The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-04
CAMPAIGNS
CONGRESSIONAL
L-Formation of the Republican Party
By FREDERIC ! HASKIM

1850 had settled the slavery question.
The election OF 1852 had killed the
Wing party. The abolitionists were
discredited. There was peace.
But the slavery issue was again to
be brought TO the fore, but not by
the Abolitonists Uncle Toms
Cabin" appeared in 1852, and II Gre
ated a great wave of anti-slavery SEN
timent at the north. The south cried
out in vain against its untruthfullness
Mrs. Stowe had caught the popular
chord at the north. As is nearly al
ways the case professional politicians
could not read the signs OF the times.
The great Democratic victory OF 1852
was interpreted to mean that all eff
fective opposition TO slavery extension
was dead. Senator Douglas of Illi-
nois introduced in the senate the
famous Kansas-NebraskA bill. proYid-
Ing for the organization OF the terri
tory OF Nebraska and leaving the
question OF slavery TO be determined
by the people of the new territory
Ihls, or course, nullified the Mis-
souri, compromise of 1920 which pro-
yided that after Missouri was admit.
ted no new slave state should exist
north OF the southern boundary of
Missouri. But the Kansas Nebraska
OH was not enough. Douglas accept.
er an amendment specifically repeal
ing the Missouri compromise. The
bill passed both houses after furious
debates and was signed by President
Pierce in May. 1854. The bin was a
distinct pro-slavery measure. vet II
was introduced by a northern sena-
tor' passed by a congress in both
houses OF which there was a majority
OF northern men, and was signed by
a northern president.
A meeting OF anti-slavery Whies
and Free Soil Democrats AT Rinon
Wisconsin. in March. 1854. was the
hrst organized effort to form a new
party New party movements and
political revolutions generally have
come out OF the west. and this was No
exception. The Ripon meeting resuIt.
ed In the formal dissolution OF the
local committee composed OF tbrae
wings, one Free Soil Democrat and
one democrat The name "Repub-
mean was then suggested. but not
adopted. A Few months later at
jackson, Michigan, the new party was
formally launched. II did not insist
upon the name, but invited the coon.
eratlon or all anti-slavery Wings all
free Soil Democrats, and ALI Den,.
ocrats opposed to the Douglas meas.
ures. The Democrats were I'm tho me-
Iority, so the campaign as A. -
crossed. grew into a battle ha.uiao,,
the administration Democrats on 90
side and the anti-Nebraske coal,,JH,,
on the other The result was tha,
',e new mouse OF representatives
Ihoseh In 1894 was made up OF ~
democrats 40 know-Nothings, los
ah'i-Nebraska men and about 20 who
We're undecided what party to tojn
"hen the same congress came IN on
END the party alignment was los Pc
publicans, SO Democrats and "a
americans, or Know. Nothings.
II was evident that no parry could
reconcile It's northern and soutbarn
members. They might be brougb, -
vote Tor a presidential candidatS bn,
their action In congress wouId 30 -,
largely by sectional feeling Tho ret
erners in both old parties bad oo -,
ploilllsed Wlth the southern wing. Now
SA1bAA - Oh DuDI1C iphfgv
lloh against the repeal OF the Mis-.
souri, Compromise made possibIo 10
formation Of a purely sectional nart'.
"a party which had no southern wiz.
70 treat with. which expected no sontb'
ern votes, and which could tbereSora
ignore the south. ''' CUT
IWo years later. in 1856. tho row
republican party held its 0rs, -,
tional convention and nominated C.
the presidency General John = Er o'
mont. The know-nothlngs held tbair
only national convention and nomod
Mlllard Fillmore. who was afterwsrd.
endorsed by sad gathering of IN
remnant OF dhe Wings. The nom.
Gratis nominated James Buchanan Nh
was elected. The Democrats carri go
five free states-California. uIinois Ia
diana, New Jersey and Pennsvlvania
For the first time a sectional narty
had made a great campaign. Fremon,
getting ia electoral votes TO ia FOR
Buchanan, and 8. those OF MARYLAND
for Fillmore. The Republican party