Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I appreciate the Lacey Act of 1900, the first nationwide law for protecting wildlife, fish and plants. It banned the conveyance across state lines of endangered species. A motivation for this law was the over-hunting of birds for their feathers, to make hats. Republican Representative John Lacey introduced the bill, saying: "There is a compensation in the distribution of plants, birds, and animals by the God of nature.  Man’s attempt to change and interfere often leads to serious results. We have given an awful exposition of slaughter and destruction, which may serve as a warning to all mankind. Let us now give an example of wise conservation of what remains of the gifts of nature." The GOP-controlled 56th Congress passed it, and President William McKinley signed it on May 26th. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rig...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate the Public Buildings Act of 1926. President Calvin Coolidge signed it on May 25th. The bill had been sponsored by two Republicans, Senator Bert Fernald and Representative Richard Elliott, and passed by the GOP-controlled 69th Congress. The law appropriated $50 million for constructing federal buildings in Washington, DC. This would bring rise to Federal Triangle as well as the Supreme Court edifice. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, overseeing the project, selected the architects and mandated the neoclassical style, with limestone facades and classical colonnades. Also appropriated was $100 million for federal office buildings and post offices throughout the country. 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 par...

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...