The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-02-18
For the Democrat.
ALLEN G. THURMAN

VI WllOul IhOV ''oNS oO SiN"V S"'DS w w
proud, as the one whose name stands at
the head of this communication. Two
years ago the extinction ofthe partyseem-
ed to be inevitable. In the minds of
thoughtful Democrats the necessity of a
union of all the elements opposed to the
continuance of the present disgraceful
administration seemed paramounttopa par
ty considerations, and the project of drop
ping the party name and assuming some
other which should attract to it the dis
affected of other parties, and thereby Gre
ating an organization sufficiently power
full to win success, was seriously enter
tanned Nothing seemed more improba-
BILE, at that time, than that the Democrat
ic party would elect Governor in this
State in the fall of 1873, in distinctively
party contest. To prevent the success of
the Republican nominee large numbers
of Democrats, in all parts Of the State,
were ready to coalesce with the Liberals
and give their support to Judge Collins,
who, it was understood, had formerly
been Democrat, and in respect to all
important public measures remained true
to his early convictions. 1t was argued
that the election of Judge Collins would
result in permanent advantage to the
Democratic party in this, that in the un-
ion formed to effect that result the Lib
earls would be largely in the minority,
and would naturally gravitate toward the
majority, and thus finally be Incorporated
into the Democratic pa'iy. Or, ifa new
party should be formed out of the ele-
ments adverse to the party in power, the
Democrats would be so largely in the as
cendant, in respect to numerical strength
as to be able to control its policy.
But against these, and all like
schemes and procedures, Judge Thur
man opposed the force of his pow
erful mind and will, and bearing downall
opposition prevented the Democracy of
lOhio from forming coalition which un-
doubtedly, would have rung the knell of
the party as a recognized political organi-
zatior Il this State, if not in the Union.
F. must not be forgotten that the same
,nditions which existed here, attained
in other States, aud that the Democratic
mind was so nicely poised that the slight
est influence would have inclined it one
way or the other, and the result Of the
action of the party here, would have been
felt throughout the entire length and
breadth ofthe land. And when at last,
by efforts that now seem truly marvellous,
Judge Thurman prevented his party from
taking that fatal backward step, and by a
mastery stroke ofpolicy brought forward
and secured the nomination of that ven
erable patriot and statesman, William
Allen, the chances of success at the polls
seemed so slender that the great men of
the party entered the contest without
heart, and while giving negative sup
port to the ticket, some even going SO
far as to vote for Judge Collins, because
they deemed Mr.. ..Allen's prospects en-
tirely nopeless,) failed to take an active
part in the canvass, and left Judge Thur
man, with a few brave spirits who rallied
around him, to meet the formidable enc
my, which, flushed with the prestige of
constantly recurring victories, seemed un-
conquerable.
The result we all know, and the amaze
ment which followed when it was discov-
cred that the wisdom, foresight and ener-
gy of ons man, aided by a handful offaith-
full adherents, had secured a victory which
the most sanguine of his fellow Demo
erats, had not deemed to be possible
And we all recollect the wonderful effect
of that victory in other States. 1t seemed
asifthe party, moribund before, had been
called back from the very verge of disso-
luton, and invested with new power and
energies that at once rendered it invinci-
BILE. The formidable "tidal wave" then
set in motion surged onward, gaining
strength as it advanced, until in the elec-
ton of1S74 it eliminated in the over
whelming defeat of our opponents. What
the result would have been if Ohio had
gone Republican or Liberal in 1873, it re-
quires no extrac rdinary sagacily to con-
lecture; and the conclusion is inevitable,
reasoning from evident cause to legiti-
mate effect, that to the genius of one man
the grand successes of 1874 are clearly
and fairly attributable, and to him be-
longs the credit Of the presently prosperous
condition of the party.
But above and beyond all this, and en-
titled to greater weight in the minds of
all his countrymen are the eminent abil-
tiles of Judge Thurman-h inhexible
honesty, his fidelity to principle, In our
national councils he has not only exhib-
tied craftsmanship Of the highest order,
but the purity of his character aud ster-
ling integrity have commanded the ad-
miration and respect of even those who
politically have been most bitterly OPP U.s.
ed to him. In a Congress notorious be-
yond all its predecessors for venality and |
corruption-in which even few Demo- !
Gratis, Heaven save the mark y have been
by the foul influences sur
them-he has stood like some |
grand old Roman, faithful Bmong the
interrupted and incorruptible,
with no taint of salary-grab, back-pay,
Credit Mobilier, Pacific Mail, or otherin-