Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor John Brady, born in New York City, May 25th 1847. Age eight, he ran away from home to escape abuse from his alcoholic widowed father. Theodore Roosevelt Sr, father of the future president, rescued the child, placing him on an orphan train . These were charities that transported destitute children from cities to foster homes in rural areas. His adoptive father was an Indiana lawyer soon to become a Republican state legislator. Brady graduated from Yale University and Union Theological Seminary. He relocated to Alaska in 1878, to minister among the natives while operating a sawmill and a trading post. President Chester Arthur named him a judge. President William McKinley appointed him Territorial Governor. Brady served eight years. He endeavored to preserve native culture, and displayed totem poles at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Later years focus...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Lucius Chittenden, born in Vermont, May 24th 1824. His newspaper, Free Soil Courier , denounced the Democratic Party for promoting slavery. As a Republican, this prudent banker won a state senate term. Abraham Lincoln named him Register of the U.S. Treasury. It was Chittenden who persuaded the President to pardon a soldier sentenced to death for sleeping on guard duty. Notably, this dedicated public servant signed an astounding 12,500 bond certificates, for sale in England to finance the Union war effort. Later years, he practiced law in New York City. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan.com .  Here is a YouTube Video...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Joseph Newsham, born May 24th 1837. Immigrating from England as a child, he settled with his family in Illinois. Outbreak of civil war, the patriot enlisted as lieutenant with the 32nd Missouri Infantry. He mustered out due to wounds suffered at Vicksburg. Newsham moved to Louisiana and practiced law. Delegate to the state's constitutional convention, he earned a reputation for "boldness in the defence of liberty and equal rights." His newspaper, Feliciana Republican , supported the Emancipation Party. In 1868, Newsham overcame Democrat vote fraud to be elected a U.S. Representative, and was sworn in upon readmission of the state. The 15th Amendment received his vote. After two terms, he devoted the rest of his life to farming and merchandising. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight the first time that Members of Congress met as Republicans. Spring 1854, Democrats and other enemies of freedom were promoting legislation for extending slavery into the Plains states. In early March, the Democrat-controlled Senate passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act to make that happen. May 22nd, the Democrat-controlled House passed it. The next day, reacting to this horror, thirty Congressmen gathered at a Capitol Hill boarding house. They discussed forming a new party uniting all opponents of slavery. These visionaries understood that a new political organization was needed in order to block the Democrats' plan to extend slavery into the western territories. Chairing the meeting was Israel Washburn, who suggested "Republican" as the name for this party. He was first Congressmen to declare himself a Republican...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Lewis Tappan, born in Massachusetts, May 23rd 1788. Along with his brother, the savvy entrepreneur formed a credit rating agency later merged into Dun & Bradstreet. He co-founded the American Missionary Association and the American Anti-Slavery Society, as well as Oberlin College. Tappan was in the Liberty Party and the Free Soil Party, forerunners of the GOP. He wrote articles for The Emancipator newspaper that helped win freedom for slaves in the 'Amistad' case. His wealth financed another newspaper, the anti-slavery National Era . May 1856, he took part in the meeting of congressmen who first declared themselves to be Republicans. Twice, Abraham Lincoln received his vote. Tappan declared: "When will the poor negro have his rights? Not, I believe, until he has a musket in one hand and a ballot in the other." Peace resto...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 1911, President William Howard Taft called for a "central organization in touch with associations and chambers of commerce throughout the country and able to keep purely American interests in a closer touch with different phases of commercial affairs." Within months, hundreds of delegates from commercial and trade organizations established the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Construction of the headquarters building, across from the White House, began on May 16th 1922, with laying a cornerstone. Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover keynoted the ceremony. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandol...