Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor James Redpath, born August 24th 1833. Age fifteen, he immigrated from Scotland, settling in Michigan. He worked as a printer while writing anti-slavery articles for local newspapers. This intrepid journalist toured the South to report on slavery for the New York Tribune . In 1855, Redpath moved to Missouri and reported on clashes between Democrats and abolitionists. The founding convention of a nationwide GOP, at Pittsburgh in February 1856, named him the state’s first Republican National Committeeman. During the Civil War, he was a correspondent with Union forces. Peace restored, Redpath was appointed public school superintendent for Charleston, South Carolina. There he organized one of the first Memorial Day celebrations, on May 1st 1865. Several years later, he established a professional speakers bureau. Back to Basics for the Re...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Thomas Ford, born in Virginia, August 23rd 1814. The farmer studied law and moved to Ohio. He was an infantry captain during the Mexican War. Ford came to prominence with a resounding denunciation of slavery at Philadelphia in 1855. Later that year, the Ohio GOP nominated him for lieutenant governor. He was elected, along with Salmon Chase for governor. After his term, the U.S. House of Representatives named him its official printer. Outbreak of civil war, Ford enlisted as colonel with  the 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. September 1862, he was courtmartialed and dismissed from the army for disastrous command decisions at the Battle of Harpers Ferry. President Lincoln nominated him for ambassador to Ecuador – likely as a favor to Chase – but the Senate did not confirm.  Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor James Rolph, born in San Francisco, August 23rd 1869. He worked his way up in the shipping business from office boy to head of a large company. "Sunny Jim" also headed banks and an insurance agency.  Rolph was elected mayor in 1911 and continued throughout two decades. His administration oversaw building projects, a new water system, streetcar expansion and other infrastructure improvements. He was delegate at three Republican National Conventions. In 1930, Rolph was elected governor and faced worst of the Great Depression, alleviated somewhat by success of the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. His popularity faded after praising the lynching of two white kidnappers who tied up their victim and threw him off a bridge. He died midway through the term. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of t...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I praise a classic address that President Abraham Lincoln delivered on August 22nd 1864. His audience was the 166th Ohio Infantry regiment, but he was also speaking to us: "It is not merely for today, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. I beg you to remember this, not merely for my sake, but for yours." "It is in order that each of you may have through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise and intelligence; that you may all have equal privileges in the race of life, with all its desirable human aspirations. It is for this the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthright. The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable j...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Emma Smith DeVoe, born in Illinois, August 22nd 1848. She taught music. Attending a speech by Susan B. Anthony inspired her to strive for women's right to vote. DeVoe and her husband, a railroad administrator, moved to South Dakota, where she championed passage of suffrage legislation. In 1895, the National American Woman Suffrage Association hired the skilled organizer to form suffrage clubs in Idaho. This soon led to women being able to vote there. Her next success was heading the Washington State Equal Suffrage Association. She also delivered effective presentations in Oregon and Kentucky. DeVoe supported a Republican for governor of Washington and was vice chairman of the state GOP. She cast an electoral vote for Warren Harding and served on the RNC. She campaigned for Calvin Coolidge in 1924. Back to Basics for the Republican P...