The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-10-27
HON. ALLEN G.. THURMAN.
His Views of People and Politics
i'm France.
washington Pos,

Hon. Allen G. Thurman, the distin-
guished Democratic statesman, who re-
turned from Europe on the 1Osh inst, is
quietly resting at his modest but COM
Portable Washington residence, 1017
Fourteenth street. He is enjoying most
days for his Ohio home, but will be in
Washington, back and forward, many
times during the winter months.
As is generally known, Judge Thur
man was one of the American delegates
to the International Monetary Confer
ence held in Paris. He thinks that the
Conference made a very decided impress
sion on public opinion in Europe and
that the tendency is toward the Ameri-
can idea-the rehabilitation of silver
and the fixing of a ratio between it and
gold by the agreement of nations or re-
ciprOcal legislation. 1t will take time,
however, to bring about this result.
How long no one can safely predict.
"What was the duration of your stay
in Europe, Judge" asked the Post repre-
sentative,
"About three months" replied the
gentleman; "the greater portion of the
time in Paris, but visited many of the
important cities and provinces of France,
except in the southern portion; also
most of Switzerland, the Palatinate, the
provinces of Rhenish Prussia, Belgium,
England and Scotland
"HOw were you impressed by France
and the French peoples?
II think that the mOnarchists in
France are completely OverthrOwn and
that the existence of the republic is
assured. There are people there who
favor a monarchy, but they are In
small minority and divided among them
selves; some being Legitimists (Bour-
bOns(, some Orleanists and some Bona
paTtists. The great majority of the pe0-
pie of France are thoroughly republi-
can in my opinion, based on what L saw
and heard. France is prosperous. 1t
is magnificent agricultural country.
1 knew that it was good before
saw it, but did not know it was so
good. Wherever l went, by the way, l
paid more attention to agriculture than
ANYTHING else. France has suffered
great deal in her vineyards from the
Tavages of the phyllOXera, that attack
the plant, but it is believed that they
will succeed in destroying the parasites
and restoring their vineyards, large
and profitable industry. The ravages of
these pests has been so great that now
large impOrtatiOns of wines are being
made into France from Spain and Italy.
In fact, a large portion of that famous
claTet that France exports is made from
these Spanish and Italian wines. France
raises great deal of very good wheat,
and the crop this year is pretty fair and
far less injured by bad weather than the
crops III Great Britain. The sugar beet
is another great crop in France, and the
yield is very good this season"
Tell us something about the work
ing people of France"
"The working people all seem to be
employed. Paris is very quiet; there
were no disturbances while | was there;
the masses seemed to be prosperous and
cOntented, to the best of my ObServa-
ton. They are an Industrious people
and, except the Swiss, the most eco
nomical on the face of the earth. They
all work, the women as well as the
men. About the first thing that sur
prises the visitor from America is to see
the great number.Of women at work in
the field, but that is observable in all
the countries that l visited; not to any
great extent however in England and
Scotland. The French are people that
make a little money afford vast
amount of comfort and enjoyment.
They live so much in the air. In city
and in town they never stay indoors
when they can be comfortable out of
doors. In my opinion this contributes |
very much to their good health and is |
certainly worthy of imitation in
America"
Dlu you IeluIu W your udGlfc lduu |
with any exalted opinion of French |
statesmanship?"
81 think that the men who now have
the destinies of France in their hands
are possessed of ability, fired by true
patriotism, and are labOring zealOusly
to consolidate the Republic"
"Are not the French people especially
friendly with the Americans"
''The French are polite to everybody.
1E
lists every year in France. and l never
heard of a case of ill treatment or dis
courtesy. American tourists, as rule,
go first to Paris and then branch off on
their respective tours"
How about affairs in the other coun-
tries of Continental Europe visited by
yOu?"
81 was very greatly pleased with
Switzerland; found much better ag
posed. Fine crops are raised in
a large portion of Switzerland and
there is no exaggerating the industry
and thrift of the Swiss people. The pOr
tions of the Grand Duchy of Baden and
the Palatinate that passed through are
also very fine land. | found as lusty to-
baccO growing in the Palatinate as l
ever saw in Kentucky, and numerous
small fields of Indian corn in good con-
well clad and seemingly Industrious.
In the Rhenish prOYinses of Prussia one
sees a series of fortified towns. The
Germans have greatly strengthened all
the towns and maintained their large
bodies of soldiers, especially at Stras-
burg, and fine looking soldiers they are.
Belgium is remarkably fruitful and
5plendidly cultivated"
''Is the failure of crops in Great Bri-
tain as serious as repOrted?"
Gas far as my visit to England and
Scotland is concerned" replied Judge
Thurman, sit was a very hurried one,
and it rained all the time was there.
It was absolutely deplOrable to see the
wretched condition of the crops, pro-
1uced by the bad weather. This ap-
plies to Scotland as well as to England.
heard everywhere expressions of the
deepest concern on account of this fail
IRE. This is the third season of failure
and from the same cause. On every
hand could be observed the greatest de-
Ipondency. There is no danger of a
anime, however; at least / heard no
such idea expressed. The people of
treat Britain look upon America as am
ply able to supply all deficiencies and
demands in the food line"