Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-20
THE POLITICAL FIELD.
EX-SENATOR THURMAN TALKS.
What Vie said NJ Hatinest,en Meeting In
Columbus. Okio--Strcua Points.

When accepted the invitation 10 address
you to-nisht II was my purpose to speak
somewha, fully on some great questions
now under consideration by the American
people, bur the last few dsys have been
suffering severely, not with anything the
matter with my heart or feelings caused by
disappointment or regret, but from that TO
which old men like myself are sometimes
suhjecteG--an attack 81 rheumstisul--and
the consequence Il I am In no condition 10
make anything like an elaborate speech.
However, q | were in the best possible
condition ! should occupy but small
PORTION Of your time, for the reason that
there are numerous speakers here, and
some Of ih,m from abroad, and 1t would
DC but colrmon ciyility. ~ say nothing OF
Justice, Tor NE 10 occupy but little time.
1 do not desire 10 deprive them Of the pri-
vilege 81 eng heard, aud therefore shall
be very tri,i in my remarks. shall speak
ci,ily. as has always been my habit In life
20 do, anG shalt not depart from 80 good a
habit tonight. shalt speak civilly OF our
political opponents as well as ourselves.
We are Al The outset OF the most important
political campaign which will decide
whether the reins OF government shall
longer continue IN the hands Of the Re-
publican party. | have never In my life
been so thoroughly convinced OF the truth
fulneSs Of what 1 shall say tonight rs |
now am. sThe spirit Of our institutions,
the welfare Il our country. and the rights
OF tie ciiizsns OF the great Commonwealth
Sll demand that the Republican party
shall go Iapplausel; that there shall be II
change Cf the administration OF our
national affairs. IApplause.l In mon
aTchlcsl countries the spirit-nay, the
very letter OF their institutions prescribe
where and vixen men shall rule in perpe-
tuiiy. Thu central idea Of Democratic in
siitulions Is that power shall not long rest
in the hands Of any one man or set OF men.
Hence we find in our Constitutions, both
State and Federal. limitations upon the
mower 81 lie officials whom we choose.
Your Pres dent Is chosen for four years.
Although eligible TO reelection, yet the eX-
ampl,. set Y the Father OF our Country,
who WI, reelected but once, has never
lecn broken down 10 this day. There has
never been Int one attempt TO bresk il, and
il WAS n signal failure. Also, your senators
I'm Congr,sS are elected for limited term,
and likewise your members OF the House
az EeprcScltativCs. The officers composing
The State Governments are also elected for
limited toms. The same Is true OF your
members Of the Legislature, city and town.
sbip Officials. Hence we see the central
idea al the Democratic form OF gov
eminent /. 10 prevent long continuance IN
Office. Wba; is true OF individuals is true
OF parties. 40 man believes more firmly
than do IN The great blessings that have
been bestowed in times long gone 10y upon
The honorod Democratic party. II Was the
Democratic ary that aided such immense
territory 10 our cOuutry that added so
much wealth TO our country; that disSem-
mated lis prime pies fer and near through
out the length and breadth of the land. but
this all iinslly came TO an end. The Repub-
hc9n party came into power at the out
break Of the civil war, with the apparent
fixed determination TO hold II a. long
A. the sun shines and the streams shall
continue 10 TOW. II is bad thing for par
ties to remain so long in power. Ii is not
necessary thai they shall bave bad motives;
not Necessary that they shall be unpatriotc
and corrupt in order to be turned out. You
may grant them honesty and patriot
ism. yet a long continuance in power
brings with it evils. In the first place,
the inevitable tendency Is to create rings
and leaders who. at last. from long-con-
tinued success. come TO think the Govern
mont belongs TO them, and belongs 10 them
in perpctuiiy, something like a divine
right; therefore, any detestabe means Is
justifiable 10 keep them in power. Look at
our own history. Only Few years back
US1G) when samuel J. Tildsn was elected
President 81 the United States he had q
majority of the electoral votes and ma
jorIty OF the popular votes. Governor
Hendricks was at the same time elected
Vice-PresidcDt. Voice, "And will be
elected agan:'] l agree with you.
(Lauxhter.l II any two men were ever
elected in this country they were. IA
voice. Why didn't they keepiti"] Be
cause they were defrauded out Of 1t by one
Oftba most atrOcious and blacklist deeds
which blackens our free form Of govern
mont. Applause The leaders OF she
Republican party would never have
dared inaugurate, much less dared carry
into effect, such an atroclous crime IL It
had not been for their long continuance In
power. In 1880, four years afterward, the
election OF President turned upon Indiana.
They inauguTated and carried through one
Of the most stupendOus aud corr upt
schemes that ever disgraced the annals OF
any country. The vote OF that State was
given against Hancock. who would have
received il il the election had been fair and
honest, and would have been elected Presl-
dent Of the l nited States. The chief agent
was afterwards given n grand dinner in
New York. Now, my friends, such thing
would never have taken place had il not
been for their long continuance in power.
They cane TO the conclusion they would
win, no matter II they violated the COnsti-
tuition and trlmpled under foot the liber-
ties and rights OF the people. Shall we
sustain them in power? 1t is only a ques-
tion OF time until the people OF this coun-
Try Will teach then different lesson from
that lapplauscl; that there are other inter-
ests in our country besides these Repub-
lican rings and leaders; that there are
Others interested besides the stir-route
plundorers, and whskey rings, and Credit
Mobiliers. lApplause and laughter Now
think you are going to demonstrate that
to them this year. think there are tens
OF thousands OF right.minded and inde-
pendent Republicans who will clasp han 1s
with us 10 teach these men this sGovern-
'ment does not belong TO the Republican
party, but TO the people Of the United
States. [Applause.l The continuance OF
a patty In power. my friends, makes il
despotic. ] was very much struck the
other day al the railroad-croSslng at Fos-
tOria with the remark OF an old Irishman.
who was switch-,ender. Said be: Judge
how much better OF are we IL one party Ia
TO continue In power forty years than IL we
lived under monarchy; Applause.
| would as soon live under Queen
Victoria rs live In country where
a party holds power fifty years." Zap
plause.l No person can deny that at ieas!
half the people OF the United States are
Democrats. yet what Democrat In crowd
ever so well educated, ever so upright ant
moral in conversation and all the walks o
life, as the least possible chance Of gettlnl
Federal Office. There are millions Wit
thus far are completely DISTINGUISHED, WHIT
are a. completely ostracised AZ any person
who Is subjected 10 u foreign power. In
stead OF being free-born citizens OF tn
United States. The people are prOtestini
against tins kind Of thing. They do no
intend II to 20 on forever. In Mr.. Blaine
letter Of acceptance the only civil-seryic
reform measure be urges is an in
crease in length OF time for Republican
ofice-hOlders. [Laughter.] Toy hav
held the offices Of the National Govern
ment tweniy-three years, yet they are no
satisfied. and their candidate for the presi
dency advocates one ciyiLservice reform
measure. aud that lengthens the terms o
Office.
! am not personally acquainted wit
clevelsnd. yet know great many rel
able men who are acquainted with HIN
and they are men 10 whose word can plse