The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-08-26
From the Washington Sunday Gazette.
Hon. Allen c. Thurman, o:
Ohio, as a Leader.

In CHANGING over the personnel
of the American Congress, which
has Just closed IFS labors, we are
greatly impressed with the anoma-
Ious fact. that among so many bril-
liant orators, profound scholars,
deep thinkers, able and learned jur-
| lists, practical business men and eX-
peri, need Legislators, there is but
one of them all, in both Houses, in
the general acceptatiOn, who COM
bines the peculiar and essential
qualification to be the leader of his
party; or at least, there is only one,
who hy universal admission and
acoulescod consent commands that
position. Among the great party
leaders, both IN England and our
own country, the difference in their
mental features has been so great.
that 1t is impossible TO determine
what combination of qualities are
necessary TO make a successful lead
er IN a legislative body. The con-
trast between that most brilliant of
EngIand's orators ard leaders,
Richard Br'ndsley Sheridan and
Lord ~CGstlereagh, IN active busI-
ness man, and a ready. although
not elegant speaker, was most mark
| ed; vet both led their parties in the
political arena where giant minds
met IN conflict.
Pitt and Fox, the great rivals
and great leaders, were as unlike
as possible in every respect; while
Burke. in manner, style of oratory
and intellectual character was again
entirely different from either. How
alike were Sir Robert Peel and Lord
Bruugham: the former stern, harsh
and uHbending, though open IN his
designs and direct in accomplish
ing them; the latter smooth, tortu.
Gus in his manne of arriving at
the result of his policy, a very Mach
iavelli in action.
In our day how widely different
WAS the brilliant orator and power
fui leader, Henry Clay, from the
great orator an d statesman, Daniel
Webster. They were disslmilar IN
mind, manner, eloquence, and in ev.
cry other essential as they were
different in person. And yet they
were the acknowledged leaders OF
great minds. What two could be
more diverse than John G. Calhoun
and Andrew Jackson, both In their
political views, (although of the
same parity in their man ners. hab-
its, and physical and mental quall-
tiesi Hence 1t is hard, as we said
before, to fix a standard Of leader
ship, to whose acquIrments every
sspirant for supremacy should come
up.
The leader of to-day, to whom we
propose to refer, is the Hon. Allen
q. Thurman, ofOhIo, who was elect
ed by the Democratic party of that
State, as United States Senator to
succeed Hon. Benjamin Wade
Judge Thurman is fifty-eIght years
of age, though he looks much youn.
ger; is about five feet ten inches IN
height, broad frame, rugged and
healthy IN appearance, haIr and
whiskers well mixed with gray; his
whole appearance indicating an
iron constitution. His manner is
easy, affable and dignIfied, combi-
nIRg tremendously the fort,ter in re
with the SudUiter IN molO. His hab.
its are plain ana simple. He has a
remarkable knowledge of men,
with a clear insight into character
activity, without bustle-a deal
of patient energy-frm, yet Eild-
bold, yet courteous and undevla>
ting in what be concIeves to be
right. The secret of the immense
amount of labor he accompfishes, is
to be found in his methOdIcal hab-
its, the systematic disposition of his
time and his unwearying and rcgu-
lar attention TO it.
Judge Thurman entered upon his
Senatorial duties, with the full con-
fdence of ms friends and those
who were familiar with bis previ-
Gus services IN the House of Repre-.
sentatIves, as a Judge of the SUI
preme Court of Ohio, as Chief JUS
tice Of that Court, and as an attor-