Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-25
HOW HE WAS CONVERTED.
Why General Tom Ewing Cut
Loose from the Republican
Party.

Cincinnati Enquirer.
When General Ewing left the Repub-
can party he was citizen OF Kansas,
and continued such for more than three
wears misunderstanding, in the mean
time, in 1868, supported Mr., Seymour
for the Presidency. The people OF
Kansas had before that time conferred
upon him high offices. He was one OF
the political leaders of the State, in the
line of promotion to the highest honors;
and the State at that time was and ever
since has been, overwhelmingly Repub-
lican, which party also then held the
National and nearly all OF the State
Governments.
Could personal and selfish considera-
tons have induced this change?
General Ewing returned to his native
town and state i'm 1870, and again be-
came a citizen OF Ohio.
The following letter under date oil No
vember 10, 1867, taken from the National
hlisliigeRcyr of November so, 1867, gives
the reasons why he could not support
General Grant and the Republican party.
In is addressed to Colonel d. y. Bassett
of Lawrence, Kansas, and Is u follows:
WASHINGTON, November I'D, 1901
Dyar ColoHsL have your letter OF the
10th inst. advising me OF the formation
of Grant clubs by many OF our comrades
in Kansas, and asking my opinion oithe
movement.
81 earnestly wish 10 be in accord with
the great part of my Kansas and army
friends, and still hope TO unite them IN
supporting General Grant for President.
But want first 10 know whether he ap-
proves the reconstruction measures;
Tor If he does | cannot support hun. |
regard them as mischieyous-begot oil
revenge instructed philanthropy and
lust OF power. | would as soon expect
a house TO stand on the crater OF living
yalcano as a State, where whites and
blacks being nearly equal in numbers,
the whites are prescribed and the blacks
made rulers. Such a Government can
not long have the heartfelt sym
pathy OF any large body OF white
men anywhere. Blood Is thick
or than water, and Northern
whites will sympathize with Southern
whites i'm their struggle to shake off the
incubus Of negro rule. IL there were no
prejudice of. race To affect their action
the Northern people would stlll refuse
to reproduce in the States OF the Union
Hayti or San Domingo, or any other
government liberalization the negro
race has established since the flood.
To punish the Southern whites Tor their
treason the Northern people might pos
siblv Tor time be willing to atltlct
them with such governments; but sell
interest iOrbids II. Ii were like the
tabled war the belly and the members.
The North already grOans under the
punishment now being inflicted on the
south. and must, besides, pay for the
whip. The negro governments, when
formed. must be- propped by Northern
bavonets, and the North must pay for
the bavonetS: and, however costly, they
can rever safely he withdrawn. When
reconstructed. each one OF those states
will be- like magazine, all secure while
carefully guarded outside, but when lett
unguarlcd a chance spark will blow 1t
anil all about it To the devil.
Entertaining these views, L would
not support amy candidate for the Presi-
dencv who indorSes the reconstruction
measures. even il they We're lawful, still
less rs | consider them wholly uncon-
stitutional, and full Of danger and pre-
Cedents.
IL write YOU explicitly, because |
value your good opinion and want you
10 know how | think and feel, and mean
toact on the stupendous qucst,onswhich
lie around and before us.
Yours faithfully,
Thomas EwING.