Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-08-13
The Cause Of j. w. Formers Defec
tlOn.

The following letter, now going the
rounds of the press, tells whY Colonel
John W. Forney has united with the
Democrats to break down the Republi.
can party. The letter is said to have
been written by John w. Frazier, Of
Philadelphia, who depicts pretty ac-
curately the extent of Colonel Forney's
influence:
"The detection Of Colonel John w. Forney
mas surprised no one half as much as It has
himself, and 1t is likely TO result prOhtably to
no one CONCERNED except Forney. If the es.
pOusal Of HancoCk's cause by FOrney results
rs disa5trously as his support of Hon. Charles
X. Buckalew, the Democratic candidate for
Governor Of Pennsylvania In 1879, and of Colo
mol A. X. Mcclure, the Democratic candidate
for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1874, did TO these
two men, 1t will prove "A sad thing for Hancock
and the Democratic party that Colonel Forney
became the biographer Of Hancock and the
I'm 1872 Colonel Forney opposed the cleo
tion Of General John II. Hartranft. the Repub-
lican candidate for GOve-norof Pennsylvania
with all the power of his eloquent voice upon
the hustings, and his incisiye pen through the
columns of his paper-the Press; but the hard
or Forney batted for Buckaew, the more en-
thuslastio the people were for Hartrnaft
whom they elected by a majority of 35,827
votes. Three years later FOrney and the Press
advocated tho election of Hartranft, and
shall say in Consequence-his majority ovor
the DemOcrutlc candidate dWiudled down to
1900
Z" II this we're an Isolated case would not
now recall 1t, but In 1874 Colonel John W.
Foney was Chairman of the Committee In
philadelphia that managed the campaign of
Colonel A. X. Mcclure for Mayor of the city
"FrOm breakfast till dinner time Forney
devoted to committee wOrk-the committee
rooms being In the Press office for convenience;
from noon till supper time Forney wrote
e@diGt9rais' 6ristlins with ability in praise Of
opponent, Mr.. Stokely. From supper time
till along towards midnight FOrney was en-
guRed In making speeches for Mcclure and
the day was finished up in sending Press slips
Of those speeches TO all the other morning
papers of the cityj this was about tho routine
OF business each day, the result Of which was
Colonel McClrue was defeated by 1000 ma
jority. Three years later Colonel Forney sup
ported Mayor StOkely for reelection, who
was II In cOnsequence-eseaped defeat by the
skin of his teeth, as 1t were, his majority being
only 1900, against l2,OOO when Forney opposed
him.
Under the circumstances General Garfield
ought 10 be devoutly thankful that Colonel
FOrncy IL about TO contribute so materially to
his election. 1t is the best omen for Garfield
that have seen since his nomination.
The friends Of Colonel Borney place his do
lection wholly upon the ground OF necessity;
II Is known that his publication Of Progress Is
an experiment that has proved IA serious loss
70 much greater than he Is able TO bear.
Forncy lives in large house; the rent must
be paid; the butcher anti grocer must have
their cash; tho girls will wear striped silk
Forney, the Republicans will do nothing for
him; he can't live on air and keep house on
promises
1.-THE latter part ls true, but the other is an
lmputation on Republicans that Colonel
FOrney ought to make haste to resent Al
most before he could call himself u Repub-
liCan without llspng the word, he was made
Secretary of the United States Senate. After
his retirement from the Senate, because of
some troubles of u financial character that
would have dishnnOred the Senate had IL re-
tanned him, President Grant appointed him
Collector of tho Port of Philadelphia at a
salary OF eight thousand dollars year and
when he left that oliicn for reasons known 10
himself, John Welsh, John Wanumakrr and
other Republicans sent him TO Europe at
htteen thousand dollars u year as the Ameri-
can agent Of the Centennial Exposition. For
hiteon years, or longer, his paper, the Press,
was supported exclusively by Republicans,
and, taking all into consideration, know of
no man who has been more kindly treated by
Republicans than FOrney, or who was so little
deserving of their consideration.
" A few weeks ago, Colonel FOney wrote to
Secretary-uf-War Ramsey, stating that he
would accept the POstmnstership of Phlladel-
phla IL twas given to him; but Ramsey was
Senator whom Forney was Secretary of the
Senate, and for reasons that he did not make
public, Secretary Ramsey failed to have For
ney appointed, and In ten days thereafter-I
Will not say In consequence of it-Fornoy
came out In favor OF Hancock. He has been
employed 10 write a 4i2-pago biography of
S2O,OJO, and Is alss to be appointed Minister TO
Great Britain under Hancock when he gets to
be President.
81 do not believe Forney would now be for
Hancock had tho Post-olfce In this city not
been denied him."