The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-09-27
HAVE MET
WITH DEFEAT
Fate Of Public Men
Who Oppose War.
Ohio Congressmen Antagonis-
tic to Mexican War Were
Left at Home.

Opposition to war that the govern
ment may be engaged in, by public men
of more or less prominence, is not
nsw thing in the history Of the repub-
lic," said Representative Walter L.
Weaver Of Ohio, who was at the Raj
eigh hotel the past few days, land, as a
rule, there has been but one result to
this opposition-they have found them,
selves retired to restful political OBJ
scurity in short order. The home To-
ries OF the revolution had but little
prominence in our affairs after the
scene at Yorktown. The individuals
called Blue Light Fedsralists' we're out
Of job when We forced England to rec
ognize our claims in 1872. During the
Mexican struggle a number OF promi-
nent men in our country not only de-
clared that the war was unJustifed, but
openly desired the defeat of our arms.
And 1t is within the memory of thou,
sands yet living that many alleged pat
riots loudly clamored for peace at any
price, even at the cost OF the disruption
of the Union.
PRECEDENTs IN 1872.
80 1t speaks we'll for the patriotism
Of the country that where a prominent
man fails to support his government
when loyalty and good citizenship die
tate that he should do so, he Is either
retired to private life or returned by
an indignant constituency with great
ly reduced majority. Instances of this
sort are numerous. In the Twelfth con.
gress John Randolph Aof Roanoke, a
brglht light in a mosA illustrious and
patriotic family, introduced a resolu-
tion In the house declaring 1t TO be in
expedient for the United States to de-
clare war against Great Britain. OF
course 1t was defeated, and at the next
election thereafter, when he was again
a candidate, this time on a peace plat,
form, he was opposed to John Eppes,
relative OF Thomas Jefferson, on a
platform sustaining the government on
the war Issue, and Randolph was de-
feated In pronounced fashion On the
other hand, John c. Calhoun opposed
Randolphs resolution In one Of the best
and most brilliant speeches of his life
and was overwhelmingly elected to the
next congress and to the Fourteenth.
He aterward became secretary Of war
vice president, secretary of state and
| was In the United States senate when
ne died. In comparison, the career OF
Randolph from the time he opposed the
war Of 1872 to the hour OF his death was
a most checkered one. His series OF
defeats began with the resolution thai
he introduced In that war congress.
CoRWIN'S GREAT MISTAKE.
"The Mexican war furnished an ex.
ample In the person Of Thomas Corwir
OF Ohio. The state was just coming int
prominence as a political factor. It hat
given the first Of It's line Of Illustrtoui
sons to the presidency. William Henry
Harrison, and succeeding him in tn,
hearts OF the people stood Corwin, wh,
mad risen from the ranks and sharet
honors with him. He had been a legis
lator, member OF congress, and governo,
OF the state, being elected to the las
ONCE by what was then the phenomena
majority OF 1900 votes. In 1S45 he cam,
to the senate, and he was looked upoi
as the logical successor, by the peopl
and the politicians, to President Tyler
But at the very beginning Of his sen
atorial career. virtually, he made IN,
mistakesof opposing the Mexican war
and his dream was shattered foreve
and aye. 1t Is true that the records o
congress do not show that he arraigne,
the administration for its conduct o
the war. nor tf1a, at any time he falle,
to provide means by his vote for tn
prosecution Of that struggle, but II wa
well understood by his constituents tina
he was not In sympathy with his gov
ernment and his country on that mat
ter. and although continuing in publ
life, he was under cloud, and in hi
last moments bitterly declared II to b
the one great mistake that marred hi
political career. His people forgave hin
for the genius he represented, but the,
could not forget that he failed 10 full
support the government in Its hour 0
need.
OHIO coNGRBssMEN RETIRED.
| I'm the same congress ahere wer