The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-01-16
SEYMOUR AND THURMAN.
THEIR EIGHTH OF JANUARY JACK
SONIAN LETTERS,
Thurman to the Columbus, and Seymour to the
New York Celebration.
THR LErrER OF JUDGE THURMAN.
Washington city, january

Washington City, January 9, 1879.
MY DEAR sIRs-I fully expected to attend the
banquet on the SLh inst, at Columbus and TO en-
Joy that reunion Of political and personal friends
on day 80 memorable In the history Of the Re-
public and so much cherished by It's Democracy /;
but at the last moment and to my great regret,
find that II will not be In my power to have that
pleasure. l am just beginning to recover from a
severe cold that has afflicted me for week or
more, and | can but recognize the fact that II
would be impIudent for me, in such extremely
cold weather, to make a trip requiring eight
hundred miles travel and crossing the mountains
twice,
Permit me 10 offer q few reflections upon the
toast jackson Democracy" the theme on which
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 iotting down some very brief and pertinent
observations. l wish to recall attention to some
of the most marked characteristics Of the Democ.
raoy Of the time Of Andrew Jackson. refer to
the time when he was candidate for the Pres.
idency, and when he filled the presidential chair.
First-The Democracy were then eminently II
not preeminently distinguished by their devo
ton TO the union Of the States. South and North,
East and West that sentiment was cherished by
every true Democrat. Subsequent events chilled,
and at length fore time suspended itin the South;
but the happiest circumstance of our present
condition thanks to the love OF the Union) Is ev.
erywhere restored, and that It's preservation is a
fixed principle Of the Democratic party in the
South.
Second The party was equally distinguished
by Its love of the Constitution. II sought to pre-
serve II In all Its vlgor and beneAcenCe by giving
to 1t O. national and rational Interpretation; and
hu ffr
latitudinarlan constructions that threatened to
convert the Government into an unlimited CEN
tralized despolism, 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 Democracy, In this re-.
spect are as important to-day as they ever were
at any period of our history.
Third-The Jacksonian Democracy were the
determined foes OF monopoly. They could not
be otherwise, for the very foundation Of the par
ty was the doctrine Of equal rights. By whatever
names they may have been called, there have
been, and perhaps ever will be, but two great par
ties in America--the Democratic party, asking
nothing but equal rights, and an opposing party
whose LADDERS have ever sought and ever will
GEEK 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 q
desperate struggle against far more powerful
combination of capital and privilege than was
presented Dy that institution Is now pending
VIII the Democracy Of to-day follow the example
set by their fathers Of infexible opposition to
special privilege, or will they prove recreant to
the principles the history, and the traditions Of
their party7 This Is a question that must ere long
be answered. Ny own belief is that 1t will be
answered as t. ought TO be, and the Democrats of
today will prove themselves 10 be what their
fathers were, true men, They will be earnest,
but not rash; determined but not unreasonable;
destructive Of wrongs and abuses and consefv-
ative Of all that should exist in free republic.
Fourth-The "Jacksonian Democracy" were a
ses Of Jackson's Administration (that is the ex-
ments In discharge of public debit were but fif.
teen millions or thereabOut8. 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 1t Rot
high time that we should Teturn to the ecOnOm-
ical principles and practices Of Jacksonian De-
mOcracy.
These points, few In number but transcendept
in importance, have thought 1t proper 10 note
for the consideration of our friends. Others
might be stated, but these must suffice for to day.
Gentlemen, know the banquet will be enjoyed
by those who attend II. trust that 1t will prove
beneficial to others as we'll. trust that Its infu.
ence will be felt in reviving Jacksonian Democ.
racy and combining the opponents Of the ReDub-
lican party In grand effort TO free the country
from misrule and corruption. I have the honor
to be, yours truly, A. G. THURMAN.