The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-03

else. He had no collegiate training and
has no diploma save the certificate Of a
grammar school.
BUSY F
Judge Thurman's life has been a busy
and devoted one. While his tastes have
never led him to public life, he has new
ertheless been forced into position al
most constantly. He studied law with
ex.G overnor Allen aud Judge Swayne,
and appears to have had no ambition ex'
cept to be a good lawyer with a fair prac-
tice, He was nominated, however, over
his protest, for the Twenty ninth Con-
gress, and was elected after a quiet can
vass, in which there was nothing on his
side but his wise and homely speeches,
reversing an adverse majority by over
900 votes. He was put on the Judiciary
Committee of the House, and soon be-
came distinguished as a great lawyer.
He declined re. election at the end Of his
term and retired, as he thought, to pri.
yste life for good and all. But in 1861,
when the new Constitution of Ohio was
adopted, he was pressed into the race for
q Supreme Court ~Judgeship, and was
elected, leading the ticket by over 1000
votes. He sat upon the bench for four
years, the last two years serving as
Chief Justice, In 1857, after a season Of
rest, he was put forward as the Demo.
cratic candidate for the Governorship,
President Hayes leading the Republican
hosts. There was clearly no chance for
a Democratic victory, the Republican
majority the year before having been
43 900. Under Judge Thurman's sledge
hammer blows however. this enormous
majority was beaten down to a trihe less
than 5000, and the Legislature was cap
tured by a decisive majority, insuring
the defeat Of Ben Wade. Judge Thur
man was elected in Mr.. Wade's stead,
and took his seat in the Senate in 1869.
Then began the most remarkable term
of service ever rendered, perhaps,in this
country by any man to any party. Judge
Thurman found the Senate but a hand.
full of DemoCrats-not only a hopeless
minority, but 80 small a minority as to
make their assumption of party organi.
cation almost ridiculous. Without a
moments hesitation he put himself at
the head of this devoted band and began
to fight the battles of Democracy. The
period was a stormy one. The passions
of war had not died out, and the debates
OF the Senate were violent and venom
GUS. The great leader was on his feet
daily and engaged in a constant struggle
with the intolerant majority. There was
no rest, no respite, no mercy. Pressed
upon all sides, with the issue forced az
all points, almost without counsel and
with no adequate following Judge Thur.
man never wayered for a moment nor
yielded one inch. With a courage no
less rare than his wisdom he repealed
assault, charged home in return, defend
cd the issues his party was committed to
and formulated new ones in the heat of
discussion. Not a mistake did he make
through all this grievous time. Ready in
debate, pleasing and terrible by turns,he
wrs 30 thorough a Democrat and so &C
complished a statesman that he spoke
unerring truth and made his casual ut.
t~erances a platform on which his party
could stand. Senator Conkling said of
him that he had never seen him diecom.
fitted in debate; that his equipment was
without equal, and that when thrown by
sheer weight Of numbers he could beat a
cat falling on his feet. The spectacle OF
this old man, patient, %immovable, unas
Stunning, waging this hopeless fight
through years of insult and defeat, is one
of the most admirable points Of our his.
tory, and his services then rendered to
the Democratic party appear immeas
urable when Contrasted with the snowy
and hlppant performance of some Of Che
latter-day party leaders. From that day
to the present Judge Thurman has been
ct the head Of his party in the Senate.
He has seen his baud Of hardly a dozen
followers grow into a working majority
BE has seen the ranks reinforced by able
and ambitious men. He has presumed
nothing on his seniority and greater ser.
vice, but, quietly yielding the conspicu.
GUS front to later corners, has been con.
tent to enjoy from his tent door the vic
tory bought with his scars and won by
his courage. He has never lost place as
the actual leader of his party in Con.
gress, and the graver the crisis in affairs
the weightier is his counsel and thu more
eagerly is it sought. He occupies the
post Of honor in the Senate. standing at
the head OF the strongest judiciary com