The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-30
Historical Evidence From MANI
Sources,

To THE Editor OF THE SuN-Str. In
the Transactions Of the Illinois State
Historical Society for the sal 1906
this passage c U
The name Republican was suggested
by delegates composing a mass conven-
ton held at Springfield, Ill. In October.
1854. This 10 believed to be II not the
first Republican convention At least his
torically the earliest on record.
THE Republican party 10 claimed to
have had It's birth In Bloomington. Ill.
In 1856. but this claim Is declared TO be
spurious"
Ii is generally ackno wledged that
Michigan took the lead in formally
adopting the name Republican at a
State convention in that State, July s.
1854. We are further told that the
same sentiments were being ~zealously
advocated by other States. especially
Wisconsin. Massachusetts n other New
England States.
OF Lincoln that the Republican party
was born at Bloomington. H.. May 20,
1856.
Herndon. another biographer. states
that the Republican party came into
existence In Illinois as a party on the
date named by Brooks. The former
would imply the party's birth as a n
tlonal body. the latter as securing recog-
milton In the State OF Illinois.
According to william o. Stoddard
another b~!ographer. 1T has been com
mon to say the Republican party wal
born at Bloomington but this Is simply
a confusion OF ideas. for the young pc.
litical organism had already left III
cradle and was advanced far along thu
line of preparation for the severe work
VI early manhood"
Joseph Barrett says the Springfield or.
ganization was the beginning from
which the Republican party was TO b
natured. ("Life OF Llncoln.")
Speaking at Ottawa, Ill. August 20
1883. stephen A. Douglas made tn.
statement tina. Lincoln and Lyman
Trumbull entered into an arrangement
in 1854. TO dissolve the Wing and Demo.
cratic parties nd unite the members o.
both into an abolition party under the
name and disguise OF a Republican party
do In the matter.
George W. Julian tells In his "Recol
lections" that, the honor OF taking tn.
'irst steps In the formation Of the frs,
Republican party belongs TO Michigan
where Wings and Free Sellers me, Jul,
s. 1884. and formed q complete fuslor
into one party. Numerous other writer,
refer 10 this Jackson meeting. includlns
Henry William Elson. who credits "tht
little town OF Ripon' with holding /,
meeting to discuss the formation OF q
new party. which the prime move
thereof. Alvin z. Bovar. suggested should
be called the Republican party. Thu
suggestion he communicated TO and hac
published In the New York Tribune.
From Boards American Government
we learn that three days after the Ripoi
meeting Israel Washburns OF Maine an,
other Congressnen then In Washington
met and agreed that the advance OF tn,
slave power could be checked only b,
the formation OF a new party, to b.
known as ths Republican party.
There is little doubt that Ripon IL en-
titled to the distinction OF first discuss
ing and expressing preference for I'll,
title OF the new party as finally adopted
although similar preference had bee!
expressed elsewhere in q vague an
desultory fashion.
Larned in his History for Read,
Reference" Is careful to describe tn
R!pon movement as one OF the earlles
II not the earliest" for the formation o
the new party.
What took place at Ripon and else
where was tho forerunner OF genera
recognition and adoption Of the new
name by delegates OF twenty-three State
in convention at Pittsburg, February ..
1885, when a new anti-slavery part,
VAS formed evidently with the nam
first proposed at Ripon.
ISAAC MARKENs.
NEW YORK. juno 90