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the 1876 Centennial Exposition, thanks to the Republican Party

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of independence, it was the first World’s Fair held in the United States. Over six months, ten million visitors attended, with participation by thirty-seven countries. On display were innovations in agriculture, art, education and science, horticulture, machinery, manufactures, and mining and metallurgy. This undertaking had been the brainchild of three Republican congressmen: William Kelley, Daniel Morrell and Joseph Hawley. Authorization had been passed by the GOP-controlled 41st Congress. Opening day – May 10th – President Ulysses Grant pressed a button to start a steam engine that powered the facilities. He then addressed an immense crowd: "It has been thought appropriate, upon this centennial occasion, to bring together ...
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Charles Van Wyck, fearless New York Congressman and Union Colonel and Nebraska Senator

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Charles Van Wyck, born in Poughkeepsie, May 10th 1824. He studied law after graduating from Rutgers and was elected county prosecutor. In 1858, he won first of two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He narrowly escaped assassination after delivering a speech that denounced slavery as a "crime against the laws of God and nature."  Outbreak of civil war, Van Wyck enlisted as colonel of the 56th New York Infantry. He was wounded fighting in the Peninsula campaign. Peace restored, his constituents elected him twice more. In 1874, Van Wyck moved to Nebraska. He attended a constitutional convention and won three state senate terms. In 1881, the legislature elected the gallant Republican a U.S. Senator. Lamentably, he closed out his career as Populist candidate for governor, losing to the GOP's nominee. Back to Basics for the R...
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Frederick Watts, beneficent Founder of Pennsylvania State University

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Frederick Watts, born in Pennsylvania, May 9th 1801. He studied law and twenty years worked for the state supreme court. Age forty-eight, a Whig governor appointed him to the bench. Watts benefited his local economy in many ways, setting up a gas and water company, also a railroad. He developed a model farm, introducing new crops and mechanical devices. In 1855, Watts established a school with the objective of "improving farming through the practical application of science." It expanded thanks to the GOP’s Land-Grant College Act. The name later changed to Pennsylvania Agricultural College, then to Pennsylvania State University. In 1871, President Ulysses Grant named him U.S. Commissioner of Agriculture. Watts aimed to improve farm productivity as well as farmers' lives. He inventoried the nation’s forests, prom...
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Ronald Reagan's commencement speech at his alma mater, Eureka College

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight Ronald Reagan's commencement address at his alma mater. May 9th 1982, the President spoke at Eureka College, in central Illinois, where he had graduated fifty years before. His remarks focused on relations with the Soviet Union, an empire which  The Gipper  would help bring down. He noted that "Graduation Day is called 'Commencement' and properly so, because it is both a recognition of completion and a beginning. And I would like, seriously, to talk to you about this new phase — the society in which you're now going to take your place as full-time participants. You're no longer observers. You'll be called upon to make decisions and express your views on global events, because those events will affect your lives." Later that day, President Reagan spoke at the alumni association dinner. His remark...
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James Cooper – Pennsylvania Senator and Maryland General

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute James Cooper, born in Maryland, May 8th 1810. He studied law with Thaddeus Stevens, later titan of the early GOP, then practiced law at Gettysburg. Cooper won two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He next served several terms in the Pennsylvania state house, becoming its speaker. In 1848, a Whig governor named him attorney general. Following year, the legislature elected him a U.S. Senator. Outbreak of civil war, President Lincoln authorized him to recruit a brigade of Maryland Unionists. General Cooper led his troops through West Virginia. Ill health forced transfer to command a training camp in Ohio, where he died in 1863. 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 Democ...
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Delafield Smith, the Republican who Prosecuted a Slave Trader

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Delafield Smith, born in Rochester, May 8th 1826. Abraham Lincoln named him U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He is best remembered for prosecuting a slave trader. He convinced the President not to pardon him, resulting in the man being hanged.  Smith prosecuted the Democrat ringleader of the New York Draft Riots. He co-founded the prestigious Union League Club. Later years focused on working for the city and teaching law. 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  about this article. Here is a  TikTok Video  about this article. Here is an...
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