Radical Democracy Party (United States)
Radical Democracy Party | |
---|---|
Founded | May 1864 |
Dissolved | September 1864 |
Split from | Republican Party War Democrats[1] |
Preceded by | Radical faction of the Republican Party |
Merged into | National Union Party |
Succeeded by | Elections |
The Radical Democracy Party was an
History
Cleveland convention
The new party convened in Chapin's Hall in
The platform adopted at Cleveland called for the continuation of the war without compromise, a
Campaign
Many of the new party's supporters did not necessarily want it to stand in the election. Rather, the hope was that the formation of a new party would cause Lincoln not to gain the Republican nomination.[11] Although this did not occur, Frémont maintained over the course of his campaign that he would drop out if Lincoln did likewise, in favor of a candidate whose platform more closely matched the ideals of the Radical Republicans.[12]
Frémont gained the support of a number of prominent abolitionists. However, the majority of Radical Republicans continued to support Lincoln as it was felt that Frémont could not win and that supporting him would split the abolitionist vote in favor of the Democratic candidate
Withdrawal
Frémont and Cochrane dropped out of the race on September 21, 1864. In a letter to The New York Times, Frémont wrote that it had become increasingly clear that the Democrats could not be trusted on the issues of union or abolition. As such, he did not want to act as a spoiler against Lincoln.[19] At the same time, Frémont remained critical of Lincoln, writing that "his Administration has been politically, militarily and financially, a failure, and that its necessary continuance is a cause of regret for the country".[20] In another letter to the same paper written one week previously, but published in the same edition, he wrote that the ideas of the Radical Democracy Party would nevertheless be pursued.[21] It has been speculated that Frémont's withdrawal may have been part of a deal with Lincoln whereby the more conservative Postmaster General Montgomery Blair was removed from his post.[22]
Most Radical Democracy Party supporters went on to support Lincoln in the general election,[23] though there were some exceptions to this, notably Wendell Philips.[24] The party itself was finished, having only formed to run a candidate in the 1864 election.
See also
- Liberty Party (United States, 1840) – prior small abolitionist party that this party was compared to
References
- ^ Charles Bracelen Flood (2009). 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History. Simon & Schuster. p. 107.
- ^ William Ganson Rose (1990). Cleveland: The Making of a City. Kent State University Press. p. 324
- ^ Ganson Rose (1990). p. 324.
- ^ Charles Bracelen Flood (2009). 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History. Simon & Schuster. p. 107.
- ^ Michael Burlingham (2008). Abraham Lincoln: A Life. Volume Two. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- ^ Flood (2009), p. 109.
- ^ James M. McPherson (1964). The Struggle for Equality: Abolitionists and the Negro in the Civil War and Reconstruction. Princeton University Press. P. 270.
- ^ McPherson (1964), pp. 269-70.
- ^ Info at elections.harpweek.com
- ^ McPherson (1964), p. 270.
- ^ McPherson (1964), p. 270.
- ^ McPherson (1964), p. 281.
- ^ Adam I. P. Smith (2006). No Party Now: Politics in the Civil War North. Oxford University Press. P. 115.
- ^ McPherson (1964), p. 273.
- ^ McPherson (1964), p. 273.
- ^ Smith (2006), p. 115.
- ^ McPherson (1964), p. 274.
- ^ Larry E. Nelson, Bullets, Ballots and Rhetoric: Confederate Policy for the United States Presidential Contest of 1864. The University of Alabama. 1980. p. 51.
- ^ Letter of John C. Frémont to the New York Times, published September 23, 1864. Available: [1]. Retrieved 10 August 2017
- ^ Frémont letter of September 23
- ^ Letter of John C. Frémont to the New York Times, published September 23, 1864. Available: [2]. Retrieved 10 August 2017
- ^ Flood (2009), p. 283.
- ^ Flood (2009), p. 283.
- ^ Don E. Fehrenbacher (1982) 'The Anti-Lincoln Tradition’ in Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association Vol. 4 Issue. 1. Available: [3]. Retrieved 09 August 2017.