THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

December 11, 1896

 

THE WAUPACA SPIRIT

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Our Forty-Third Anniversary.

 

‘Tis forty-three years this midst of December,

            Since “The Spirit” was born on the Indian land;

And the Great Spirit’s blessings were tearfully given,

                                                As he moved him away with his vanishing hand.

 

The Great Spirit went with his children away,

            And the places that knew him would know him no more;

But the young “Spirit” throve, grew lusty and strong.

            And on toward a glorious manhood did soar.

 

                                    Vicissitudes came, and failures were frequent,

                                                Oft bringing a feeling of trembling and fear;

                                    But “The Spirit” was pluck, and fought the way through,

                                                And greets you today with a record most clear.

 

                                    The name may be changed, but “The Spirit” ne’er dies;

                                                Republican principles will e’er be our guide;

                                    And the name “REPUBLICAN” cherish will we,

                                                And bear it aloft with a citizen’s pride.

                                                                                    CHARLES ROLLIN BRAINARD.

 

            The Waupaca Spirit, the first newspaper published in Waupaca and Waupaca county, was established by Charley and Luke Redfield and the first number of the Spirit was issued Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1853.  It took grit, pluck and energy to establish a paper in a town of the size of Waupaca then.  The material was shipped to Berlin and carted with ox teams to Waupaca.  On the back of one of the old cases in the REPUBLICAN office today is the shipping inscription:

                                                W. SCOTT & CO., Waupaca.

To Ripon via, Milwaukee.

            This would indicate that perhaps some of the material was hauled by teams to Waupaca from Ripon.  The Spirit seemed to have fluttered a little after a couple of years for fear the County Metropolis was to be located at Rural, for a reference to one of the old files shows that J. H. Jones published it in that village nearly a year.  But in January, 1857 Luke and Charley Redfield must have bought it back as the paper was reissued in Waupaca with L. C. Redfield proprietor and C. E. Redfield editor, and under the heading it was designated Vol. 1. No. 1.  We reprint Charley Redfield’s Salutatory.

 

“The Waupaca Spirit Still Lives”

            To satisfy the incredulous, and to quiet the fears of its friends, who were doubtful of its position in the spirit land, the Spirit knocks for admission again to the world of ponderable substances, and asks the opportunity to commune with the world in its natural form.  Do you grant the request, you of the flesh?

            The point is conceded that Waupaca, and surrounding towns are much in need of a newspaper which shall be permitted both by location and inclination, to furnish them news of interest to themselves, as well as to chronicle the improvement, political condition, and advantages, of the county in which it is printed.  To satisfy this want, the Spirit will labor unceasingly.

            The concern is now established upon a basis more substantial, and one better calculated to ensure regularity in issue, than heretofore; and we hope our friends will not be dilatory in coming forward to subscribe, advertise, and get jobs done; as it seems rather necessary that such patronage should be afforded, in order to produce a grateful feeling with the proprietor; - who, by the by, is a young man of enterprise, and having just procured a wife, feels anxious to get a position in the world, which shall be permanent; and you know there is a wide difference between jingling a few extra dimes in your trousers, and on the other hand, being followed by dunning letters, sheriffs, and so forth.

            You will perceive that the paper which is offered is large, and well filled with choice reading matter, news, commercial and telegraphic.  In fact, you will rarely find so respectable a sheet out of the large cities; but the Proprietor, being a practical printer, has concluded to furnish a newspaper which shall merit a liberal support, and if he fails to get it, it will be none of his fault.

            The course of the paper, with reference to politics, is to be independent. – Independent in politics – you understand!  That means, the Editor can ride every hobby, advocate every political doctrine, and be on the side that wins, every time.  We will just say that, having tolerably well posted about their relative force, and therefore we are admirably adapted to the post – as our experience is sure to enable us to be on the strong side.  It is customary, however, for Editors, when they settle into their sanctum, to tell their preferences, and so here ours go:

            We don’t like Border Ruffians, notwithstanding they are so much attached to ourself.  We will not say that all Know Nothings are Border Ruffians, but we must assert that all Border Ruffians are Know Nothings.  One day, after the recent President contest, we happened to be in one of the border counties of Missouri, known as Jackson, in the city of Independence and accosting the most intelligent looking man, asked if he had heard the result.  “Yes,” said he “either Fremont or Buchanan is elected; I reckoned it ‘ud be Fillmore –bad news – won’t yer drink – I don’t reckon yer b’long ter the Order.”  That satisfied us with that man and the Order.  The Democratic party, as illustrated by Frank Pierce’s administration, and other leaders of the party, is a complete superstructure of corrupted party drill, the result of which has been abundantly seen in Kansas. – The Republican party is more to our liking.  We shall treat this question more at length in the future.

            We hope never to be blinded by local bigotry so much, as to be unable to treat every question and place with fairness, for when that occurs in a public journal, it ceases to be a mirror to reflect surrounding objects correctly, as it should do.  In conclusion, we only hope that the Spirit will become a weekly visitor to every house in the county, and to many homes in the east.

 

            We publish the above to show that way back, forty years ago the seeds of Republicanism were sown in the Spirit which afterward took root in the Criterion Lester Perry’s paper, and finally merged the present REPUBLICAN which was established by the venerable Judge Ogden.  The paper has been under the present management since January 1883; our advent into the office dating from Oct. 16, 1882.  Thus have we labored, unceasingly to send out our thoughts and much other valued news and miscellany to the people of Waupaca and vicinity as well as to nearly two hundred names outside of the state, a little over fourteen years.  The REPUBLICAN has always labored for the right as it understood the right, and we believe its mission has been rewarded with many friends.  May its light continue to shine and may prosperity and happiness be the lot of all, no matter whether they be friend or otherwise, within the range of its influence.