The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-07-25
Letter from senator Thurman.
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The following letter from Senator
| Thurman to a, gentleman in this city
has been furnished us for publication
WASHINGTON, July II, 1872.
Col. L. +. Spencer. Cleveland, Ohio:
| MY i)EXE SIRs-I assure you that Il
is not from want of respect that have
not written to you sooner. Your let
ter of May 18th was duly received.
but as you did not ask for q reply, /
thought that you would not feel hurt
at my silence. I should have written
to You, however, but for the Following
reconsideration. 1 have been, OF the,
opinion for more than q year that to
give us any chance OF success in the
election next fall, the movement indi-
eating the policy and the man qitfst
come from the people, and not trofni
the politicians and especially, that the.
Democratic members OF. Congress
should abstain from entering into any
coalitions, and from everything that
might look like debating the eoufseI
of the party. And this was the view
very generally taken by the members,
Individually, / preferred fighting un-.
der the Democratic banner, with q
straight Democratic ticket but l.
conld not shut my eyes to the fact
that great many good Democrats
were of a different opinion. And to
me it seemed clear that any course
that did not emanate from the masses
of the party, would surely fail. hAct-4
ing on this principle, have, not all-s
swered a single one of the many let,
ters that have received upon the
subject. Not that was unwilling to
express my opinion, or to take my
share of the responsibility but be-,
cause, occupying, the position j do, i,
thought it the part of wisdom and
patriotism not to Interfere with the
formation of the people 1.-THE oOonlyl
opinion that &C uld be safely folloWedg
by the opponents of the, Radical party,
1 condemn no man who took differ
ent view of his duty, but 1 think that
time and events have shown that mine
was correctss The nomination II of
Greeley and Brown, by the baltimore
Convention, was the work of the peo-r
pie. The politicians had very little
or nothing to do with it. It twas a.
tidal wave that swallowed up eyery-f
thing in its way. The true -explana-,,
ton of it is, that the people mean to
have change of Administration and
they will not let pride or predjudicef
stand in the way of success. Not
that the Democratic party abandons
its principles for it does nothing of
the sort. On the contrary-aileging
as it does that the course Of the Rad
ical leaders in the White Hocse and
in Congress, threatens to destroy all
and democratic govern,
is bound by its principles to
seek the overthrow of those leaders.
And if it cannot overthrow them i'm
precisely the mode it would prefer, itli
S but common sense to take the next.
pest mode. Therefore, although I
would have been better pleased had
)uF party resolved to make straight
Democratic fight, i am now (since theli
party has so willed it,, and believing
hat the welfare and liberty of the
country require the defeat of the pres
mt administration , firmly resolved
o work with earnestnesS and zeal forH
he election of Greeley and Brown.---,,I
What else can q Democrat do, who be-
ieves what he has been saying for
ears, that the continuance in power
f Grant and the Radical majority inai
congress would endangerg the very
xistence of Constitutional govern r.
lent? What if Greeley has opposed
ne Democratic party--is it not betterto
lect man who has frankly and open-so
yopposedlus in time past, ,butwho nowBs
l many things, agrees with US, than 81
, help to elect renegade. Democrat =
Ike Grant, who was once with us, but
now opposed to us in everything?
Fea have to choose between these,g
Vo men, or throw away onr franchise 3
Y refusing to vote. But who is there
.illing to throw his franchise away?
Tho is there who places so little value
pom it that he will not exercise it?
Tho is there ready to acknowledge
lat he is so weak that he cannot make
p his mind, and therefore will not
otc at all? 1 trust that no Democrat
i'll be found in any such category. = ~
ct every man who hesitates, creflectaf
lat any change of administration isaa
kelly to be for the better; and that
rtainly it cannot be for the worse.
1 am your friend truly, i'sia9 sdf
s5ois 7oi8o A. G. THURMAN. silf