The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-06-26
RGtsceT1mentrs.
b! eFATz HHoWNI

~ p p.
MIsTeStIne Latter PrOA the Ex Governor On IoIu
Hwlnu. OrdSr No. II Aud The Present POIltlsaI
Dilaailen.
70 lhO niitOE Of the PoSt.D .DApatCh: "''' N
Mr.. George @. Bingham, the dlatln'
EulShed Artist, has written long letter
denouncing in severe terms the nomina-
tion Of Hon. Thomas Ewing for Governor
Of Ohio on account Of his Order No. IL,
issued whom in command on our western
border. he describes him as cat heart
selfish and unsCupulous despot, and a
Democrat only for place and power" A
long friendship for Mr.. Ewing and good
deal Of intimacy with him during the
war have impressed me with an entirely
different opinion Of his personal char.
Z acter, and II his political convictions
were put on only for place and power he
has certainly aired them in State where
Democracy has not been exactly the
road appointment, aSin Missouri, and
has C'ung to his party through fifteen
years Of defeat, when he could as readily
have led In the councils Of the nation
hadbO chosen to give in to Republican
misgoVernment.
That Mr.. Bingham is penetrated with
very. artistic view of the subject mat
tor Of this 'orderis shown in his appeal
made in behalf of "a helpless aud dis
armed population, J" aud his -1eCommen'
dation, IN the Democracy of Ohio to pre-
sentlhim on their banners "as driving
before him terror.stricken mothers,
grandmothers and maidens whom he
deemed more worthy of his flashing
blade than men in arms who could give
GO we'll as receive blows" This will do
for canvas, but scarcely for print. In
fact 1t was only few days since, in
visit to the studio Of Mr.. Bingham at
Columbia to see his exquisite painting
of Musidora, that noticing his "0rder
No. IL" which hung upon the wall, some
conversation ensued wherein he made
this remark: THE public generally does
not know what constituted the great
atrocity of that order; it was that it
forced Union families as we'll as rebel
families to abandon their homes and all"
Now; General Ewing was Federal off
Ger at that time, and however mistaken
he may have been in this as a remedy
for that vindictive border fued, yet the
application oft impartislly to both sides
must aCquit him OF any wrongful intent
and show that he conceived it to be
matter Of military urgency, ifnot neCess
lty. There were many measures adopted
by the opposing forces during the war,
and especially in our own State, not at
all calculated to win approval in time of
profound peace; but, If the advocates of
8 policy OF reconciliation, for which Mr..
Bingham has been distinguished, and of
Democracy, in which he is equally pro-
nounced, insist that by,gones be by.
cones, why shall not elimination cease
against those who have worn the blue
equally with such as hare donned the
gray The very antithesis, too, which |
Mr.. Bingham makes in his letter by a
Virulent thrust at Confederate leaders, |
while it acknowledges tbs the need of
coupter-point to such an attack at this
day, yet does not give any additional
weight to the criticism upon Mr.. Ewing |
II is not always that the qualities which |
commend their possessor Tor civil station |
are those that win admiration in war,
and at present it is certainly in the former |
light alone that Mr.. EWing's fitness as y
candidate of his party Is to be judged OF.
That he has great abilities, strong Dem
oCratiC sympathies, much openness of
expression, and large acquaintance of
the workings of government, all know.
That he will prove equally able and trust
worthy in Executive and Parliamentary
position, those will have most confidence
who know him best And for one am
free to say that, although not acquainted
with Mr.. Foster, his competitor, yet were
I in Ohio, l should unquestionably give
Mr.. Ewing my support, if for no other
reason, because, the success of Mr.. Foster
would 90 far to make possible the re-
election Of General Grant, or what would
still be worse might render probable the
elevation of Secretary Sherman to the
Presidency, This latter would install an
oficialism prepared to Crystalize Into a
permanent policy for our people those
now dominant ideas Of National Banks,
financial contraction, protective duties,
ocean subsidies and railroad rings which
have 80 plundered the great agricultural
sections at the bidding Of organized cap
ital asto make the States mere provinces
tributary to the power throned in Wall
street. OF that system Secretary Sher'
man is the incarnation, and his triumph,
or that of Mr.. Foster, who is accredited |
as his representative in Ohio, would, in
my opinion, pave the way to suprema.
cy fatal to any general eqnalized pros
perity in this country for long years to
come. Respectfully,
ll.... ..-. B. GRATz Brown.
St, Louis, June 18Th, 1879.