Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-15
THURMAN ON OLD HICKORY.
The Letter of the Ohio Senator to the Young
Democracy of Columbus,

Democracy of Columbus.
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 6, 1879.-Messrs.
{ John D. Sullivan, A. D. Heffner, and others,
committee, Columbus, O.-My Dear Sirs: I
fully expected to attend the banquet on the
9Th inst. at Columbus, and to enjoy that re-
union of political and personal friends on a
fday SO memorable in the history of the republic
and so cherished by its Democracy; but, at the
last moment, and to my great regret I find
that it will not be in my power to have that
pleasure. am just beginning to recover from
severe cold that has afflicted me for week or
more, ar d cannot but recognize the fact that
it would be imprudent for me, in such extreme
| ly cold weather, to make a trip requiring eight
hundred miles travel and crossing the noun
tai1s twice.
Permit me to offer few reflections upon the
| toast, "Jacksonian Democracy" the theme on
| which l was appointed to speak. OF course
some other speaker will take my place, and do
justice to the subject; but the privilege may be
| accorded to me Of jotting down some very brief
and pertinent observations. I wish to recall
| attention to some of the most marked char
acteristics of the Democracy of the time of
Andrew Jackson. I refer to the time when he
was candidate for the Presidency, and when
filed the presidential chair.
/. The Democracy were then eminently, if
not pre-eminently, distinguished by their devo-
ton to the union or the United States. South
and north, east and west, that sentiment was
cherished by every true Democrat. Subsequent
| events chilled, and at lenght for time sus-
pended, it in the South, but the happiest cir
the influence of Democratic principles) is that
the love of the union is everywhere restored,
and that its preservation is a fixed principle of
the Democratic party IN the South.
2. The party was equally distinguished by
it's love Of the constitution. It sought to pre-
Ill, Acr I I>.,z &C
ing it national and rational Interpretation;
and it battled, manfully and constantly, against
those latitudinarian constructions that threat
ened to convert the government into an unlimi-
ted centralized despotism; and, on the other
hand, against all the vices that menaced the
existence of the union. And, permit me to
say, that the principles of Jacksonian Democ-
racy, in this respect, are as important to-day as
they ever were at any period of our history.
3. The Jacksonlan Democracy We're the de-
termined foes of monopoly. They could not be
otherwise; for the very foundation of the party
names they may have been called there have
been, and perhaps ever will be, but two great
parties in America-the Democratic party ask
ing nothing but equal rights, and an opposing
party whose leaders have ever sought, and ever
will seek, special privileges created by law.
Who can forget the great battle fought by the
Democracy, under the lead of jackson, against
the Bank of the United States; and who can
fail to see that desperate struggle against a
far more powerful combination of capt. al and
privilege than was presented by the constitu-
ton is now impending? Will the Dem ocracy
of to-day follow the example set by their faith
ers, of inhexible opposition to special privilege,
or will they prove recreant to the principles,
the history, and the traditions of their party?
This is a question that must ere long be an
swered. My own belief is that it will be an
swered as it ought to be, and that the DEM
Gratis of to-day will prove themselves to be,
what their fathers were, true men. They will
be earnest but not rash; determined but not
unreasonable; destructive of wrongs and
abusus and conservative of all that should ex-
ist in a free republic.
4. The ''Jacksonian Democracy were party
of economy. The ordinary annual expenses Of
Jackson's administration Chat is, the expenses
of the government exclusive of payments in
discharge Of the public debt), were but fifteen
millions, or thereabouts. Now, our ordinary
annual expenses are nearly ten times that sum.
What contrast! While our population has in
creased but little more than threefold, our ex-
penses have increased nearly tenfold. Is it not
high time that we should return to the eco
sonian Democracy?
These points, few in number but transcend
emit in importance, have thought it proper to
note for the consideration of our friends.
Others might be stated, but these must suffice
for to-day.
Gentlemen, I know that the banquet will be
enjoyed by those who attend it; trust that it
will prove beneficial to others as well. I trust
that its influence will be felt in reviving Jack
sonian Democracy, and in combining the oppo-
| nents of the Republican party in grand effort
to free the country from misrule and corrup-
ton. have the honor to be, yours truly,
A. G. THURMAN.