The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-07-16
CHANGED HIS TUNE.

The name of A. X. Mcclure has been
familiar to the people for several years.
He has occupied not few positions of
| prominence; journalist of some note;
a legislator of more than ordinary abili-
| ty and an orator of unqueStiOned stand
| ing. In the great campaign that closed
| so brilliantly for tine Republicans last
| fall in the election of General Hartranft
and President Grant, Col Mcclure was
one of the grand central figures that
clustered around Mr.. Greeley when, in
an evil moment, he listened to the Syren
songs of the gay deceivers, and turned
his back on the great principles of life
time and the associations that clustered
around his party for long series of
years. In this conflict it was Colonel
Mcclure who upheld the Liberal Repub-
lican banner and hobnobbed with the
Democratic leaders; he was the inspira-
ton of the Cincinnati Convention: the
confidential advisor of Andrew @. Cur
tin, when he heartlessl Y abandoned his
party and those who had stood by him
during the dark days of the rebellion;
the uncompromiSing enemy Of General
Cameron and the hacker of John w,
Forney in his fierce opposition to the
Republican State ticket. When the re-
port went abroad that Colonel Mcclure
had abandoned the party with which he
had been identified, it was hailed by the
Democratic leaders as one of the happi-
est of omens. He was known as an in
defatigable worker, a shrewd wire pull
er and not over ScrupulouS as to the
means to be used to secure a victory
During the progress of the campaign
Mcclure was received with open arms
by the opposition. DaZzled by the pro-
spects of victory he proclaimed himself
reformer and WAS unsparing i'm his de-
nmciatiOnS of what he termed the abus-
es and corruptiOns of the Republican
party everywhere, both State and Ma
tional. AS he warmed up in his Oppo-
sition and was flattered by the Demo
cratic leaders, he deSpaired of the Re
public, accused the Administrator and
every one connected with it, from Gen
eral Grant down, as guilty of the most
heinOuS crimes against the country.
He directed his abuse particularly to
the President and received the plaudits
of those who used to take pride in pro-
claiming anything to beat Grant. "
But the final day of reckoning came and
the hybrid party, with Mcclure, For
ney, Greeley and the old hacks, were
ANONYMOUSLY routed and driven from
the field covered with shame and dis
grace.
Less than year has passed away since
this brave Mcclure, this immaculate re-
former, hurled his fiery thunderbolts,
his letters and proclamations, at the
great Republican party, carrying joy
through the ranks of the Democracy,
when we find that he has had occasion
to change his mind again. A few days
ago he delivered speech before the lit
erary societies of Dickinson College, in
the old fashioned town of Carlisle, where
he showed by his remarks what a mar
velous change his mind had undergone
since Hartranft swept the State by thir-
ty-five thousand majority and Grant
was triumphantly borne into the White
House for a second term.
A few months ago he pathetically an
nOunced his intention to retire from the
political arena-tO leave forever the an
CRY disputes in which it was his delight
to engage. And by way of preparation
for his new departure, y we presume,
he sought the academic shades of old
Carlisle to prepare his mind for the ex-
ecution of this grim determination; and
standing up before the assembled youth,
we find him calmly reviewing the histo-