Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I recall the political views of Mark Twain. November 2nd 1880, he made a speech which the press called "a funeral oration for the Democratic Party." Republicans were celebrating victory for the Garfield/Arthur ticket. His somber delivery, contrasting with the evening's exuberance, delighted the crowd: "The burden of the mourni ng is The aged and stricken Democratic Party is dying and the burden of the lament will be The mighty is fallen; the Democratic party is dead . And who and what is he that is dying and will presently be dead? A foot sore political wanderer, a honorary political tramp, an itinerant poor actor familiar with many disguises, a butcher of many parts." This great novelist had campaigned for the GOP in the previous presidential election. He went on to publish the memoirs of Ulysses Grant. Unfortunate...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Boies Penrose, born in Philadelphia, November 1st 1860. He studied law after graduating from Harvard. This young Republican was elected to the state house at age twenty-four and rose to be president pro tempore of the state senate. In 1897, the legislature elected him a U.S. Senator. He held major influence over banking and finance. The Pennsylvania GOP named him Chairman and then National Committeeman. Penrose backed William Howard Taft over Theodore Roosevelt for the 1912 presidential nomination and helped Warren Harding secure the 1920 nomination. Death for the mighty conservative came early during his fifth term. 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 the...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Charles Hamilton, born near Harrisburg, November 1st 1840. During the Civil War, he served with the 5th Pennsylvania Infantry and the general staff. Peace restored, the War Department assigned Hamilton to help emancipated slaves in Florida. A reputation for "efficiency and just administration" merited praise from the local GOP. In 1868, Hamilton won first of two congressional terms. He voted to outlaw the Ku Klux Klan. President Grant later named him postmaster at Jacksonville and collector of customs at Key West. He died age at thirty-four. 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 articl...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Joseph Hawley, born in October 31st 1826. The family moved from North Carolina to Connecticut. Law studies followed graduation from Hamilton College. He was delegate for the 1852 Free Soil national convention, and chaired the state party and edited its newspaper. In 1856, this abolitionist led efforts to establish the Connecticut GOP, then became editor of a Republican newspaper later merged with the Hartford Courant . Outbreak of civil war, Hawley enlisted as captain with the state's 1st Volunteer Infantry. Gallantry merited promotion to commanding a brigade which included the 8th U.S. Colored Troops. Peace restored, he was elected Governor. He chaired the 1868 Republican National Convention and was delegate for the next three conventions. In 1872, Hawley won election to a vacant U.S. House of Representatives seat, followed by two more te...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Alexander Randall, born October 31st 1819. The ambitious young man moved from New York to Wisconsin after studying law. At the statehood convention, he advocated voting rights for Blacks. Republicans nominated him as their first candidate for attorney general. Randall was elected Governor in 1857 and re-elected in 1859. Outbreak of civil war, his administration strongly supported the Union. Training ground for military volunteers is now site of Camp Randall Stadium, in Madison. Randall wanted to enlist, but President Abraham Lincoln made him Ambassador to the Papal States. He later was Postmaster General. "unsurpassed as a war governor – to the credit, the honor and the glory of Wisconsin" Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know a...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Thomas Carter, born October 30th, 1854. He grew up on farms in Ohio and Illinois. After several years as a traveling salesman, the ambitious young man studied law. He relocated to Montana at age twenty-seven. In 1888, the stalwart Republican was elected congressional delegate. Statehood achieved a year later, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Following a narrow re-election defeat, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him commissioner of the federal land office. In 1892, the Republican National Committee named him C hairman. Carter went on to serve two terms in the U.S. Senate. He earned acclaim as Spokesman for Western Development . William Howard Taft praised his "great ability, patriotism and loyalty." Carter County is named for him. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history...