Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight one of the greatest Republicans ever. An ardent abolitionist, Thaddeus Stevens co-founded the GOP and championed its legislative agenda during the Civil War and into Reconstruction. Representative Stevens died August 11th 1868. Two days later, African-American soldiers escorted his body to the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Friends of freedom in their thousands viewed the casket. It was placed on the same catafalque used for President Abraham Lincoln. a famous tribute at the funeral: "God give to Vermont another son; Lancaster, another citizen; Pennsylvania, another statesman; the country, another patriot; the poor, another friend; the freedmen, another advocate; the race, another benefactor; and the world, another man like Thaddeus Stevens." Amen His remains were then taken home to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for burial. He...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Frederick Robie, born in Maine, August 12th 1822. He studied medicine in Philadelphia, then set up a successful practice back home. The good doctor won two state house terms. President Lincoln appointed him paymaster for the Army of the Potomac. Lieutenant Colonel Robie later served in the Gulf states and in Boston. Peace restored, he won terms in both legislative houses and rose to be speaker. He was delegate at the 1872 Republican National Convention. President Rutherford Hayes named him commissioner to the Paris Exposition. Robie was elected Governor in 1882, then re-elected. Later years focused on a bank, a railroad and an insurance company. "His integrity, honesty of purpose, and irreproachable character have never been questioned." Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Repu...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Alexander Hamilton Holley, born in Connecticut, August 12th 1804. He rose to lieutenant colonel of the state militia. Political activity started at the 1844 Whig National Convention. He headed the family's cutlery factory, while serving as director of a bank and a railroad. In 1854, joining the state GOP at its beginning, Holley was elected lieutenant governor, for a one-year term. Three years later, this anti-slavery activist won the governorship, again for a year. He backed Abraham Lincoln for the GOP's 1860 presidential nomination. 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 t...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Leonard Swett, born in Maine, August 11th 1825. Law studies followed army service during the Mexican War. After that, he relocated to Bloomington, Illinois. This prominent attorney rode the judicial circuit along with Abraham Lincoln. Swett co-founded the Illinois GOP, then served one state senate term. He was among close political allies who helped The Railsplitter win the 1860 Republican presidential nomination. Swett had no further political ambitions. Lincoln sent him to deliver a message relieving General Fremont from command at St. Louis. He later travelled to California on the President’s behalf. Later years focused on his law practice. 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...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Edward Salomon, born near Berlin, August 11th 1828. His revolutionary sympathies led him to flee to the United States while a university student. Settling at Milwaukee, he worked various jobs while studying law. This patriotic immigrant supported Abraham Lincoln for the 1860 presidential nomination. Following year, the Wisconsin GOP successfully nominated him for Lieutenant Governor. April 1862, the top of the ticket drown while visiting the Shiloh battlefield, making Salomon the 8th Governor of Wisconsin. His administration tirelessly supported the Union war effort. Three brothers and a cousin fought for the Union. Peace restored, Salomon was attorney for various German businesses. Age sixty-six, he retired to Frankfurt. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I thank the GOP for creating the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  Doane Robinson, a Republican activist and South Dakota state historian, had first conceived the project. His original vision had been for statues of Native American heroes, but the sculptor he selected opted instead for statues of U.S. presidents. Next, a Republican Governor secured passage of authorization in the state legislature and a Republican Senator did so in Congress. August 10th 1927, the President arrived at the site on horseback. Calvin Coolidge was there for a ceremony marking start of construction. He brought steel drill bits, for use in carving granite. Two thousand people gathered. His speech noted that depictions of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt "will constitute a distinctly national monument. It will be decided...