The New York herald., 1879-08-09
Not bad for General Ewing.

The opponents of General Ewing in Ohio
are constrained to admit that he was gall
liant and able soldier in the war for the
Union; also that he is q man of honor and
probity and much more than average ability.
That is good deal; but they have been In
the habit lately of adding that he used 10
be republican and ''Why did he turn
democrat" the suggestion being that he
became democrat to get Office.
Thereupon Ewing's friends publish let
ter of his, which appeared SO long ago rs
November, 1867, and which tells precisely
why he left the republican party. 1t was
because he was opposed to the extreme re-
construction laws; and what he then fore
saw as to the effect Of these laws seems to
us to show that General Ewing had the pre-
vision of statesman. He had fought
the rebels and had helped beat
down the rebellion and restore the
Union; but when he saw his party
establishing State governments in the
South Of the carpet-bag and negro kind, Of
which we have all come to know since, he
was not willing; and in this letter he gives
very good reasons for his opposition. He
declared himself ready to vote Tor General
Grant, but he wanted to know first how he
stood on the reconstruction laws; and in
what follows he, as it happened, foretold
very accurately what resulted from these
laws, which republicans now see to have
been q mistake. He wrote:-
want Arst to know whether Grant approves the
reconstruction measures; for IL he does / cannot
support him. regard them as misckievous-begot
of revenge, misdirected philanthrophy and lust Of
power. would a. soon expect house to stand on
the crater OF living volcano as q State. where
the whites are prescribed blacks made rulers
Such government cannot long have the heartfelt
sympathy OF any large body Of white men anywhere.
Blood il thicker than water, and Northern whites
will sympathize with Southern whites in their strug-
gle to shake on the incubus of negro rule. 10 pun
sh the southern whites for their treason the North
ern people might possibly for time be willing to
sict them with sucn governments; but selfinterest
forbids it. 1t were like the rsbled war of 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 gov
ern bayonets, and the North must pay for the bay
onets; and however costly, they safely be
withdrawn.
General Grant did approve of these laws;
the carpet-bag and negro governments were
established by him, and, as Ewing ioresaw,
he had to uphold them with bayonets for
eight long years; and when President Hayes
removed the bayonets they at once fell TO
pieces but not until after career of scan
dalous robbery and maladministration
which lost the republican party both houses
of Congress and gave it its President in
1876 only by juggles and the exhibition of
military force which the country still re-
members with disgust.
The republicans were not fortunate in
drawing out this letter Of Ewing 1t will
raise him in the esteem thoughtful
men, for it shows that iaw evils to
the country and to the lean party to
which many men NOR, lcnt than he
were blind. The let. j.. not hurt him
in Ohio; and If he s.ouid DE elected this
fall it will be heard oi next year. w.
Who knows-we may have democratic
President ye..