New-York tribune., 1906-06-20
THE EARLY REPUBLICANS.

The first Republican National Convention. the
ffteth anniversary of whose meeting is now
being celebrated in Philadelphia, was composed
of 665 delegates, every free state being repre-
sented, and Of the slave states Maryland, Della
ware and Kentucky. Times change and memo
ries are short it is surprising TO be re-
minded that Philadelphia in 1856 was of all
the Northern cities the least tolerant of anti
slavery theories and that owing to the parti
san rancor alike of Democrats, Know-Noth-
ings and Old Line Whigs Republican meet
ing in that city at that period was never sure
of escaping a pelting of unsound eggs. Penn
sylvania had been a Democratic state since
1900 and James Buchanan was candidate in
1856 for the Democratic Presidential nomina-
ton. The early Republicans were therefore
playing the role OF missionaries in an enemy's
country, In a state and city which since 1860
have been distinguishing for their unyielding
Republicanism.
In looking over the list Of delegates to the
first convention one is struck by the relative
absence of great party names. OF subsequent
Republican candidates for the Presidency only
One-James G. Blaine-had a voice in the first
national gathering. He had settled in Maine
two years before and at twenty had become
a factor in Maine politics. One future Vice
Presidential candidate, Henry Wilson. then
Senator from Massachusetts. addressed the con-
Massachusetts came also Charles Francis Ad-
ans and E. R. Hoar; from Maine, Governor Ed
ward Kent; from New York, Edwin D. Nor
gan, chairman of the first Republican Ma
tOnal Committee. afterward Governor of this
state; Robert Emmet, chairman of the conven-
ton, and Reuben E Fenton, afterward Gov
ernor and United States Senator. Pennsylvania
sent Thaddeus Stevens, then temporarily in re-
tirement, but soon to re-enter the House of
lamentary leader; David Wilmot the author of
the Wilmot Proviso, and Henry G. Carey the
Protection economist. Maryland was repre-
sented by Francis P. Blair, sr.; Ohio by Will
lam Dennison (afterward GOvernor), Alphonso
Taft and Joshua r. Gddings Illinois by Owen
LovejOy and John NJ. Palmer: Michigan by
Zachariah Chandler and l. 2. Christiancy: Ind
lana by Henry S. Lane; Minnesota by Alexan-
der Ramsey and Kansas by S. @. Pomeroy. OF
these more distinguished leaders only Stevens
Blaine and Wilson were destined to loom excep-
tiOnally large in the history of the party
Not a few Of these early missionaries of Re-
publicanism were also TO drift away from the
organization. In the New York delegation
were A. Oakley Hall, who was subsequently,
elected a Tammany Mayor of this city. and
John BigelOw who became a Democrat in 1872
and was intimately associated in 1875 with
Samuel J. Tilden's canvass for the Presidency.
Alexander K. Mcclure Pennsylvania delegate.
who seconded Fremont's nomination and who
takes part in this weeks celebration at Phila-
delphia, followed Governor Andrew G. Curtin.
OF pennsylvania, into the Democratic party and
was for long time the Editor of The PhiIa-
dephia Times" Il Democratic newspaper John
NJ. Palmer. who announced the withdrawal OF
Abraham Lincoln a candidate for the Vice
Presidential nomination, after serving as q
major general in the war and being elected
Governor of Illinois as a Republican became
a Democrat, was elected United ties Senator
as such, and finally for the residency IN
1895 as the nominee of the anti-free silver Dem
ocrats
Colonel Mcclure in his speech last Sunday
said that Francis P. Blair ST.. and Thurlow
Weed We're the men who really decided the
Presidential nomination in 1856 The delegates
would have chosen Seward if their impulse had
not been checked by the argument that FIRE.
mont would appeal TO a larger circle of voters
ana would be more successful in stirring the
popular Imagination. In pushing that argument
Blair and Weed showed sound political iudg-
Inent. Seward could not have been as avaiIa
bic candidate as Fremont proved to be. and
fremonts work as pathfinder" made Re
publican triumph in 1860 inevitable