New-York tribune., 1904-09-18
WHO NAMED THE REPUBLICAN, p4RrYy


The celebration last Wednesday Of the fiftIeth
anniversary Of the organization Of the Repub-
can party in this State has revived many memo
ries Of tentative, early day Republcanism. The
Hon. Frederick W. Seward in his speech at
Saratoga, described the ti-Nebraska League
OF 1854 hastily formed of Wings, Demo
''cTats, Free Sellers. 'Hards,' Softs,' 'Hunkers'
"and Barn Burners diverse in origin, but
united in purpose, which crystallized into the
Republican party" In every State in the
North and West powerful influences were at
work TO disrupt, old partisan ties and 10 create
new ones; and by the end OF the year the in
trudng organization had become national, with
a distinct platform and an accepted party des-
ignation 1t is easy enough to show TO what
influences Republicansm owed its birth and
its amazing growth. But when and how it got
its name is a problem which still puzzles the
historian.
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 evi-
dence the author arrives at the conclusion that
''the entire credit should not be given TO one
man." This decision is doubtless sound. Yet
examination of the conflicting claims made
for the honor Of baptiZng the new organiza-
ton will develop some facts Of very general
and timely interest. In many quarters the be-
lief is firmly held that Horace Greeley named
the party. Mr.. Greeley himself never made
that claim. Yet 1t can be easily established
that, whoever first suggested the party desig-
nation, 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 incontroverti-
BILE A. n Cole of Wellsville Allegany County.
recognized as the Father Of the Republican
Party I'm New-York State" has put on record
the fact that in April 1854, when he was en-
gagged in organizing new anti-savery party in
Western NewYork, he wrote TO Mr. Greeley
asking him 10 suggest an appropriate party
name. Mr.. Greeley's reply was: Call it Re
publican. no prefix. no sufix. but plain Re
publican" This letter was published in Mr.
Coles newspaper, The Genesee Valley Free
Press" But neither the original letter nor
copy Of the newspaper issue containing II has
been preserved, both the letter and the files Of
the newspaper having been destroyed in a fire
which occurred in Mir. Coles office in 1857 In
The Tribune Mr. Greeley did not use the title
Republican until June 16 1854, when he pub
lished an editorial entitled Party Names and
Public Duty" In this he said:
Accepting and upholdlng those ideas of pub
lie policy which used to characterize the Whig
party prior 10 1852, and agreeing substantially
with the Free Democratic party in all ii affrms
q
union of all those members OF the two parties
who believe resistance to the extension Of Slave
Territory and Slave Power the most urgent
public duty OF day. We should not much
whether those thus united were designated
"Whig," Free Democratic or something else;
though we think some simple name Iilta re,
publican would more f1ty designate those who
had united 10 restore our union to it's true mis-
sion or champion and promulgator Of Liberty
rather than propagandist OF Slavery.
This editorial appeared three weeks in ad-
vance Of the Under the Oaks convention AT
Jackson, Mich. which incorporated the title
Republican into its platform. 1t also ante
dated all the other anti Nebraska or 'Repub-
lican" State conventions OF that wear. MIR
Greeley had earlier written TO leaders in Michi-
gan urging the use Of the new party designa-
tiOn.
In bis history Mr. Curtis publishes an inter
esting summary also of the part played by A.
l.. Bovay, of Ripon, Wis. in naming the Re
publican party. Mr. BOvay organized an anti
Nebraska party movement in Ripon in Febru-
arg IS54 But as early as 1852 he had been
convinced OF the necessity OF creating a new
party TO hght slavery. In 1852 while the Scott
Pierce canvass was in progress. Mr. Bovay-
according TO writer in "The Chauta uouan'' for
September, 1897. Mr.. Charles M Haryey-had
a talk with Mr.. Greeley at Lovejoy's Hotel in
this city. in which he BOvay) predicted the dis
solution Of the Whig party and the founding of
a newer ana stronger party on its ruins. Asked
by Air. Greeley what name the new organization
would take, Mr.. Bovay answered "Republlcan."
L<etters are also given which show that Mr..
Boysy early IN 1854 was urging Mr. Greeley 20