The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-12
4 Democratic Speech at the National Capital
Senator Thurman Reviews the Situation.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 1874.

Senator Thurman Reviews the Situation.
WASHINGTON, Nov f. 1874
The Democrats of this city serenaded Sena-
tor A. G. Thurman, of Ohio, tonight at his
residence here. A large crowd was present
Senator Thurman returned his thanks for the
opportunity afforded him to participate in their
rejoicings, and said:
"When I think of it, is it not dreadful
thing, and calculated to bring terror to every
loyal bosom, to see you with drum and fife,
trumpet and cymbal, and with mighty shouts
that rend the air, celebrating the conquest of
Massachusetts, by the terrible Ku Klux.-
Laughter Was it not enough that those
goddess and awful fellows had intimidated the
peaceable, amiable and honest carpet-baggers
and scallawags and their followers down South,
and obtain the mastery over that portion of the
republic? Was it at all necessary that they
should invade the North, and by intimidating
Republicans, carry Ohio, Indiana, West Vir-
ginia, Maryland, Delaware, and, to cap the
climax, overrun New York and put Massachu-
setts in their breeches pocket Applause.
The politicians and editors are scratching their
heads to find out the causes of our victories,
when every one who has carefully read and in
wardly digested the history of Southern outra-
ges, the manifestoes of Mr.. Attorney General
Williams the proceedings of the Chattanooga
Convention, the affdavits of Major Merrill, and
the kilograms of Marshal Packard, knows full
we'll that there is bat one cause, and that is in
timidation. The devil-inspired party las the
venerable Christian statesman, Gerritt Smith,
calls the Democratic party) have so frightened
the peace-loving Radicals, from Passamaquoddy
Bay to the Rio Grande, that many of them, in
sheer terror have voted the Democratic ticket,
and vet more of them have abstained from vot-
ing at all. Laughter. And as if there is
nothing that these devil-inspired men will not
dare perpetrate they have, without the least
fear or trembling, laid their profane hands
upon the head of the brave and patriotic
Butler, and shrieked into his ear the disloyal
cry, "Benamin, depart" Laughter and ap-
plause.7 Now my friends, pray you, don't
think me frivolous because talk in this way.
Year after year our victories in the South have
been falsely attributed to intimidation, and
member after member of Congress, duly elect
ed, has lost his seat upon this false charge. At
every election for years Southern outrages has
been the battle cry of Radical politicians in
the North, and the justification for laws that
disgrace civilization, and usurpations that lay
the ak at the root of Republican institutions.
But what can these manufacturers of false pre-
lenses say now, when our triumphs at the
North are even more signal than those at the
South when even Massachusetts,, persistent,
uncompromsing Massachusetts, sets the seal of
of her condemnation upon such misrule, and
for the first time in half a century seats an
honest Democrat in her gubernatorial chair;
and in this connection I ask was it not right,
gentlemen, that should refer to BENZ. F. But
| Ter, who in accepting the last nomination gave
as his chief reason for wishing to remain III
Congress, his will and ability to still further
bind and oppress the Southern people But
the time had passed when his personal---very.
cry found a ready response in the hearts of his
constituents, and the time had passed, when
violations of the constitution, contempt for
Justice, disregard of sound policy, and neglect
of the interest of the people could all be over,
looked under the influence of passion and
| prejudice, and hence the result you see. He
raised the black flag Of persecution, and under
that hateful banner sought to MAINTAIN ms
place in Congress. The people raised the
white flag; not of defeat but Of peace, and
said to the wouldbe persecuter, "Stay thou at
home" If you ask me, felow.citizens, what
are the causes of our victories, / answer, dis
content with Radical rule. If you ask me for
the reasons of this discomfort, 1 answer that
our Radical rulers have, in the last nine years,
persistently set at naught every instinct, feel
| ing, habit and teaching of the American peo-
| ple. Americans are q cOnstitutiOn-ovlng peo-
pie, but no regard has been paid to the consti-
| tuition by our rulers Americans are liberty
loving people, but liberty has been remorseless-
ly trampled under foot. Americans are
home-rule-loving people, but home rule has
been treated with scorn and contempt, and
Congress assumes and exercises the power of
! an omnpotent parliament. Americans are an
honesty loving people, but Credit Mobilier,
Sanborn contracts, Custom House frauds and
Washington rings, have made corruption al
most a synonym for government. The fnan-
| cial embarrassments now upon the country
could not be attributed to the Democratic party,
as that party had no power i'll this land tor the
past twelve years. The Republican party had
triumphant majority in both houses OF Con.
gress, and absolute control OF the finances OF
the country In reply to cry of "How about
the independent press?" he said it had accom-
plished a work during the past year which
would rebound to its honor as long as the press
lasts. In reply to question, Chow about
third term ?' Mr.. Thurman said: "My friend
in the White House has not given that ideaup
vet. He is trying to fight it out on that line,
if it.takes a year and half"
If the President don't want third term,
why in Heavens H.. &c don't he say so. He
(Thurman) saw in the newspapers few days
ago that Grant did not consider 1T consistent
With his dignity to make any denial of being
candidate for the third term. That was
poor apology The Republican State Con-
yention of South Carolina had solemnly nomi-
mated him for third term; did not that au-
thorize him to speak on the subject, or did he
consider that the Radical party of South Caro-
lima was so utterly contemplate he could not
answer it?
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL SoC1ETY.-The Sc
cretary of the Southern Historical Society re-
norted to the recent annual meeting at Rich