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slavery Democracy, and both equally deserving of destruction. He thus became the target for the sharp-shooters of both sides, and the Tribune lost some ground by it. Other articles, nevertheless, of a similar tenor and of greater radicalism and emphasis continued to follow until, as Mr. Bovay thought, the good time had come. Therefore in February, 1854, when the North was blazing with excitement over Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska bill, with its provisions to open all the territories, west and north to slavery, he again sent Greeley his plan and platform for a new party, and asked the influence and indorsement of the Tribune in christening it Republican. Here is his letter:'

RIPON, Wisconsin, February 26, 1854. HORACE GREELEY, Dear Sir:-It seems to me you can no longer doubt, or remain passive. Every phase of the prophecy I made to you in New York two years ago has come to pass. The Nebraska bill is sure to become a law. Slavery has been growing stronger instead of weaker, and as long as its opponents gather in little bands here and there, it will continue to increase in power and aggression.

Now is the time to organize a great party to oppose it. If we wait until the dawn of a Presidential campaign, that organization can not be successfully effected. Campaign excitement always solidifies parties, and the scattered elements out of which we must form our organization will then be chained to the old political chariots, out of our reach.

Your paper is now a power in the land. Advocate calling together in every church and school-house in the free States all the opponents of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, no matter what their party affiliation. Urge them to forget previous political names and organizations, and to band together under the name I suggested to you at Lovejoy's Hotel in 1852, while Scott was being nominated.

I mean the name Republican. It is the only one that will serve all purposes, present and future, the only one that will live and last. The people of the South stand shoulder to shoulder; the North must align itself or be engulfed by slavery.

Having banded together under a common title to oppose slavery in this Nebraska matter, and having discovered how few and insignificant after all, are the differences that have

1 Not the letter referred to in the previous chapter and which brought.out the name Republican.

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