Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1948-11-18

The suggestion contained in a
letter to Washington paper that
President Truman give Thomas E.
Dewey an important post under
the new administration, reminded
us of a study we made several
years ago of the two principal
political parties, and the odd facts
which turned up.
Wonder how it would work in
this era if the president of the
United States had as vice-president
his strongest unsuccessful oppon-
ent? That seems to have been the
case with our second president,
John Adams. When the electoral
votes were counted in February,
1897, Thomas Jefferson, according
to the rule at that time, as second
on the list became vice-president-
thus in effect a Republican presi-
dent and Democratic vice-presi-
dent! Or Truman president, and
Dewey vice-president!
That is only one of the many
confusing things in the early his
tory of the two political parties. Of
course neither was known then by
the name they now bear-and in
deed down through the ages there
have been so many "splits" and so
much merging that it is hard to
follow the original Federalist
party line down to the Republican
party of today. 1t is equally hard
to trace the ti-Federalists to the
present day Democrats.
Briefly, the Federalist party,
formed in 1887, led by Alexander
Hamilton, desired a strong general
government = the nti-Federalist
party, headed by Thomas Jeffer-
son, desired to give more power to
State government. Both parties
supported George Washington for
his second term-but a real fight
seems to have developed over John
Adams.
The present-day Republican
party-known as Federalists from
1887 to 1928 when it became the
National Republican-was also
known as the Wing party from
1888 to 1852. In 1854 it assumed
the present day name of Republi-
can. The Federalist-now Repub-
lican party-claimed support as
author of the government, the
friend of neutrality, peace and
prosperity and as direct inheritors
of Washington's policies.
Thomas jefferson may be re-
garded as the founder of the party,
which after discarding the old
name of anti-Federalist, adopted
that of Democratic Republican.
This group preferred to be called
Republicans" their enemies
called them Democrats" which
seems in that day to have been an
epithet which conveyed a stigma.
Anyway from 1892 to 1928 the cor
rect name for the present Demo-
cratic party was Republican,
Dizzy-huh?
Anyway it was all Strengthened
out for the Democrats in 1928 and
the party has been so-called every
since, despite the many "splits"
and mergers. The Democratic
party early proclaimed itself the
friend of liberty and the rights of
man, and the advocate of economy
and States rights. Down through
the years the Republican party
seems to have been in favor of
strong Federal governments it
again in a state of transition?
1t is interesting to note that the
"spoils system" originated about
the time the two parties got their
permanent names, when in 1928
Andrew Jackson was elected presi-
dent and rewarded his friends and
supporters with political jobs. The
supporters of Jackson assumed the
name of Democrats and the others
became National Republicans, but
were known as Wings until 1854
during which period the two great
parties were the Democrats and the
Wings.
About the time the old Wing
party was dying--just before the
War between the States - the
Know-Nothing or anti Catholic
party became prominent. At the
time the country was being stirred
by the activities of this party, and
various means were being employ
ed to combat what was regarded as
rank heresy and downright trea-
\ THN