The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-04-05
by Irwin II. Cady

American History, that the re-clec
ton of Wilson marks the first time in
history that Democratic president
has. been elected to succeed himself
Again one will find many who con
found the early Republican or Dem
ocratic) party with the modern Re
publican party which did not come in
to existence until 1856 Few people
even know that the Democratic party
held control of this government from
1900 to 1860, with two exceptions
and that they were responsible for all
the effective legislation for over fifty
years.
Early history records that four
Democratic presidents We're elected to
succeed themselves, viz, jefferson,
Madison Monroe and jackson. His
tory also shows that the old Anti
Federalist, early Republican, and
Democratic Republican parties were
forerunners of the present Democratic
party. Here one should be careful
not to confuse the early Republican
party with the present Republican
party. 1t is no wonder that the av-
crage person becomes confused with
the early political parties, for the
reason that our school histories are
very inadequate on this subject.
The first two political parties in
America after the framing of the
constitution were the Fsderalists and
Anti -Federalists. The Federalists
favored strong central government,
while the Anti Federalists wanted
strong state governments with a
weaker national government. The
Federalists favored the adoption of
the Constitution, protective tariff,
and the establishment of United
States Bank. To this the Anti-Fed-
eralists were strongly opposed.
Washington was elected as a Fed
eralist. During his first term of of
flee the Anti-F ederalists changed
their name to Republicans, and in
1896 they made a heroic effort to
elect their president, but were de
feated, and John Adams, the FEEDER
alist candidate was elected.
The Alien and Sediton laws during
Adams term disrupted the Federalist
party, causing the election of JEFF
ferson in 1900. The Federalist party
began crumbling away and soon lost
all influence in national affairs. JEFF
ferson was elected as Republican
He always called himself a Repub-
lican, and believed in Republican
simplicity" in all things. The people
came to call him the great Democrat
owing to his minglng with the com
mon people.
During Jefferson's administration
the Republicans split into two wings;
the Federal-Republican and Demo-
craticRepublicans; the former oppos-
ing the administration and the latter
supporting it. The Federal wing
showed very little strength, and dur
ing Madison's administration there
was very little opposition to the Dem
cratic Republicans, At Monroe's
election it was the only party in the
field, but again divided into two
wings; the National Republicans and
Democratic Republicans. This mark
ed the beginning of the tariff contro-
versy in politics. The National-Re
publicans of the North favored a pro-
tective tariff and were opposed to the
extension of slavery. The Demo-
cratic Republicans in the South were
opposed to a protective tariff and
favored the extension of slavery.
In 1928 Jackson was elected as a
Democrat, the Democratic Republican
party having dropped the name Re-
publican. This marks the last change
in name of the Democratic party I'M
til the present time.
Many broke away from the Demo
cratic party during Jacksons reign,
owing to his many radical measures.
This element united with the Nation
al-Republicans and formed the Wing
party. This fact coupled with the
panic following Jackson's administra-
ton, under Van Buren,, brought about
the election of William Henry Harri-
son in 1840
Harrison died shortly after entering
the White House. Vice President
Tyler was a life long Democrat anC
he soon began quarreling over poll.
teal issues with the Wing party. The
consequences being that the Wings
were defeated in 1874, and James
Polk, Democrat, elected.
In 1848 the Wings were success
full again in winning the presidential
chair. Taylor was elected president
but died in 1850. He was succeeded
by Vice-President Fillmore.
In 1852 the Democrats carried tn,
day and elected Franklin Pierce. Fou1
years later they were again success
full and elected James Buchanan, tn,