The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-14
Thurman,s Speech at Columbus.
The following is the speech delivered
BY ez-SenstOr Thurman at q recent rat
ifcation meeting st Columbus, Ohio:

ander CONSIDERATION oy the American peOPaey
but the last few days I have been suffering
severely, not with anything the matter with
my heart or feelings caused by dlsaPpointment
or regret but from that to which Old men ike
myself are sometimes subjected-an attack
of rheumatism-and the consequence Is am
in no condition to make anything ike an
elaborate speech. However. IL were in the
best possible condition, should occupy but
small portion OF your time, for the reason
that that there are numerous speakers here,
and some of them from abroad. and It would
De but common civility, to say nothing or
justice, for me TO occupy but little time. do
not desire to deprive them of the privi.e OF
being heard, and therefore shall be very orlef
in my remarks l shall speak ciyilly, as has
always been my habit in life to do, and shall
not depart from so good habit tonight
shall speak civilly of our political opponents
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 truthfulnesS
of what shall say might as now am. The
spirit of our institutions, the welfare OF our
country, and the rights of the citizens or the
great Commonwealth all demand Tat the
Republican party shall go (applauSel; that
there shall be cnange of the administration
of our National affairs. (ApplanseD In
monarchicat countries the Spirit-nay, the
very letter of their Institutions prescribe
where and when men shall rule in perpe-
tuity. The central idea.of Democratic institu-
tions is that power shall not long rest in the
hands of any one man or set of men. Hence
We ind in our Constitutions, both State and
Federal, limitations upon the power OF the
officials whom we choose Your President
is chosen for four years. Although eligible
to reelection, yet the example set by the
Father CT our Country, who was re elected
but once, thas never been broken down 10 this
day. There has never been but one attempt
to break it, and twas a signal failure. Also
your Senators in Congress are elected for q
limited term, and likewise your members OF
of the House of RepreseE tatiYeS- The OH
GERS composing the State Governments are
also elected for limited terms The same is
true OF your members OF the Legislature, city
and township officials. Hence we see the
central idea of the democratic form of gov
ernment is to prevent long continuance in
office. What Is true of individuals is true of
parties. No man believes more firmly than L
do in the great blessings that have been be-
slowed in times long gone by upon the hon
ored Democratic party. 1t was the Democrat
ic party that added such immense territory to
our country: that added so much wealth to
our country: that disseminated its principles
far and near throughout the length and
breadth OF the land, but this ali finally came to
an end. The Republican party came into
power at the Outbrea< of the Civil War, with
the apparent fixed determination 10 hold
it as long as the sun shines and the
streams shall continue TO flow. 1t is bad
thing for parties to remain so long in
power. 1t Is not necessary that they shall
nave bad motives; not necessary that they
shall be unpatriOtic and corrupt IN order 10
be turned out You may grant them honesty
and patriotism, yet a long continuance III
power brings with it evils In the first place,
the inevitable tendency Is to create rings anu
leaders who ut last, from long-continuet sue
cess, come TO think the Government belongs
to them, and belongs to them in perpeIuity,
something like divine right; thegefOre, any
detestable means is justitabie TO keep them
i'll power- Look at our own history Only
a few years back, 1876, when Samuel ]. Til
den was elected President OF the United
States, he had majority CT the Electoral
votes and majority of the popular votes.
Governor hendricks was at the same time
elected Vice-President lVOlce, And viii be
elected a2ain,' 1 agree with you lLaughter.l
If any two men were ever elected In TINS
country they were. A voice, why didn't
they keep it'll Because they were defraud-
ed out OF II by one of the most atrociouS
and blackest deeds which blackens our Tree
form OF government Applause. The
leaders of the Republican party would never
have dared inaugurate, much less dared carry
into effect, such an atFociouS crime II It
mad not been for their long continuance
in power. In 1850, four years after
ward, the election of President turned upon
Indiana. They inaugurated and carried
through one OF the most stupendous anu cor
rupt schemes that ever disgraced the annals
OF any country. The vote of that State wAS
given against Hancock. wto would have re-
ceived it if the election had been fair ana
honest, and would have been elected Presf-
dent of the United States. The CHIEF agent
was afterwards given grand dinner IN New
York Now, my friends, such thing Wou4o
never have taken place had it not been Tor
their long continuance in power. They came
to the conclusion they would win, no matter
ii they violated the Constitution and trnnpleu
under foot the liberties and rights of the peo-
pie. Shall we sustain them in pOWerE II Is
only question of time until the people or
this country will teach them different lesson
from that Iapplausej: that there are other IN
tereSts in our country besides these hepuO-
,lican rings and leaders: that there are others
interested besides the Stlr-route plunderefs,
and whisky rings and CredIt NoDIllerS~ TAP
plause and langhter.) Now think you are
going to demonstrate that to them tnis year.
