The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-09-28
HAVE MET
WITH DEFEAT
Fate Of Public Men
Who Oppose War.
Ohio congressman 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, "and, as a
rule, there has been but one result to
this oppositlon-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 Federalists' We're out
Of a job when we forced England to rec
ognize our claims in 1872. During the
Mexican struggle q number of promi-
nent men in our country not only de-
clared that the war was unjustified, 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 1919
80 1t speaks well 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 onstituency with q great
ly reduced majority. Instances Of this
sort are numerous. In the Twelfth con-
vnh nj
orsilN light In a most illustrious and
patriotic family, introduced q 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
candidate, this time on 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
Randolph's 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
he 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 that
he introduced In that war congress.
CORWIN'S GREAT MISTAKE.
1.-THE Mexican war furnished an ex-
ample in the person Of Thomas Corwin
OF Ohio. The state was Just coming into
prominence as political factor. It had
| given the first Of Its line Of illustrious
sfrF1la tn
Harrison, and succeeding him in the
hearts OF the people stood Corwin, who
had risen from the ranks and shared
honors with him. He had been a legis-
| lator. member of congress, and governor
| Of the state. being elected to the last
office by what was Ghen the phenomenal
i majority Of $4,000 votes. In 1s45 he came
to the senate. and he was looked upon
| as the logical successor, by the people
| and the politicians. to President Tyler
| But at the very beginning of his SEN
atorial career. virtually he made the
mistake of opposing she Mexican war
and his dream was shattered forever
and aye. 1t Ia true that the records OF
congress do not show that he arraigns
/ the administration for its conduct Ul
the war, nor that at any time he failet
to provide means by his vote for the
| prosecution Of that struggle, but it wa.
| well understood by his constituents tha
he was not in sympathy with his gov
| ernment and his country on that mat
ter, and although continuing in public
| life he was under cloud, and in hi;
last moments bitterly declared 1t to b,
the one great mistake that marred hi
political career. His people fOrgavc hin
for the genius he represented. but the.
could not forget that he failed to full.
support the government In its hour o
| need.
OHIO CoNGRHSsMEN RETIRED.
I'm the Same congress xAsrs Wsr