The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-26
INTERESTING STORY
Of BIRTH OF The
REPUBLICAN PARTY

CHICAGO, ILL.,. May 25.-In assem-
bling at Chicago In June the Republican
national convention will be sitting IN
the section where the Republican party
was first named and within zoo miles
OF where the first recorded Republican
meeting was held IS years ago; Inc
approach Of the convention recalls this
carly history, though with the passing
OF the years and the development or
new issues the first steps OF the party
has passed from common View.
cit will probably not be possible to
trace to the earliest date the first posi-
tive meeting which led to the formation
Of the new party" writes Francis cur
tbs. in his history Of the republican
party. 1T is quite likely that there
nor discussion OF plans and policies, un-
I'll Mr.. A. f. Bovay, a Wing OF Ripon.
Wis, together with Mr.. Bowen,
Democrat, and Mr.. Baker. Free.
Soiler. issued a call for a public meet
ing to consider the now alarming situ'
The great issue Of the hour was the
extension Of slavery. or the political
situation prefaclng the formation OK
the Republican party. Mr.. Curtis says,
enough members OF Congress TO over
rule the united will Of the Shareholders.
and until the anti-Slavery sentiment OF
the North should be so welded TO-
gether. and its opponents should DC SO
united In one party as to be able 10 scnd
to Washington enough men to outVote
the representatives OF the Slave Power
there was no hope that its advance
could be checked
Reference was made TO the Ripon
meeting BY Henry Wilson. when vice
president of the United states, in his
book Rise and Fall OF the Slave Pow
err" published in 1874. one OF the
earliest. if not the earliest, OF the move
4 am mi a a 8 T.
mite action and the formation OF new
party was made in Ripon, Fond du Lac
County, Wis. in the early months or
1854, in consequence OF very thorough
canvas, conference. and general com
parison Of views inaugura.ed ny a h.
Bovay, q prominent member OF the WING
party. among the Wings. Free Spoilers
and Democrats Of that town. call
was issued for q pablo meeting 10 con-
slider the grave issues which were as
Stunning an aspect of sucn alarming pro-
portions
The meeting thus called. wrote
Charles NJ. Harvey In the Chautauouan
September. 1897. was held In the Con-
gregational church AT Rlpon. FEBRUARY
2S. 1854. 4 resolution was adopted IN
the meeting that IL the bill then pend
ing In the Senate to throw open 10 slav-
cry the territories OF Kansas and
Nebraska should pass. the old party or
panization in Ripon should be cast on
and new party, to he called the re
publican. formed on the sole Issue OF
opposition t. slavery extension.
The bill passed the Senate. In which
body it originated. on March ?. 1864.
and on March 20. the second meeting,
participated in by men OF all parties.
was held. this time in n schoolhousc at
which Bovay was the leading spirit.
BY q vote OF the asSembiagc. the
town committees OF the Wing and Free
Soil parties were dissolved. and a COM
mittee OF i've. three Wings. one demo-
GRAFT and one Free-Soiler. was chosen to
begin the task OF forming a new party.
AT these two meetings was started
the earliest systematic work begun any
where In the country To bring ABOUT the
coalition OF the enemies Of slavery eS-
tension. who were eventually fused into
a homogeneous and aggressive party.
adopting the name Republican"
Mr.. Harvey quoted letter Bovay
later wrote TO him about SIis meeting.
In which he said:
~ went from house TO house and
from shop to shop and halted men on
the streets to get their names for the
meeting of March 20. 1854. At that
time there were not more than hun