The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-11-07
speech BY Senator Thurman.
THE DEMOCRATIC VIcToRY -TnR RE-
BUKg TO THE ADMINISTRATIONS EF-
FEcTs UPON orr PoLIrIcs.

fEcTs UPON Our PoLITIcs.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-The Democrats
Of this city serenaded Senator A. G.. Thur
man, of Ohio, tonight at his residence
here. A large crowd was present. 10
response Senator Thurman returned his
thanks for the opportunity afforded him
to participate IN their rejoicing, and said
When think Of II, is it not a dreadful
thing, and calculated to bring terror to
every loyal bosom, to sec you with drum
and fife, with trumpet and eymbal, and
with mighty shouts that rend the air, eel
ebrnting the conquest of Massachusetts, by
the terrible Ku-Klux. [Laughter1 Was
II not enough that the awful and goddess
fellows had intimidated the peaceable,
amiablc and honest carpet-baggers aud
scallawags, and their followers down South,
and obtained the mastery over that fair
portion of the Republic2 Was it at all
necessary that they should invade the
North, and by intimidating Republicans
carry Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and
Delaware and New jersey, aud, to cap the
climax, overrun New York, aud put Mas
sachusetts in their breeches pocket p
Applause
Politicians and editors are scratching
their heads TO find out the causes Of our
victories, when every one who has care :
fully read and inwardly digcsted the his
tory Of the Southern outrages, the mani
festoes Of the Attorney General Williams,
the proceedings of the Chattanooga Con-
vention, the aflidayits Of Major Merrill,
and the kilograms OF Marshal Packard
knows full well that there is but one cause,
and that is intimidation The devil in
spired party, as that venerable Christian
statesman, Gerritt Smith, calls the Democ-
racy, have so frightened the peace loving
Radicals from Passamaquoddy Bay to the
Rio Grandc, that many Of them in sheer
terror have voted the Democratic ticket,
and yet more of them have abstained from
voting ut all, [renewed laughter and as
if there is nothing that these devil inspir-
ed men will not dare to perpetrate, they
have without the least fear or trembling
laid their profane hands upon the head Of
the brave and patriotic Butler, and shrek
ed into his ear the disloyal cry, Benjamin,
depart. Laughter and applause.] 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
elected has lost his seat upon this false
charge. Atevery election for years South
ern outrages have been the battle cry Of
Radical politicians in the North, and the
Qualifications for laws that disgrace civili-
zation and usurpations that lay the axe at
the root Of Republican institutions. But
what can these manufacturers Of false
pretences say now, when our triumphs at
the North are even more signal than those
at the South When even Massachusetts,,
persistent, unvarying, habit-bound Massa.
chusetts, set the seal of her condemnation
upon Radical misrule, aud for the first
time in half century seats an honest
Democrat in her Gubernatorial chair, and
in this connection was it not right, gentle.
men, that should refer to Benjamin +
Butler, who, in accepting his last nomina.
ton gave as his chief reason for wishing Il
remain in Congress, his will and ability to
still further bind and repress the Southern
people. The time had passed by when
his prosecuting cry had found a ready re.
Spouse in the hearts of his constituency
The time had passed when violations Of
the Constitution, contempt for justice, dis
regard Of sound policy, and neglect of the
interests 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 his place in the Congress. Tho
people raised the white flag, not of defeat
but of peace, and said to the would-b,
prosecutor, "Stay thou at home. If you
ask me, fellow citizens, what are the cause,
of our Victories? l answer, discomfort
with Radical rule. If you ask me for the
reason of this discomfort, answer that oul
Radical rulers have in the last nine years
persistently set at naught every instinct
feeling, habit and teaching Of the Ameri
can people. Americans are constitution
loving people, but no regard has been paiC
to the Constitution by our rulers. Amer
leans are a liberty. loving people, but liber
ty has been remorselessly 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 powers of al
omnipoteut parliament Americans ar,
an honesty-loving people, but Credit Mo
bilers, Sanborn contracts, Custom House
frauds and Washington rings have mad,
corruption almost a synonym for govern.
ment If the Government was to be held
responsible for the financial embarrass
ments now upon the country, they coul(
not be attributed to the Democratic party
as that party had no power in this lane
for the past twelve years.
The republican party had triumphant
majority in both houses and absolute con
troll of the finances Of the country. II
reply to cry of "How about the indepen
dent press ?" he said the Independent
press had accomplished the work during
the past year which would rebound to it,
honor as long as the press lasts. In reply
to the question, "How about the thru
term ?" Mr.. Thurman said My frien
the White House has not given that idea
up yet He is trying to fight it out OF
that line if II takes year and a-half. L
the President don't want third term
why in heavens name don't he say so
He (Thurman) saw in newspaper few
days ago that General Grant did not con