George F. Hoar
George Frisbie Hoar (August 29, 1826 – September 30, 1904) was a Free Soiler and Republican from Massachusetts who represented the state's 8th and 9th congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives, later serving as a U.S. senator until his death. Hoar was previously a member of the state legislature, similarly having served in both houses.
An abolitionist and Radical Republican,[1] Hoar recognized the immorality of slavery[2] and was raised by parents who actively opposed racial bigotry and often defied unjust laws.[3] Hoar expressed sharp disdain for the Democratic Party, which he viewed as the party of the saloon keeper, ballot stuffer, and Ku Klux Klan.
Political career
U.S. House of Representatives
In 1868, Hoar was easily elected to the U.S. House from Massachusetts' 8th congressional district, defeating Democrat Henry H. Stevens by a landslide.[4] He was re-elected for four additional terms,[5] generally facing little serious competition except for the 1874 midterms, where he only narrowly defeated Democrat Eli Thayer by only 2.5 percentage points.[6]
Hoar declined to seek a sixth consecutive House term in 1876, instead running for Senate.
U.S. Senate
In the 1876 elections, Hoar ran for U.S. Senate from the state's Class II seat, and easily won; he was re-elected four times.[5]
Hoar was a leading opponent of the Chinese Exclusion Act on principled grounds against racial and ethnic bigotry,[3] believing in America being a land that should not make legal distinctions on race or color.[1] He was one of fifteen Republican senators to vote against the bill in 1882.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fascinating Politics (February 17, 2021). George Frisbie Hoar: An Honorable Senator. Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ↑ George Hoar. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cohn, Henry S.; Gee, Harvey. “No, No, No, No!”: Three Sons of Connecticut Who Opposed the Chinese Exclusion Acts. University of Connecticut. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ↑ MA District 8 Race - Nov 03, 1868. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Candidate - George Frisbie Hoar. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ↑ MA District 9 Race - Nov 03, 1874. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 5804. (P. 3412). GovTrack.us. Retrieved November 11, 2021.