Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12
PILGRIMAGE is PLANNED
r~ TO C.. o. p. BIRTHPLACE
Party Leaders to Visit Ripon, Wis, This
Summer-Exercises to Center About
Historic SchOOlhOuse.

Although the little building is in the
town of Ripon. in the heart of rural
Wisconsin. it is of much interest to
Republicans Of the Empire State.
Alvan E. Bovay, the man whom his
tory credits with having suggested at
Ripon the name of the party, was born
in Jefferson County. N. Y, and had
been resident of New York City before
he went West, there to become the
sponsor of a great political organiza-
ton.
His suggestion was broadcast from
Printing House Square and found wide
acceptance. 1t is likely that a large
delegation from the metropolis will be
present at the ceremonies in honor OF
his memory on June 8 In the Mid
western college community where Bovay
was prominent figure.
Grew Out Of Slave Issue.
The formation of the Republican
party grew out of the gathering oppo-
sition to slavery as an institution. es-
pecially in the States which had been
formed from the Northwest territory.
This region was west of Pennsylvania,
north OF the Ohio River. east of the
Mississippi and south Of Canada.
In accordance with the famous or
dinance of 1887, it was to have no
slavery within its boundaries after the
year 1900 Its settlers were largely from
New England and upper New York
State who, just after the Revolution
and for many decades later. trekked
practically due west to seek their for
tunes.
The ordinance did recognize the right
of owners of fugitive slaves to recover
them even after the runawayS had
escaped beyond the Ohio. AS fact,
the underground railroads" by which
the Negroes were aided to freedom were
very active. The northern part of the
territory was once known as Michigan
and included the present State Of that
name as we'll as Wisconsin. Minnesota
and part of Dakota. Wisconsin, after
much delay, became a State in 1648.
1t was dominated by ardent Northern
foes Of slavery.
Alvan Earle Bovay reached Ripon in
1850, only two years after Wisconsin
had become a political unit. He was
then a vigorous aggressive man OF 81.
Bovay had been in business and then
had been admitted to the bar practicing
his profession for several years in New
York. AS forceful q personality as he
was. It has only been in recent years
that historians have paid much atten-
ton to his busy life. for some standard
biographical works do not mention him.
Wide Choice Of Parties.
Ripon was hardly more than q ham
let In the SOS, and it was really not con-
sidered settled until 1888. Bovay at once
became q leading spirit. His chief ally
and friend was Jedediah Bowen, the
principal merchant of the place. There
were only about 100 voters in Ripon,
but they had a wide choice Of parties.
Bovay was Wing and an eloquent ana
ardent one. He was not so partisan,
- H1nl1 Rfe
ty was likely to crumble any time from
the boring within it.
He saw in the slavery question an
issue no longer to be avoided. 1t was
then a seething topic. Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe. in 1852, had written
"Uncle Toms Cabin"
The political leaders who had for
years been devising ways OF avoiding
clash between those who live on either
side of the Mason and Dixon's line then
were in their graves. Henry Clay, call
ed "The Great Pacifcator," had died
in 1852 after 80 years Of sustained effort
to silence the voices of dispute, begin
ming with his part in the Missouri COM
promise of 1920 and ending with the
compromise of 1850.
Webster was no more holding up the
glories of the Constitution In rounded
periods. John C.. Calhoun, his hot
lie SCOlQ was llU Out AAO
had been succeeded by many who held
that unless the right to hold slaves
were conceded to her by the North the
South should be permitted to go her
way In peace.
Gave Party Its Name.
Bovay seems to have suggested In
1852 that q strong anti-Slavery party
be formed to be called the Republican
1n,-@ry Ia hvao rIed ~ at that time tn
Horace Greeley, editor of the New York
Tribune, upon whom he called in that
year when on a brief visit to this city.
Matters had reached a crisis, Mr.. Bovay
believed, when in 1854 bills were intro
duced in Congress permitting Nebraska
and Kansas to choose whether or not
they would have slavery.
Your paper" he wrote to Mr.. Gree
ley later, sis now power in the land.
Advocate calling together in every
church and schoolhouse in the free
States all the opponents of the Kansas
and Nebraska bills no matter what their
party Affiliations. Urged them to forget
previous organizations and to b9 bound
together under the name suggested to
you at Lovejoys Hotel in 1852. I mean
j the name Of Republican. 1t Is the only
one which will serve all purposes, past
and future-the only one that will live
and last"
The Joint bill had been introduced
on January 49, 1854, and in February
of that year Greeley printed an edi-
torial In the Tribune advocating that
the name Republican be adopted by
the opponents of slavery. Kansas and
Nebraska were to be admitted as Ter
ritories, with power to do as they
pleased about slavery, despite the fact
that it was expressly provided in the
Missouri Compromise of 1920 that there
we're to be no slaves in any States or
Territories north Of the line 50 degrees
80 minutes.
The bill in It's final form declared
the Missouri Compromise imperative
and void" because inconsistent with
the principles of non-intervention by
Congress with slavery in the States and
Territories as recognized by the legis-
lation of 1880"
THE healing work of two genera
tions of statesmen" to quote from
woodrow wilson's A History Of the
American People, twas destroyed at
stroke"
Mass Meeting in SchOOlhOuse.
Mr.. Bovay, during February Of that
Hateful year, 1854, called again and
again on all foes of slavery to rally
under the Republican banner. Late
in the month he gathered together. in
the Congregational Church at R1pon a
group of those of his own opinion. On
March 20 a mass meeting was called in
District Schoolhouse 2, small white
wooden building.
OF the hundred or so voters in Ripon
Mr.. Bovay, by constantly searching all
highways and byways, had got So into
the school, They we're OF all sorts ana
conditions of politics-Whigs. Democrats
and Free Soiiers-present on that cold
and windy night. Then 1t was that Mr..
ra,,o,, oeFarad l,Ie resolution that a new