Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07
G.. o. P. seventy.fve Years Old.

~ " - SSNOnOJ -AFO AOuAo Olu'
The Republican party is seventy-fiv
years old. It's birth was celebrated yes
terday ut Jackson, Mich. where the FIRST
party convention Of importance to adopt
the name was held July 6, 1854. The
Republican party was called into being
by the conditions which had developed
in this country after the repeal of the
Missouri compromise. The Wing party
was incapable Of dealing with the stu
alton, and was disintergrating. The
new party, however, inherited both from
the Wings and from the Federalists.
While 1t terminated in the free soil
movement Of the day, 1t also raised the
banner of sane policies in Federal ad-
ministration.
The demand for the organization Of
the then new political party was not
confined to any one state or section Of
the country. Conventions for its further
arce we're held in Maine, Illinois, Mas
sachusetts, Wisconsin and Iowa almost
co-incidentally with that in jackson.
Mich. And when the Thirty fourth Con-
gress met In December, 1855, there were
Is Republicans listed in the Senate to
AZ Democrats and 5 Americans. In the
House, whose entire membership had
been elected in 1884, the Republicans
had 108 seats, the Democrats 90 and
the Americans IS. The party was
launched, and growing by leaps and
bounds. But 1t was not until six years
after its first organization that 1t took
control Of the Federal Government, with
Abraham Lincoln in the White House
It's first effort to elect President failed
when, in 1886, James C. Fremont of
California was its first candidate for
Chief Executive. Until last year no
other Californian had been nomina ted
for President, and the country waited
for seventy-tvo years before 1t elected
Chief Executive from the Pacific Coast
Herbert Hoover.
The Republican party was established
as the opponent of slavery-as the ad-
vocate Of free soil"-and as the pro-
u
protest against the conditions then ex-
listing. So sohdly was the party built,
however, that II has been the dominet-
Ing political party for the greater part
Of the seventy five years Of its existence.
During fifty-four Of these years q Re-
publican President has occupied the
White House and O Democratic Presi-
dent only twenty. Buchanan, Cleveland
and Wilson have been the only Demo-
cratic Presidents in that period. ..
The principle Of the protective tariff
was written into the Republican plat
form when Lincoln was nominated for
the first time in 1860. That platform
definitely committed the party to pro-
lection in the following language:
That, while providing revenue for
the support of the general Govern
ment by duties upon imports, sound
policy requires such an adjustment
Of these imposts rs to encourage the
development of the industrial inter-
ests Of the whole country; and We
commend that policy Of national ex-
changes which secures TO the work.
remunerative prices, to mechanics
and manufacturers an adequate re-
ward for their skill, labor and enter
prise, and to the Nation commercial
prosperity and independence"
The Republican party through all
the years has chung to the principle
Of the protective tariff. Because of its
long control of affairs, this policy has
been q dominating factor in the de-
velopment of the Nation. So thorough
~ Is It grounded In the Nations eco
nonnic fabric that 1t Is not likely 1t
could be wiped out by any political
party that might gain control Of the
Government. Even now the Republic
ans in Congress are revising the tariff
law with the principle of protection out
standing In all consideration Of the new
legislation.
In the old days of Thomas Jefferson,
now hailed as the patron saint of the
Democratic party, the Republican party
was the Jeffersonian party, In open OPP
position to the Federalist party Of which
Alexander Hamilton was the bright,
particular star. The party Of Jefferson
eventually discarded the name and the
party which was to perpetuate some of
the principles of government held by
Hamilton took it up when the time
for revolt against the old order was ripe
In 1854.