New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
CORWIN AND THE MEXICAN WAR.
HOW HE GOT BACK IN THE GOOD GRAcEs
OF HIS PARTY.
From The Chicago Inter Ocean.

OF HIS PARTY.
From The Chicago Inter Ocean.
Il notice" said the Doctor that the anti-ex-
pansion papers are still harping on the case Of
Tom Corwin. They take the position that his
opposition to the Mexican War did not make
him unpopular and did not drive him from
political life. One paper insists that ne was
elected 10 the Senate on anti annexation or
anti-war issue. and that his Incorporate speech
against the Mexican War in the Senate IN 1871
ed to his promotion to the Cabinet IN 1880. and
that his election to Congress IN ls'IS was evil
dcnco Of his continued popularity. All these
statements are misleading and unfair 10 corwin.
Il was born in Tom Corwin's district. and no
man came nearer w1rshlptine n,n man nan, on,
interest cheerod him on his coursf more en-
Enthusiastically than did. He had served seven
years in the Legislature and five terms IN Con
gfess when he became. in 1870 the political idol
Of the young Wings OF my age. lie was then
not only OF the most popular men IN ohio,
but in the West. and no party leader ever had a
more enthusiastic following. The campaign ~
1910 was made on straight Wing issues. with
cg-cabin attachment There was no annexa-
ton war issue involved. corwin was elected
Governor. having a majority of over lGWp
The Wings Of that day were divided on the
question Of annexation. the frec-soil wing show
ing most feeling on the question Of Texas. In
1872 Corwin a candidate for ton,
but was defeat d mainly because the Free Sellers
put ticket in the field. The issue N lsi4
when Corwn sent 10 the Senate was Henry
Clay Whigism. The Birney people or aboli-
tionists. who were outspoken against slavery
made stronger campaign against the aDnexa-
ton of Texas than did the Clay or Corwin wings
The latter blamed the Birneyites for Clays de-
feat and old Wings who had gone TO Biz
ney were lampooned and abused by Corwin and
his followers.
when Corwin made his famous speech
against the Mexican War in the Senate In 1SfI
hundreds Of his followers were war men. and in
our neighborhood many of the Corwin Legion
the first 10 volunteer When the war
came when Americans were being shot by Mexi-
cal = sentence. / "A
can. as am an American. would welcome you
with bloody hands TO hCspitabe graves didn't
provoke any enthusiasm and when, in lSiS
the Wings nominated a war hero for President,
Corwin was not the power in politics ne had
been. The logic of events was against him
"Corwin not called 10 the cabinet ~
Taylor. but at the close Of his Senatorial term
in 1880 was given place 10y Fillmore Those
who knew Corwin best at that tim, knew that
ne disappointed man. We did not see
him In our section of the state IN lSIS or M.
and ne declined To enter the Republican cam
paign in 1886 No one grieved NOR" than my
self over Corwins ukewarmness or over his
disapp0intments Wade had succeeded him in
the Senate and the Republicans held the whip
hand in Ohio. and yet Corwn could ne more
see which way the tide was running than he
could in 1877
he held aloof from the Republican party
until 1873 when ne reented. and asked his
district 10 send him 10 Congress He canvassed
the district before the nominating convention
held TO see how his old friends would re-
ceive him He was regarded with suspicion by
the old Wings who had Joined the Republican
party. and with hostility by the younger men.
/ was at OF Corwin's first meetings in the
district. and my heart ached. When ne came
OF the grounds there was not cheer. and there
was no rushing forward to shake hands az
there had been in the old time The committee
was i'm dismay. There hundreds of old
Wings present hut they were sitting m discon-
ISOLATE groups talking about Tom Corwn the
Wagner Boy Of 1870 They looked at Corwin
curiously and expectantly hut there was no
welcome for him.
But Corwin was equal to the occasion. He
glanced over the crowd with a pathetic look
his strong dark face. and | could hav. sworn
his lips trembcd he looked at the unre-
sponsive Indifferent groups scattered through
the grove But in two minutes ] would have
sworn his lips did not tremble. and that NJ felt
minute was in the sun. Turning from n 10 a
group Of elderly men. ne said. In his deep
unctuous tones: This will never do. Here. you
boys. run one Of those wagons up here IN the
shade. and boost me up over the end gate. and
| Will speak from wagon. as ! did in the good
old times Instantly there were forty
around that wagon and IL backed with a
great cheer to where COrwin stood
odd men came running from every part of the
grove. and in five minutes the scene IKE
that of the shouting interval at a camp meet
ing. The ice had been broken. and there
tears in good many eyes corwin proceeded
TO say how lonesome he had been. cut OF from
his old party friends. how miserable he had
been outside the fold and with what fladrcss
ne came asking to be taken again into full fel-
lowship. Men shook hands and danced for Joy.
Tom Corwin the old Tom Corwin was with
them. All was forgotten and forgiven, and Corr
win swept the district. But he had been In re-
trement for nearly ten years and returned TO
his party. as he himself said, humble and peni-