Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-08
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANVASS.
Senator. Thurman the Strongest NAN
Among IIle Democrats

THE PRESIDENTIAL CARfAoo'
SeDsIoy. Thurman the Strongest Man
Among The Democrats
r.Gath's" Letter to the Chicago Tribune.
The attitude of Allen Thurman on
this subject of finance, IN the face OF a
clamorous opposition in Ohio, has un-
doubtedly put him ahead Of Mr. Hen
bricks in National consideration.
While Mr.. Sherman crawfshed and
grew uneasy, Thurman spoke without
evasion, as an old party man, faithful
to those distinctive tenets the DemOc-
racy held, irrespective OF slavery-of
limited Federal authority, except IN
Constitutional prerOgatIves, such as
coinage and the issue Of money. Among
these tenets was sound money-so
sound that it required no legislation or
party platform to give 1t authenticity.
Without debating the particular bill IN
hand, he held that his political tradi-
tions were opposed to gretnback-expan-
sion and loose issues. of lrredeemable
paper.
Mr.. Hendricks held Magisterial pc
sition at the moment, aloof from the
National counsels; but he had the same
incentive to speak out that Governor
Dix had, who gave the Presidents veto
the solemn congratulation Of the Local
Government of 100000 of people.
Tempted out by Morton's friends, CON-
manded to speak for cheap none"
by illiterate clamOrersef his OVID party,
Hendricks hesitated and was silent;
and Thurman, daring to declare him
self. slipped past Before this issue
came and went, Hendricks, had the ad-
vantage. As it is to-day, the Demo-
cratic party is led by Thurman in pub
lie belief, with Stevenson and Bayard
as his nearest coadjutOrs, and Hen
bricks possibly to succeed Pratt IN the
Senate, but too late to revive and
strengthen his record.
In the Senate, next year, there viii
be at least one Democrat from New
England, probably one from .Ne;y
York, and in all seventeen certainIv
with impending or probable editions
from Nevada, Wisconsin, Missouri. In
diana, Tennessee, Al..oaIna. Texas, and
Arkansas. That -Sill he. with an o.
position Housc, enough to initiate leg
lslatlon and. draw the eyes Of the coun-
try. II, vast camp-following of poll
tics, which adheres TO the motto of
~ en, not principles, s." will be quick to
.amiliarize itself with the persons and
gntents of the new Court. And, if the
present status be undisturbed, Mr.
Thurman. as the senior Democratic
leader at Washington, viii be nearly In
position to 90 into Convention by ac-
ciamation. Wherever l have been for
the past two weeks, from Baltimore,
and Philadelphia, and New York, to
the Ohio Valley, 1 find Thurman stock
up.
The natural intelligence, comparative
youth, Judicial experience, social good
breeding, good appearance, fnesse,
health and ease or speech possessed by
Judge Thurman, give satisfaction 10
the Hunker Democracy, and are res
pected by the Republicans. He has
some political friends IN Ohio who dis
like him, but he antagonizes none, and
the gate is always open to returning
adherents. Except by a few Demo
Gratis who hold that Nallandigham was
euchered out of the reward Of his own
campaign by Thurman in 1867, there is
no Democratic faction ready to oppose
the latter's pretensions. His family
have army ana navy affiliations and his
kinsman, Gov. Allen, is a kind Of Gran
ger.
Against a man Of Thurman's suayi-
ty, sprightliness and power TO please
and to interest. there is no man supe-
a-ior to James {. Blaine as the Repub-
lean candidate. | regard Blaine S
domination, as the status is to-day, as
almost inevitable. He is strong IN his
native State of Pennsylvania; strong
even in Kentucky, where he taught
school; strong in all parts of New Eng.
land; and his acquaintance is ubiqui.
tous. He has a small fortune, or ind6.
pendence, about equal to Thurman s
He is a more presentable man to the
eve than Thurman. His vigor, fore
cast and finesse are Of the first class
and tempered 10y discretion too wis,
10 be called cunning. He has infinitely
the advantage of Thurman in persona
and enthusiastic following, and would
take the field with more gallantry L
be should see the party hopelessly IL
the minority among the people, h.
would not run. That is the only even
IN which there is any probability o
Grants candidacy-the foriornness OF
the Republican, party, and the indisposi
ton Of its leading men to carry it
colors to defeat. He might be a der
tier resort, and his personal confdenc,
and patronage might be relied on to elk,
out another campaign.
If Blaine can pull the Republican
party through a fifth term Of fou
years, he will be immeasurably tn
ablest politician in this country.