Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-03-17
Ex-senator Thurman.
Memphis Appeal

The retirement of so many leaders
| from the United States Senate will be
seriously felt by the country. When the
Senate eonvenes it will be composed of
many new members, which will give it
strange newness and freshness to those
who have so long been familiar with the
old leaders. New men will take the
places of Thurman, Blaine, Kirkwood,
Window, Wallace, Bruce, Eaton, Nc
Donald, Herman, Bailey, Withers, Ran
dolph, Hereford, Hamlin and Carpenter.
These have been the working members
of the Senate, always conspicuous in the
general debates, and will be sadly missed
by their respective friends. The Demo-
cratic party will certainly feel the loss of
Allen G.. Thurman, as he has, in all prob
ability, retired from public life forever.
His retiracy is great and irreparable
loss. as in an impromptu debate he was a
match for Conkling, Edmunds, Blaine or
any of the Republican leaders. There
has never been a purer, better specimen
of an American, there has never been a
higher type of an incorruptibe statesman
in the Senate since its foundation than A.
G. Thurman. The fatal mistake of his
life was his temporary abandonment of
hard money just at time when the busi-
ness of the country was greatly depressed.
This mistake was the result of a patriotic
desire to do something to alleviate the
distress that filled the land. That Sena-
tor Thurman was persuaded against his
will to adopt the policy that more money
was needed to give an impetus in bust
ness is apparent from the fact that he
abandoned his views so soon as there was
a change for the better in the condition
of the country. But his mistake on the
financial question cost him defeat for
the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent in 1876. That was q greater mis-
fortune to his party than to him, for the
Presidency would have added nothing to
his fame, while if he had been elected,
as he would have been, he would not
have permitted the Republicans to steal
the office to which he had been elected.
As it is, the next generation will look
back upon Thurman as the present gen
GRAFTON does upon the great leaders of the
past generation. Indeed, when the
speeches Of Thurman are collected and
published history will regard him as one
of the ablest men Of the present day. The
logical directness and the great abilities
Of Thurman pervade all his speeches.
But, besides the power of his great mind
there is a fervid patriotism in all his ut
terances which commanded the respect
of his political opponents. He and Ed
munds were more intimate than any two
men in Congress. Indeed every Repub-
lican member of Congress entertained the
highest respect and admiration for Thur
mans ability, honesty. patriotism and
high social qualities. He is an Amer-
can. and his love of country knows no
sectional lines. While other Senators
have made fortunes out of their positions,
Senator Thurman retires poorer than
when he first entered that body. He re-
tires after more than thirty years of faith
full service as Representative in Con-
gress. Judge and United States Senator
without stain upon his name, while
eminent services and unite in pronounc-
ing him statesman who has reflected
renown upon his country.