Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-12
FROM JACKSON G. Il.
.Jndge Thurmnn,s Meeting.
of Chic statesman
JACKSON G.. H., August 8, 1867

JACKSON G. H., August O. 1867.
The turnout of the Democracy to-day to
hear Judge Thurman, was numerous. The
meeting was held on the Fair Grounds, in
the very edge of town. And finer or
more lovely spot, or one better adapted to
speaker and audience cannot be found in
Ohio. The grounds contain about ten
acres of fine velvety sward, that seems to
yield gently under the pressure of the foot
as it falls in walking. A beautiful grove
of the natural forest trees, without sprig
of underground, stands in the center, the
trees being just close enough to give COM
Portable shade and admit refreshing cur
rents of air when it might please the god
Boreas and the gentle zephyrs to meet in
summer daliance. Here was erected the
speakers stand, of Just elevation enough
to bring the voice of the speaker
in horizontal range with the ears
of those who were farthest away.
Just imagine beautiful grove, a
fine green sward, of gentle, sloping incli-
nation, about two thousand people, sprink-
led with ladies, seated on forms or on the
grass, with here and there knot of men
standing in groups of three to ten, all lis
[tening to Hon. Allen G. Thurman, who,
standing on the platform at the bottom was
speaking to them in that clear, ringing
voice, and using only that high-toned Ian
guage and dignified gesture so character
istic of the man, and you have the picture
presented to the eye to-day. Judge Thur
man was introduced by the President at
half-past one O'Clock, and spoke one hopr
and fifty-flye minutes. --'
He began by calling the recollection of
his hearers to the time he had first address
ed them and the fathers of many of them,
at time when, it might be said, he was
yet mere boy, and when questions of
much interest and great Importance were
before the American people, but, it was his
solemn belief that, even in the midst of
war, or looking down the long vista OF
time, from the present moment to the FORM
alton of the Government, questions so
grave, questions so momentous never pre-
sented themselves-demanding calm con-
sideration, wise deliberation and patriotic
action at the hands of all our citizens and
| statesmen.
So many were the questions of import
ance that he could speak only of a few.
One, and the first one, that he would dis
cuss here to-day, bears down with heavy
weight not only affecting your pockets, but
for all time the very status of the Nation.
When he first spoke to the people of Jack
son county, the United States owed not one
| loII fho1 fa Of
man we owe debt Of over three thousand
millions. And besides this there are other
debts and claims against the Government
that do not include one dollar of rebel debt
or one dollar that may be claimed by any
rebel or rebel sympathizer-amount ac-
cording to the report of Congressional
committee, to more than two thousand mil
lions. We are to-day living in this once
free and happy republic, the most heavily
indebted people on the face of the earth.-
We owe more per head than any other civ
ilized nation. Twice as much per head
as France; four times as much per head
as Austria; and our taxes are heavier
than those ofany other people. Not dol
lar, not an acre, not thing owned by any
but the bondholder, that is not taxed, and
taxed, and taxed; yea, even the very mus
Gle of the laborer. And taxed, too, to pay
gold interest to the bondowner, while he
sits in his easy chair, paying not one cent.
He demands his pound of flesh, but pays
nothing, not even one cent to pay the SOL
dier, not one cent to school his own chill
dren, but demands that the poor man who
tolls and sweats shall pay the teacher.
Not many years ago, twenty-five millions
paid the yearly expenses. Now our eX-
penses are over six hundred millions. And
yet this is not mere question of dollars
and cents. The effect of public debt on
any country is to make the rich man rich
er and the poor man poorer, because, said
the speaker, the laborer pays the debt if it
ever is paid, and has surely to pay the in
terest, and the greater the debt the heavier
the burthen on the laboring man. England
two centuries ago was out of debt and her
people were prosperous. But England's
insane attempt to hold her colonies by the
bayonet plunged her in debt four hundred
millions. England had not when out of
debt, one pauper in her land; whereas, to-
day one-sixteenth of her population are
hungry paupers. Still England glories in
her wealth. The few are indeed
wealthy, but the many are in rags
And how, asked the speaker, is it
with our vast debt? Three-fourths of all
the debt is owned East of the Allegheny
Mountains. One-halt is owned in the cit
les of New York and Boston and the his
tory of the world tells us that wealth, when
il gets into the hands of monied aristocra-
cy, has such effect that the laboring men
must of necessity be poorer. Itis the labor
of a country that pays the debt. No coun-
try can add one dollar to its wealth-no
country can add one dollar to its property
than by labor. The bond
holder who tolls not-the capitalist who
works not, but sits counting his gains
produces nothing. The poor shoemaker
that makes only one pair of slippers in a
week adds more to a country's wealth.
Every dollar of tax, the speaker said, was
paid by the laboring man. Suppose, said
he, there is no tax on cloth, then you get
enough to make coat, say two yards, for
five dollars; suppose, then, the Govern
ment steps in and puts on tax of two dol
lars yard, the manufacturer pays and adds
not only it, but his percentage of profit on
it to the former price. The merchant buys
to retail it and adds on his license, his taxes
and his percentage of profits on both the
real value, the license and the two taxes.
Then comes the tailor, he charges you
for making what you think high price,
but the tailor has to pay for permission to
make your coat and he can't live at less