Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-22
FURLING THE BANNER
OF the Red Bandana-- How the Old Sen
atOr is Cheered Down Hill.
Louisville Courier-Journal.l !

Louisville Courier-Journal.l
The ugliest feature of the Demo
cratic slip-up in Ohio is the loss of
Judge Thurman and the seat Judge
Thurman occupies in the senate OF
the United States. The reflection
that he has brought it upon himself
carries no consolation with it. The
Democratic majority cannot stand
many changes in the upper house of
congress, and the Democratic party
can i'll afford to spare Judge Thur
man, who, despite his irresolution,
and certain faults which seem to be
inevitable to an oyerweening ambi-
tion to be President, has made rec
ord as useful as it is brilliant. He
will be missed from the debates.
None Of his colleagues has the train
ing, joined to the keen, scintillating,
lawyer-like ability, to Eli the place
which he fills so well, and which fits
him so well.
Judge Thurman is not a statesman
in the sense that sagacity, breadth of
view and fixed purposes are states
manship. He is pre-eminently law
yer; sharp, Industrious, pugnacious
lawyer. He is fond OF Intellectual
scrimmaging, and shines in that spe-
cies Of warfare. 1t is related that on
a certain occasion, soon after the ele-
vation Of Mr.. Blaine, and when that
douty warrior was seeking a chance to
make his debut to advantage, his eye
fell upon the senator from Ohio as he
entered the senate chamber. Thur
man obviously had been dining
Blaine thought he saw his opportunity
and leaped into the arena; he SHE'D
his castor in the ring; he taunted his
bloody shirt directly at the red ban
dana; insolent, audacious and pert.
Thurman climbed to his feet and
jerked himself together, and closed
with his assailant. They fit and fit. +"
Intellectually, they rolled over on the
floor, gouged, pulled hair, and beat
one another about the head, neck and
shoulders. At length it was over, and
a good deal blown but yet conscious Of
having licked his man, Thurman said
audibly, as he made his way toward
the cloakroom, attended by his faith
ful friends, Davis, of West Virginia.
aud Pincney Whyte, Of Maryland.
Boys, that dam'd harlequin didn t
get away with me. did he 2n
No, indeed, senator" said Davis
and Whyte in a breath, you did
splendidly splendidly."
And just as he disappeared inside
the cloakroom, Thurman was heard to
mutter above the din of the bugle-
note which died in the depth of his
red bandana-" Never mind never
mind one of these days I'll catch him
when I'm sober, and then, damn him
won't | mash him |"
He is, indeed, a masher, is this same
Judge Thurman more than a match
for Blaine at Blaine's own game; and
as fond of a shindy as he is equal to
the exigencies of shin digging and
-diggery. For a long while after
he came to Washington, he bore the
of being a cold, repellant
person. He never knew anybody. 1t
was complained that he rarely answer
ed the customary salutes of everyday
courtesy His colleagues had to be
introduced to him twice and thrice
over. But gradually it came to light
that there was no method or sinister
purpose in this; that, beneath a
rugged exterior and brusque manner,
lay many genial traits so that those
who have had the pleasure and honor
of a familiar association with this
very marked man entertain personal
regard for him bordering on affection.
" let, while a thoroughly upright man,
and, personally, a thoroughly brave
one, Judge Thurman has two fatal
defects; he is not a really warm or
man at bottom, and, for all its
sturdiness, his strong, keen intellect
is darkened by temporizing qualities.
dallyings and short-sightedness. But
for a grudging nature and an irreso-
lutte will will made irresolute by his
and not by any touch of
pusillanimity-he would be a great
man. He is not a great man, though
a good one a sincere patriot and an
able senator, and, though an over
cautious friend a frank friend, and
always an open, honorable enemy.
Judge Thurmau's career, which is
practically ended - for, except as
probable member of Mr.. Tilden's
possible cabinet, he has no political
tuture-ought to be a lesson to the
young men of the country. AS a
member of the house of representa-
tives, he made no particular figure.
AS lawyer and a jurist in Ohio, he
rose to the front rank, and after a
brilliant, but unsuccessful race for
having carried the legisla-
tufe, he was elected senator. He en-
tered the senate at an opportune
n