Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-29

SENATOR THURMAN visited Colum-
bus, Ohio, on Saturday last, and was
met at the depot by large crowd of
his constituents and conducted to the
Neil House. In the evening he was
serenaded and responded to the COM
pliment in q half hours speech, of
which the followingis an abstract:
My friends, it has been stated that
every Presidential election is crisis in
this Republic, and, though it might be
doubted whether in the past this re.
mark is so absolutely true that there
was no exception to it, yet it must be
admitted that in later years every Presi.
dental election, in fact has been acrisis
in our affairs, and no one can tell how
long it may thus continue TO be. But
of one thing think we may be absolute.
ly certain, and that is that the Presiden.
tial election of 1880 will be regarded. as
long as the history of this country shall
be read and studied, as a crisis in the
Republic, and why do | say this | am
not accustomed, it is not my wont, TO
magnify things. Why then do say
that this is civil crisis in public affairs ?
Because, my friends, in my judgment,
the election this year will 60 far to deter.
mine whether substantial liberty and
substantial free institutions shall longer
continue in America.
Judge Thurman then spoke for some
moments upon the phrase so often re.
peated by the opponents of the Demo
that tttua x,aa1 atr
government" The meaning of this
was that we should have stronger ma.
tional government to rule over the
whole people of this country. The
people should be content with the
government, as it has existed for three
quarters of a century, under which we
have fourished more than any other
people. There are but two modes of
giving strength to q government. One
is fraught with benefcence to the peo-
pie, and safety, security and prosperity
to the State; the other means despotism
over the people and ruin and ultimate
destruction to the State the first is TO
80 constitute your government and so
administer it that it will challenge and
receive the affection of the people who
dwell under it that they shall not mere
ly obey it, but that they shall revere,
esteem and love il. government thus
supported by its people, whatever may
be its form, however few may be the
powers expressly conferred upon it, is
one of the strongest governments upon
the earth, if not the very strongest.
Such n government our forelathers
thought they had ordained for the
people of the United States, and such
a government the Democratic party
has always advocated. The other mode
of strengthening n government is to
strengthen it merely by foree-by great
standing armies. This point was dwelt
on at some length, and illustrations Of
the result of such governments were
given by reference TO the rule of Great
Britain in Ireland, the empire of Rus.
STA, etc. The application made of the
principles underlying those two forms
of government was that the former
mode was that by which the Democratic
party sought to administer the govern.
ment, while the Republican party re.
sorted to the latter mode.
lie concluded as follows "Now, my
friends, in my judgment the great ques.
ton which is TO be solved is whether or
no the strength of our government in
the future shall come from the affections
Of the people or whether il shall be that
strength which despots, and despots
alone, employ" "There is much more"
he said. 'tbat might speak to you
about--of the necessity Of reform, OF
the necessity Of economy, of the neces.
sity Of lowering taxes, and oil those
subjects with you are more or less ia.
miliar. But I promised you that ]
would not weary your patience, and ]
hope you will not allow me to weary
myself"
Again thanking the crowd, he retired
amid enthusiastic applause.