Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1880-05-08
1HF FElIClANA.SEN TlNEL.
aETATOR THURMAN ON A STRONG
GOVERNMENT.

GOVERNMENT.
Senator Thurman addressed
the people of Columbus, Ohio,;a
few days ago, and in hlsspeech
referred to the cry for a strong
government. He said:
'eMy friends, it has been said
that every presidential election
is a crisis in this republic, ana,
though it might be doubted
whether in the past that remark
was so absolutely true that
there was no exception to it,
vet it must be admitted that in
latter years every presidential
election, in fact, has been a cri-
sis in our affairs, and no one
can tell how long it may thus
continue to be. But OF one
thing I think we may be abso-
luteiy certain, and that is that
the presidential 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 I say thise [ am
not accustomed, it is not my
wont, to magnify things. Why,
then. do l say that is a crisis i'll
public affairs7 Because, my
friends in my serious judgment,
the election this year will go far
to determine whether substan-
tial liberty and substantial free
institutions shall longer contin-
ne in America.
Judge Thurman then spoke
for some minutes upon the
phrase so often repeated: by the
opponents Of the Democratic
party, that 1--WE need a stronger
Government" The meaning of
this was that we should have a
stronger national government
to rule over the whole country.
The people should lie content
with the government as it has
existed for three-quarters of a
century. under which we have
flourished as no other people
have aourished. There are on
ly two modes ofgiving strength
to a government. One mode is
fraught with benefcience to the
people, and safety, security and
prosperity to the State. The
other mode means despotis,n
over the people, and means ruin
and ultimate destruction to the
State. The first is to so consti-
tute your government and SO
administer it that it will chal-
lenge and receive the affection
of the people who dwell under
it, they shall not merely obey
it, but that they shall revere.
esteem, and love it.
A government thus support
ed by it's people, whatever may
be its form, however few may
be the powers expressly confer
red upon it, is one of the strong
est governments upon the earth
if not the very strongest. Sucl
a government our torefather:
thought they had obtained fol
the people OF the United States
and such a government the
Democratic party has Away:
advocated. The other mode O.
strengthening a. government is
to strengthen it merely by force
by great standing armies. This
point was dwelt on at some
length, and il ustrations ofthere
suits Of such governments were
given by reference to the rule
of Great Br;ta of Ireland, the
Empire of Russia, etc. The APP.
plication made Of the principles
underlying these two forms OF
government was that the for
mer mode was that by which
the Democratic party sought to
administer the government
while the Republican party re-
sorted to the latter mode.
He concluded as follows :
"Now, my friends, in my judg-
mcnt, the great question which
is to be solved is whether or not
the strength Of our government
in the future shall come from
the affections Of the people, or