Hampton, editor of the
Ottawa Republican, and Mr.. Linton,
who was then editor of the Peru
Chronicle. "A committee ON resolutions
was appointed consisting of Churchill
Coffin, Peru, who was chairman; Rich
ard ThOrne 4 A Fisher A Woodruff