The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-24
EX-SENATOR THURMAN.

The retirement of so many leaders
from the United States Senate will be
seriously felt by the country. When the
Senate again convenes it will be COM
posed of many new members, which
will give it strange newness and fresh
ness 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. Mcdonald, Herman, Bailey,
Withers, Randolph, 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 Democratic party will GER
tainly feel the loss of Allen G. Thur
man, as he has, in all probability, re-
tired from public life forever. His retir-
acy is great and irreparable loss, as in
an impromptu debate he was match
for Conkling, Edmunds, Blaine, or any
of the Republican leaders. There has
never been purer, better specimen of
an American; there has never been a
higher type Of an incorruptible statesN
man in the Senate since its foundation
than Allen G. Thurman. The fatal mis-.
take of his life was his temporary aban.
donment of hard money just at a time
when the business of the country was
greatly depressed. This mistake was
the result of patriotic desire to do some
thing to alleviate the distress that filled
the land. That Senator Thurman was
persuaded against his will to adopt the
policy that more money was needed to
give an impetus to business is apparent
from the fact that he abandoned his
views so soon as there was change for
the better in the condition of the coun.
try. But his mistake on the financial
question cost him defeat for the Demo-
cratic nomination for President in 1876.
That was a greater misfortune 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 generation does
upon the great leaders of the past gener-
alton. 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 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 Re-
publican member of Congress enter
tanned the highest respect and admira~
ton for Thurmans ability, honesty, pat
riotism and high social qualities. He is
an American, 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 the
body, He retires after more than thirty
years of faithful service as Representa-
tive in Congress, Judge and United
States Senator, without stain upon his
name, while a grateful people will ever
remember his eminent services and unite
in pronouncing him a statesman who
has reflected renown upon his country.
-AembhtS ARbeak.