The Washington herald., 1914-05-20
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Real Fousdsr qf she Republican
Party.

- oltys /.
Written expressly for The Heraid.)
By DR. \. ,. EDwAKDs.
A day or two before the meeting Of
Congress. In December, issO. for its final
session In ths iadministration Of P-esi-
dent Rutherford B. Hayes. met Gen.
Joseph r. Hawiey in the smoking TOM
rartment Of train running between
New York and washinston. Cen Hav-
ley was to take his seat In the United
States Senate on March { AZ the suces-
sor Of Senator william w. Eaton. OF Con-
necticut. who although Q Democrat, ives
warm personal friend OF tn. general
Several times Gen. Hswiey bad been .
candidate before the Connecticut icgis-
iature for election a. GnftAd ssatss Sem
ato-. Political and factionsl Disturbances
In Connecticut had defeated him. He
was therefore especially sratiied that st
last his highly honorable ambition to rep
resent Connecticut In the Federal Senate
was attained.
In 1880. Gen. Hawley was Q man Of ma
tional reputation. and he had been fire.
quently spoken OF a. an available candi-
date for the Republican Presidential nom-
nation. found Gen. HAwiey In a most
amiable mood. We chStted during the
entire ride from Philadelphia to WASH
ington. Among other interesting state
ments made to me by him was one
which related to Isaac p. Christiancy. Of
Michigan. who. Q year earlier, had re-
signed his seat In the Unied States SEN
ate to accept the somewhat inconspicu-
to Peru.
Il have always felt the greatest inter-
est In Judge christiancy. both n q man
and as q Republican" said Gen. Haw-
ley. II used to be fond, when he was q
member of the Senate. Of going over from
the House to the Senate chamber to have
q little chat with him. told him once
that I always looked upon him as the
real founder Of the Republican party.
and In reply he said to me that no one
man was the founder Of that party. 1t
was created in obedience to q nation
wide impulse.
'T often recalled that when q very
young man heard some Of the poiiti-
clans Of that time speak Of an ardent
from Michigan who took part
In the Free-soil convention at Buffalo In
1s4s, the convention which nominated
Martin Van Buren, for President and
Charles Frances Adams for Vice Presi-
dent. The name itself Of this man made
an Impression upon my mind-Chris-
tiancy. I had never before heard it.
"A few years later, think In 1854.
when ! was beginning to be. active In
politics In Connecticut. read in the
newspapers an account of the manner In
which the 'Free-soil party and the Wings
Of Michigan Perfected o fusion. and II
was said that the man In Michigan who
made that possible was Isaac p. Chris
tiancy. I knew at once that II was the
same man who had taken part in the
Free-soii convention At Buffalo. and I
thought q great deal about him.
That fusion was undoubtedly the be-
Of the Republican party organ
and I believe they still celebrate
In Michigan the fusion and the Repub-
lican organization which Immediately fol-
lowed II. ] have never changed my own
view that so far n any one person de-
serves credit for the organization Of the
party Judge Christiancy was
the man.
II never was able to nnd out what the
reason was which impelled Judge Chris
fancy TO retire from the Senate. where
ne had made a high reputation. and to
accept such q small diplomatic post as
to Peru ... .
lsN By 3. J. Edwards. An rights ~
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell of
When Chauncey Depew and the Hud- |
son River Railroad Were Young"