In 1919, after years of losses, Francis sold the Republic to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, a longtime rival paper supportive of the Republican Party, which closed it.
[4] The Republican was founded by Joseph Charless in 1808 as the Missouri Gazette and Louisiana Advertiser, using the first printing press to be set up west of the Mississippi River.
we conceive it unnecessary to offer anything like professions to the public, but rather let the columns of the GAZETTE speak for themselves, and the print live or die by the character it may acquire, but its intended Patrons have a right to be acquainted with the grounds upon which their approbation is solicited.
[6] The first printer to work in the West was a Mr. Hinkle, who set up the first form of the Gazette in a little one-story building on Main Street .
The younger Brackenridge was educated in part by living for several years with a French-speaking family in Ste.
After reading the law and passing the bar in Baltimore, Maryland, Brackenridge had practiced there and in Pennsylvania, but grew restless and returned to the West in 1810, settling in St.
[7] Brackenridge wrote "descriptive letters" for the Gazette from locations along the Missouri River during these months.
[6]: 105 In 1820, Charless sold the Gazette, with its one thousand subscribers, to James C. Cummins, who had recently arrived from Pittsburgh.
The latter held the paper for 18 months; in 1822 he sold it to Edward Charless, the oldest son of the founder.
George Knapp was another important figure in Republican history who began as an apprentice, in 1827.
In 1919, after years of losses, Francis sold the Republic to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, a longtime rival paper supportive of the Republican Party, which closed it.
[4] The symbol of the newspaper was a figure of a "coon couchant," always mentioned in heraldic terms, or a raccoon that was posed lying down.
When the paper was moved to Third and Chestnut streets, occupying a new building which ranked with the imposing architecture of the city in its day, the coon found a place in the iron arch of the main entrance.
[6][8]When the building was torn down in 1932, the doorway symbol was presented to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the successor to the Republican.
In practice, the publishers of the two newspapers conducted a national convention of Liberal Republicans which met in Cincinnati, Ohio, and nominated Horace Greeley and Benjamin Gratz Brown.
[1] In 1873, it propounded its political stand as a fearless and independent advocate of Liberal Democratic principles.
It is bound, however, by no ties to the support of unworthy men, nor by party discipline to any action it may deem unwise of impolitic.
It will studiously strive, as in the past, to avoid sensational and prurient journalism, and will without sacrificing spice and piquancy, aim to make itself worthy of admission into the purest circles.
The basement held all the printing paper, and two news presses, one an eight-cylinder and the other a four-cylinder.
[5]: 539 [8] The first floor held the counting room, two large fireproof vaults, file and paper cases, and back copies of the Republican and Democrat; second floor, a job bindery and the office of the job department; third floor, editorial rooms and the job printing office; fourth, more of the job office, material and machinery; and top floor, the news department, typesetting and makeup quarters, where some thirty-five printers, or "typos," could work.
[8][5]: 540–541 Managing Editor William Hyde rushed to his room to save the valuable books in his library.
He was accompanied by a self-possessed compositor named Fisk, who began to assist him in throwing books out at the windows.
Crowds of spectators witnessed the debacle, emptying theaters to rush to see the intense flames engorge the building, which eventually collapsed.
[5]: 540–541 A five-story Renaissance style replacement building was opened on Wednesday, January 8, 1873, on Third Street at Chestnut.