The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
The First Republican Convention
ny rnEDEn1c j. IAsKIN.

4 ny FREDERIC j. IIASKIN.
The first national nominating con-
lventio:l OF the Republican party met
Gin Philadelphia on June II, 1855. 1t
drought into existence the most mag
Ita;ltlon known to the annals OF Amcri-
cnn history. From that convention,
(which nominated Fremont anu Dayton,
Ito the convention which Will meet in
! Chicago this week to name the Repub-
llicun candidates to succced Roosevelt
land Fairbanks. is a far cry. The first
convention was an unorganized gather
ling OF men who were brought together
because of their opposition to slavery
yet they dared not say aloud that
they opposed 1t. It was q gathering OF
men who were impelled by the belief
lin IL common cause to form an organ,
Izat'on. yet they were almost afraid to
take the step of launching a new par
ty
The convention which will meet In
iChicaSo this week VIII be as thor
onghly organized as refined party ma
chincry can make IT. The delegates
Twill not be the leaders OF their peo-
lple, as in 1856. but they Will be the
mouthp,eces of the Organizations be-
hind them Afraid. In 1876, to break
away and form new party. the con-
lsention of 1908 will find 1t difficult.
I'm it's heart Of hearts, to understand
why any other party has tho nerve
to presume to oppose II. Whctner one
lis a Republican or Democrat OF an
independent mugwump, he ~ forced 10
admire the spirit of the Republican
party which has builded up the splen-
Ibid and compact organization of to-day
upon the wrecks of all the parties that
appeared to oppose the Democrats IN
1.-THE sixty years after tho fail of the
lFederalists.
N
lization was born ut Jackson Michi-
gan, on July 6. 1854, when the first
lState convention of the organization
was held. The name was hrs. APP
iplied by Avian r. Bovay. OF Ripon, WE
Iconsjn who suggested 1t as an admir-
ling of Wings. anti-Nebraska Demo-
lcrats and Free Sellers held at Ripon
on February %. 1854. Horace greeley,
lin the New York Tribune, was heading
the movement for a new party, and lie
Iseized upon Bovay's suggestion OF Re
publican" Other States followed the
Example of Michigan. and In May the
first Republican State convention in
Illinois was held at Bloomington Upon
THAT occasion Abraham Lincoln made
La speech which ranks with the greatest
lorations OF all time.
Notwithstanding the great victories
| of the election of 1854. which place y
Republican in the Speakers chair of
1.-THE House of Representatives. although
| the party did not have a majority, tho
tnew organization was extremely weak.
lThe Republican Association of Wash
lington city made the first movement
for a national organization by send
ling out call for a meeting to be
held at Pittsburg on February -. 1856.
THAT convention was attended by dele
Igates from all the free states and
from Missouri MARYLAND. Virginia,
Kentucky and South Carolina. t was
fairly representative of all those po-
Illtical factions which opposed the fur
Their extension OF slave territory. i:
decided to fight-Horacc Greeley be-
ling the leading figure In the assem-
Iblage. Therefore. II formed national
committee and called nominating
convention to meet in Philadelphia on
June 18th.
Between February and June there
was evidence that the North aud West
were inclining toward the new party
with even greater enthusiasm than was
Iexpected Thus it was that many Of
believed that the candidates they named
lsurely would he elected. Following
THE example of the Pittsburg conference
land obeying the stern dictates of po-.
clear that the new party stood for
restriction of slavery to its present
boundaries; and not for abolition. II
declared for the admission of Kansas
as free State. And then II concluded
with an utterance prophetic of the ma
know during the long rule of the par
Ity-it declared for government aid to
la Pacific railway and for river and
|harbor improvements.
While the convention was attended
|by delegates from all the free States
land from Delaware. Kentucky and
Maryland it was a most irregular
body. The call from Pittsburg had con-
templated a meeting, Of delegates on
the basis of representation which now
many delegates as it had votes in the
ELECTORAL college, But as a matter of
fact, at the convention New York had
|ninets-six delegates, PENNSYLVANIA
some of the States had but one.
Candidates We're selected by taking
Ian "informal ballot" in Which every
delegate voted as he pleased This was
followed by formal ballot" in which
the will of the convention was Off
|cially expressed The informal ballot
was a kind of "get-together" testswhich
would not be tolerated in these days
|of advanced political organization.
When the time came to name the cam
names prominently before the conven-
ton. They We're William II. Seward, of
Now York; John Mclean and Salmon
|P. Chase. of Ohio, and John G. Ere
mont, 1.-THE Pathfinder.@st seward did
mot believe the party had chance to
win. and he caused his name to be
Withdrawn. Judge Mclean did not
share the enthusiasm OF the delegates,
land he declined, as did Chase. Nc
I4ean's support would not permit his
name to BIO dropped, however, and
fought on. But the first informal bal
lot showed that Fremont was the choice
|of the convention.
The contest for yice-President was
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