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 a 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 IL, 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 q crisis in the
Republic, and why do l say this lam
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
cratic party, that 1--WE need > stronger
government" The meaning OF this
was that We should have Q 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 century, under which we
have flourished more than any other
people. There are but two modes of
giving strength to government. One
il fraught with beneticence 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
so constitute your government and 80
administer IL that it will challenge and
receive the affection of the people who
dwell under il that they shall not mere
ly obey IL. but that they shall revere,
esteem and love it. A government thus
supported by its people, whatever may
be Its form, however few may be the
powers expressly conferred upon 1t, il
one OF the strongest governments upon
the earth, IL not the very strongest.
Such . government our forefathers
thought they had ordained for the
people Of the United States, and such
. government the Democratic party
has always advocated. The other mode
of strengthening government Is to
strengthen II merely by force-by great
standing armies. This point was dwelt
on ct some length, and illustrations Of
the result Of such governments were
given b. reference TO the rule OF Great
Britain in Ireland. the empire Of Rus
sia, etc. The application made Of the
principles underlying those two forms
of government was that the former
party sought to administer the govern
ment, while the Republican party re-
sorted - the latter mode.
lie concluded n follows SHOW, my
friends, IN my Judgment the great ques-
tion which is 70 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 despofs
alone, employ "There i much more. y
he said, s.that | might speak TO you
about--of the necessity Of reform, Of
the necessity OF economy, Of the neces.
sity of lowering taxes, and all those
subjects with you are more or less a.
miliar. But / promised you that |
would not weary Jour patience, and
hope you will not allow me to weary
myself
Again thanking the crowd, he retired
amid enthusiastic applause.