Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Charles Poston, born in Kentucky, April 20th 1825. He apprenticed as a printer, then clerked for the Tennessee Supreme Court. After four years in California, the adventuresome young man settled near Tucson. He prospered as a silver miner. In 1862, Poston traveled to Washington and served as an aide for a Union general, formerly his business partner. He lobbied President Lincoln and Congress to establish a territorial government for Arizona. February 1863, his efforts proved successful. The President appointed him superintendent of Indian affairs back home. July 1864, Poston was elected Arizona Territory's first congressional delegate. He various jobs in the Hayes, Arthur and Harrison administrations. Poston toured Europe and India and China. He became an enthusiast of Zoroastrianism. Ronald Reagan played him in an episode of  De...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I appreciate Donald Trump being a Republican. He joined the GOP – for a third time – on April 19th 2012. Previously, he had been unaffiliated. Trump joined the GOP – for a second time – on September 15th 2009. Before that, he had been a Democrat. And before that, he was registered with the Independence Party. He registered as a Republican – for the first time – on July 1st 1987. 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  Instagram Video  about this article. Here is my...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Thomas Browne, born near Dayton, April 19th 1829. He moved to Indiana, then studied law and was elected county prosecutor. While a state senator, this young Republican denounced Democrat sympathies for the Confederacy. Browne helped recruit the 7th Indiana Cavalry during the Civil War and enlisted as captain. His regiment battled through Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri. Gallantry merited promotion to colonel. President Ulysses Grant named him U.S. Attorney for Indiana. Browne resigned after three years to run for Governor. He was delegate for the 1876 Republican National Convention. That year, Browne won first of seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Receiving his vote were the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Land-Grant Colleges Act and the Forest Reseve Act. Back to Basics for the Republican Party  is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I lament the murder of Abraham Lincoln by a Democrat actor. April 18th 1865, the President’s body lay in state at the White House. He wore the suit from his second inaugural. Throughout the day, twenty-five thousand mourners walked past the open coffin. The honor guard was comprised of Union Army soldiers who had been wounded in battle. The somber scene contrasted with a gala reception held in the same room just days before. "One of the most remarkable features of the day is the universality of the mourning. Old and young, rich and poor — all sexes, grades and colors — united in paying their homage." An aide to the Great Emancipator observed: "We never shall know his like again." 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 Demo...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor José Mascarel, born in France, April 18th 1816. He joined the merchant marine at age eleven and the navy at twenty-one. While captain of a commercial ship during the 1840s, he disembarked at California and decided to remain. A friend described him as "giant...with a great grizzly grip." During the Civil War, Mascarel supported the Union cause and opposed Democrat secessionists. May 1864, this Republican patriot won election to the Los Angeles city council. Twelve months later, he was elected mayor. Mascarel later won six more terms on the city council. Throughout his career, he prospered with investments in banking and commerce. His farm is now part of Hollywood. Colleagues praised him for "clear-cut and eminently practical views, strong convictions and a sound judgment in business matters." Back to Basics for the Republican Party  is m...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight the first-ever Virginia Republican Convention. To prepare the state for its first postwar election, Unionists established a state GOP central committee. March 1867, chairman Lysander Hill and five other committeemen issued a call for the first Virginia Republican convention. It took place at Richmond's First African Baptist Church, on April 17th. One hundred sixty of two hundred ten delegates were former slaves. Led by Baptist preacher James Hunnicutt, the convention adopted a platform calling for legal equality of the races and adherence to congressional Republican Reconstruction policies. 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 th...