Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12

publican" was used, as suggested by
the organizer of the schoolhouse meet
ing at Ripon. The name was employed
later in a Wisconsin convention and
spread to State gatherings in the East
held in New York, Massachusetts,, YER
mont and Maine.
The newly passed law was not quite
clear as to whether the KansanS might
elect to have slavery while they were
still living under territorial govern
ment or whether they were to decide
the question after Statehood had been
granted. Nebraska was too far north
of the line defined in the Missouri
Compromise to be considered as a slave
holding commonwealth. Kansas, how
ever just west Of Missouri, was a bor-
der State and in about the same lati-
tude as her neighbor. Into Kansas
poured the partisans of slavery and of
abolition, including the fanatical John
Brown and his stalwart sons.
Party Gains Strength.
The new party was slowly gaining in
strength. Wings were disgorging and
in 1852 they had suffered defeat
which had demoraliZed them. Then,
also. there had risen the American
party" or the "All-American party"
commonly known as the Know Moth
ings" because of the reply they made
when asked about details of their or
ganization and supposedly secret ritual.
This strange body. founded on racial
and religious prejudices, had succeeded
in electing governors in several States
and had sent nearly a hundred men,
bers to the House of Representatives.
A political Cave of Adullam, a refuge
of indictments of all kinds, was the
great American party of Know Moth
ingS," some of whom favored the ex-
tension Of slavery, while others OPP
posed. Also we're the Free Sellers COM
mitted to the abolition of slavery by
political means. The Free Soil party
had been connected with the Liberty
party, which had much the same view,
and also it had taken over faction Of
the New York Democrats, called the
Barnburners, because their extreme
views were compared to the policy OF
a man who burned down his barn to
get rid of the rats. The Free Sellers
flung wide their motto, Free Soil Free
Speech. Free Labor and Freemen."
To the growing new party of the
came many kinds OF po-
litical faiths who had the common
bond of opposition to slavery - all
Anti Nebraska or Kansas" men. Some
had been Wings, some Democrats 9TH
ers had turned from such Short-lived
as the Free Sellers and
the Know Nothings. AM informal con-
vention, which might better be called
an organizing committee, was held in
early in 1856 at which the
name Republican as the title OF ma
tional party was firmly fixed.
Fremont for President.
The Renuhlican convention in that
same year met In Philadelphia and
John c. Fremont for Presi-
dent. Fremont was an intrepid ex-
plorer and daShing Army officer. under
the banner Free Speech, Free Soil and
Fremont" The Pathfinder was a pop
ular idol as a seeker out of the mys-
terieS of new lands, but the political
situation was such that James Blu
chanan Of Pennsylvania, more or less
of the pacificator type, was elected by
the Democrats.
There had been a proposal to name
Abraham Lincoln, then becoming a
powerful factor in politics, but it was
abandoned because of the belief that
the widespread popularity of the ro-
mantle Fremont could not fail to win.
Lincoln, however, in 1860 became the
choice of the Republican party when 1t
met in convention in Chicago, thor
oughly and strongly organized. and
with its issues well defined, especially
on slavery, while the Democratic party
was rent into factions. Thu came the
election of Lincoln and the stirring
events of the Civil War.
After the great question had been
settled for once and all the Republican
party devoted itself to the upbuilding
of the country, the strengthening Of
government and the promotion OF COM
merce and industry which has since
distinguished it as q strong and ag-
gresSive organization.
At Ripon, the birthplace of the Re-
publican party, often referred to as its
cradle, preparations for the coming cele-
are being steadily developed.
President Hoover has accepted the hon.
orary craftsmanship OF the national Re-
publican diamond jubilee committee.
Invitations to the observances have
been accepted by James w. Good, Sec
rotary of War: Walter j. Kohler, Re-
publican, Governor of Wisconsin, and
other prominent State and National
leaders of the party. Arrangements
have been made for their entertain
ment at the Lawsonia Country Club on
Green Lake Residents of Fond du Lac
County are most active.
Judge Roy E. Reed of Ripon Is chair
mittee. Among those assisting him are
George Vitee of Manitowoc and Mrs.
Harry L. Thomas of Sheboygan, both
members of the Republican national
committee.
Plan Historical Pageant.
The Senate and Assembly of Wiscon-
sin will attend in a body. Large dele
cations from Wisconsin and other
States will go to Ripon on
special trains, according to A. H. Will
kinson of Milwaukee, collector OF in
ternal revenue and chairman of the
congressional district committee.
Special facilities for the landing OF
planes will be provided at the Ripon
and Lawsonia Airports. Nearby cities
such as Ripon. which has only q 1000
population, will cooperate in furnish
ing hotel accommodations for guests.
Among these are Oshkosh, Fond du Lac,
Berlin and Green Lake, all accessible
by rail, bus and automobile.
One of the features of the celebra-
ton will be a historical pageant de-
plotting the growth Of the Republican
party from its inception to the present
day. The exercises will center about
center of a natural amphitheater or
bowl on the campus Of Ripon College, a
co-educational institution founded by
the pioneers. The students and resi-
dents of Ripon and surrounding towns
will take part in the ceremonies. wear
ing costumes of the early periods. From
the steps OF the schoolhouse addresses
will be delivered by Mr.. Good, Gov.
Kohler and others.
Tablet on SchOOIhOuse.
The speakers will stand near the
tablet at the entrance of the school
house, on which Is set forth the story
of party. The inscription is as fol-
lows:
In this School House, March goth,
1854. was held the first mass meeting