/ think there are tens OF thousands OF right
minded and independent Republicans VINO
will clasp hands with US to teach these men
this Government does not belong 10 the
Republican party. but the people or the
United states. (ApplauSe.) The continuance
of a party in power, my friends. makes it des-
pOtic- 1 was very much struck the other day
at the railroad CROSSING at FostOria with the
remark of an old Irishman who was switch
tender. Said he; Judge, how much better
of are we if one party IS TO continue in power
forty years than if we lived under mon
archy? tAppiauseJ L would as soon llNe
under Queen Vic. as live in a country where
q party holds power fifty years AppauseD
No pefscn can deny that at least half the
people of the United States are Democrats.
yet what Democrat III crowd ever so we'll
educated, ever so upright and moral in con-
yerSation and all the walks or LIE, mas the
least possible chance OF getting Federai
Oihce: There are millions who thus Jar are
completely disfranchised, who are as com
pletciy Ostraeised as any person who rs sub
Jected tn a foreign power, instead OF De1ng
free-bOrn citizens OF the United states Ene
people are protesting against this kind or
thing Theydo not intend II TO go on for
ever. in Mr.. Blaine's letter of acceptance.
the only civil service reform measure he
urges is an increase in length of time for Re-
publican Ofice-holders. tLau2hterJ They
have held the Offices of the National Govern
ment twenty three years. yet they are ncs
satisfied. and their candidate for the Presi-
dency advocates one ciy1ESerV1ce reform
measure, and that lengthenS the terms OF
Office Is it not time to ask the people
whether they desire form of governments in
which many are made hewers or wood ana
drawers of water while few ride upon their
backs? If had time would say something
more about Blaines letter or acceptance
Mr.. Blaine devotes large portion or the let
ter dou ubtless considered the most imp jrtant
part to u discussion OF the tarln- Let n'e @ CelI
you tariff is nothing but tax. ana the term
tariff is only used to hide the fact that lt IS
nothing but a tax. Blaine in order 10 prove
what immense benefit q protective thrin has
been contrasts what he calls the value OF
property iu thesUnited states as SHOWN Dy the
census of 1870 and 1880, and says; LOOK mere,
what an immense increase mas tsken piice IN
twenty years and more than IDtimates-al-
most distinctly decl lares-that the increase as
shown by these census returns IS due 10 tne
beneticent reuslt of the protechre 'afIn u
seems TO have supposed no man knew the
country had increased in wealth but nlfnsen
Every intelligent man knows the increase
between the years 1860 and $50 was que 20
the enormous increase In the currency. InlS
WAS the greatest during the war flour, Ior
instance, was tSice as nieh as now inc ap1
paraut wealth, Of the country may be douDled
ana trebled, yet it has not increased the
wealth OF the country d0llsr. yet Blalne says
not a word c2 this. The explanation OF the
apparent inc sease of our wealth Is plain. IS
II tne tariff cnat makes land worth ten do'iarS
per acre in $50 out here in the western states
now sell at twenty and thirty dollars Why
no: vet Bhzne. who asks your vote Tor resi-
dent says,sO; / won't say wilifuliy. ana Wlif
be charitable enough not 10 say through lgEa~
rance. toosake the people of this country De-
lIeve they are indebted to the tarin Tor tho
immense increase in wealth What has come
of that Fealth! Into whose pockets did u go<
How r1sseh has gone into the pockets OS tho
IaborSlg men of this country! That S the
question | would ike Mr.. Blaine 10 answer.
Why is It that every paper we plck up, II % Ihe
labSginq man got a snare contains an aScount