OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. A HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FROM ITS OF MICHIGAN CAMPAIGNS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. VOL. I. DETROIT, MICHIGAN: WM. LIVINGSTONE, PUBLISHER. 1900 PREFACE. There have been many histories written recounting portions of the life and activities of the Republican party, but none that cover the whole period of its existence from its foundation in 1854 to the closing campaign of the Nineteenth Century. No account of the Jackson Convention, which first gave form and utterance to the convictions out of which the Republican party grew, has ever before been set forth in book form. It seemed to the publisher particularly appropriate that such a history should be prepared in the State in which the Party was founded, in which it has some of its most noted triumphs, and which has furnished to the Party councils and to the Nation's history some of the most distinguished names. The History includes an account of every National Convention and Campaign from 1856 to 1900, the text of every National Republican platform adopted, and the principal events occurring during each Administration. Local interest is added by a brief statement of the results of each campaign in Michigan, and by a number of chapters that relate exclusively to political movements in this State. The publisher considers himself fortunate in having secured for the preparation of the general history the assistance of Mr. William Stocking, who during almost his whole adult life has been at the newspaper end of political campaigns, and who has attended nearly all of the State Conventions held in Michigan since 1868. It would be impossible, without extending the work far beyond reasonable limits, to sketch, biographically, all the men whose political prominence or party services deserve mention. Their acts are in many cases, interwoven with the text of the history. So far as separate sketches and portraiture have been employed it has been the aim to select men who were of State prominence, as well as representative in their respective localities. The artistic excellence of the portraiture will be apparent to everyone who opens the volumes, and needs no word of commendation. |