I’ve been remiss in not sharing with you a great resource: the Republican Party of Texas. The web site contains a few links to publications about the history of the GOP and other research.
A friend e-mailed the link to a new publication: Civil Rights Platform Comparision (PDF)
This booklet lays out the platforms of both parties from 1840 to 1964, immediately preceding major civil rights legislation. I suspect this won’t be new information to most of you, but I thought I’d share it with those who believe the Republicans opposed civil rights. To the contrary. They led the way in the face of Democratic resistance. Interesting stuff. Examples:
1856
Democrats — “The Democratic Party…will abide by and adhere to a faithful execution of the acts…settle by the Congress of 1850: “the act for reclaiming fugitives from service or labor”…[We support] non-interference by Congress with slavery in state and territory, or in the District of Columbia [i.e., we oppose all congressional attempts to abolish slavery in any area of the nation].
Republicans — “As our Republican fathers, when they had abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, it becomes our duty to maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to violate it for the purposes of establishing slavery in the territories of the United States…”
1860
Democrats — “The Democratic Party will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States upon these questions of constitutional law…[T]he enactments of the state legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary in their effect.”
Republicans — “[W]e brand the recent reopening of the African slave trade — under the cover of our national flag, aided by perversions of judicial power — as a crime against humanity and a burning shame to our country and age; and we call upon Congress to take prompt and efficient measures for the total and final suppression of that execrable traffic.”
1884
Democrats — “Asserting the equality of all men before the law, we hold that it is the duty of the government in its dealings with the people to mete our equal and exact justice to all citizens of whatever nativity, race, color, or persuasion…We believe in a free ballot and a fair count…”[The author notes that despite the "free ballot" claim, it was only Democratic state legislatures that instituted polls taxes to keep blacks away from the polls.]
Republicans — “The Republican Party, having its birth in a hatred of slave labor and a desire that all men my be truly free and equal, is unalterably opposed to placing our workingmen in competition with any form of servile labor…”
1896
Democrats — “The Constitution of the United States guarantees to every citizen the rights of civil and religious liberty. The Democratic Party has always been the exponent of political liberty and religious freedom…”[Despite this language, Democrats opposed all 24 civil rights laws passed up to this point]
Republicans — “We program our unqualified condemnation of the uncivilized and preposterous practice well known as lynching, and the killing of human beings suspected or charged with crime without due process of the law.” [Republicans tried to pass federal anti-lynching laws, but Democrats successfully blocked the bills.]
1948
Democrats — “We again state our belief that racial and religious minorities have the right to live, the right to work, the right to vote, the full and equal protection of laws…” [It was around this time that Southern Democrats, opposed to civil rights for blacks, broke from the party and formed the Dixiecrats. Strom Thurmond ran for president on the ticket and lost. He joined the Republican Party in 1964 because he had a change of heart on civil rights issues. Many erroneously believe Southern Democrats joined the Republican Party to continue spreading racial hatred. Untrue. The author notes that in 1971, Thurmond became the first southern Senator to hire a black staffer.]
Republicans — “We favor the abolition of the poll tax as a requisite to voting. We are opposed to the idea of racial segregation in the armed forces of the United States.”
In an attempt to combat some of the lies about the GOP, I wrote Why Courting the Black Vote Won’t Work. Coming up: Biblical Issues Platform Comparision.
Happy Friday! 
Addendum: In case anyone misses the point, it’s my contention that the Democrats are still instigating racial strife between whites and blacks. It was necessary then to retain the white vote, and it’s necessary now to retain the black vote.
Update: Another shout-out from Mr. Limbaugh.
Update II: A commenter invoked Trent Lott (R). What he said about Thurmond at his private birthday was nothing to get upset about. What Chris Dodd (D) said about Robert Byrd on the floor of the Senate on the public’s clock was worse. See Two Old Men, Two Different Standards. Liberals in the audience, I ask you to explain to us the difference between the two incidents: why Trent lost his leadership position and why there was no backlash against Dodd.
By the way, Walter Williams is guest hosting for Rush today.
Update III: This post is also up at Blogs for Bush.
Update IV: My thoughts on “hate” crimes.
