Wichita eagle., 1888-06-29
COULDN'T STAND 1T ANY LONGER.
A Leading Democrat of West Virginia
Leaves His Party and Joins the
Republicans

POINT PLEASANT, w. Va, June 10
The Gazette prints the following letter
from Major McCown, a prominent
Democrat of this place, who has left the
party on account of its free trade senti-
ments, and its hostility to the Union
soldiers.
SAND Run, O., May a6, 1SSS.-R. S.
Morgan Ripley, W. Va.-Dear Sir: Your
very kind and interesting letter was for
warded to me from Point Pleasant, and
have delayed answering it for few
days, as | have been expecting to visit
your county, where | should have seen
you in person, but as now find that
shall be detained here some time longer,
/ have concluded to write you.
You have been correctly informed In
regard to my position on the political
question of the day. never was free
trader" so-called, although it has SEEM
ed to me that the tendency of the Demo-
cratic party has for a long time been in
to hope that it would legislate in favor of
the best interests of our country and
people, but when the presidents message
TO the present congress was promul-
gated, and at once SO eagerly seized upon
by a majority of the party and adopted
as the great over-shadowing issue of the
next presidential campaign, my hopes in
the great Democratic party subsidized, land
| at once determined TO abandon the
party which no longer represented my
views as to the line of policy adapted TO
best promote the interests of our COM
mon country.
| have many other reasons for leaving
the Democratic party. l need not say TO
you who suffered SO much during the
war, that the presidents order restoring
the captured rebel flags, was direct in
suit TO every true Union soldier through
out our land, and then the numerous
vetoes of pension bills, which had been
carefully considered and passed upon
their merits, by the votes of the mem
bers of both branches of congress, who
were sworn to do justice as between the
government aud all applicants. And
when we look at our state, which owes
its very existence to the tolls, the sacri-
fees and the sufferings of the Union sol
diers, and see that no single county
where the Democracy have majority
is there a single Union soldier occupying
official position, but those who
fought the hardest and the
longest to prevent the establishment
of our noble state, are to-day enjoying
all the emoluments of place and power
and honor, and all this by the grace of
the Democratic party. When we see all
this, we are forced to conclude that the
Democratic party of West Virginia at
least is hostile to the best interests of the
Union soldier, and it seems to me that
the time has come when the soldiers of
West Virginia should stand by each
other, regardless of party, and see that
this great injustice to brave and hon
est and patriotic class of our citizens
should no longer be reproach to our
state.
In deserving party while in the zenith
of its power and prosperity because it
no longer represents my honest political
convictions | hope that may be acquit
ted, by my friends at least, of any ambi-
tious longings for preferment or position.
ask no position except the proud one
of an humble American citizen, and to
live peacefully beneath the protecting
folds OF that bright banner in whose de-
Tense the best years of my life have been
spent. Hoping to see you ere long, ire
main, as ever, your friend and COM
rade, A. f. MCCOwN.