The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-14

r THE BIRTHPLACE OF
II THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

Where was the republican party
oorn" his question has been am
sNared in MANY ways. and many
places claim the honor of being the
ilrst 70 launch this great political or
sanitation. On the evc of the nations
al convention in Chicago. il is perti-
nHnt TO review the title of Illinois. The
recent death at Los Angeles of Oliver
J.. barton is tho interesting coinci-
dence as he was one OF the two sur
ElN"rs of that famous gathering OF
lll!hols editors at Decatur on Feb. -
1896. which issued the call for tn,
ilrst republican state convention of
illinois. in Bloomington, on MAY 80.
1876. That was the birth of the re.
publican party.
The sole survivor of that group of
editors is Paul Selhy. now of Chicago,
VIII" at that period edited the jack
sonville Journal and who suggested
the assemblage. His first editorial
npon the subject appeared in Dccem-
her. 1855. suggesting hat ali editors
sether to agree on a line of policy
to be pursued in the campaign the
following year.
1t has long been conceded that one
of the most important factors in the
birth of the republican party was the
press.
inc ilna of conditions tending to
promote agitation of the slavery olles-
tion was reached in the approval by
me president On May 80. 1854. of the
hansas-Ncbraska bill repeating the
Missouri compromise and thereby re-
moving tn" restriction against the
introduction of slavery into the terri
tory north of the parallel of 60 de.
srees and 80 minutes. The condition
OF political affairs existing between
1921 n 1886 was n Of chaos. Par
tlcs were disintergrating and their
mutually repcllent elements were seek.
ing now associations. A~nti-slavery
democrats and anti-slavcry wings we.c
found in sympathy and forming al
hances. while the ~proslavery factions
OF both parties We're drifting in !;
similar mi to a common center.
AS a result there was a demand for
the organization Of a new party. based
upon a resistance to the further ex-
tension of slavery.
The editorials by Paul Selby echoed
the popular feeling. The metropoli-
tan and the country press appIalded
ing of h editors was called. Mr.,
Selby was chosen chairman. Abra.
nam Lincoln was a distinguished guest
and helped prepare the resolutions,
probably composing the major portion
They were a carefully written declara-
Tor of the most conservative repub-
llcanism. and the foresight and acu-
men of the authors are best indicated
by the fact that the sentiments as
then expressed were reiterated in the
state and national conventions of the
republican party for several decades
afterward.
The resolutions emphatically PRO
tested against the Introduction Of sia =.
cry into territories already free, or II
extension. and demanded the restora-
uon OF the Missouri compromise. The
editors then recommended the state
convention in Bloomington in Nav,
and concluded their convention with :,
banquet. Lincoln. was the principal
speaker. He was suggested as the
nominee for governor. but he urged,
instead. the nomination of an anti
Nebraskan democrat, and suggested
William II. Bissell. When the con
vention assembled, Lincoln's sugees-
ton was carried out. and, as Lincoln
predicted. Bissell "a elected in No.
veimber.
Convention Largely Attended.
The call for the BLOOMINGTON con-
vention provided for o26 delegates,
but SO intense was the interest that
twice hat number assembled. Passioo
ran high. friends became enemies, anu
parties crumbled to dust.
The convention Of 1856 was not