Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-07

JUDGE THURMAN REPLIES TO SENATOR sHER-
MANS BLOODY SHIRT SPEECHES.

JUDGE THURMAN REPLIES TO SENATOR sHER-
MANS BLOODY SHIRT SPEECHES.
Elk. Senator Thurman made speech at
Toledo, Ohio, last night, and gave great
portion of his time to reply to the recent
speeches OF Senator Sherman. Judge Thur
man, at the beginning of his speech, said
the Mount Gilead speech of Sherman, de
livered at the opening of the campaign, was
an indictment of the South and revival of
the charges of crime and outrage made in
wears gene by. Particular stress was laid
by Dir. Thurman upon the sentiments of
Grant-lhat the passions Of the war were
at an end-and amazement was expressed
that man speaking over his tomb should
be so audacious as to say that there ls no
recon Citation; that the rebellion Is not at
an end: that the only effective way to sup
press it is again to send the "boys in blue"
| to the South.
The speaker said "These utterances are
either vain and empty defamation or dis
gushing bravado, such as no man OF the
ability of Senator Sherman or in his high
station could indulge in without disgrace,
or thew are his real sentiments, and mean,
when thoroughly analysed, that if the re.
publican party cannot obtain power in any
other wav it shall obtain and hold it by the
sword. If the great State Of Ohio can be
carried by such appeals 10 passion and
| nreiudice as Sherman is making; If his
weapons shall be sufficient to thrust from
Office the men whom two years ago you
eected-if they shall hew the way to fifth
term in the Senate for their author-they
will become the creed of the republican
party in 1883, and the doctrine Of hate will
he strongly, if not permanently, established
in the land"
Judge Thurman said Tho issue raised BY
Mr.. Sherman is q dangerous one to tho
business and the prosperity OF the Ameri-
can people, aud the effort to blow into
flame the dying embers of civil strife
should be frowned down by all loyal peo-
pie.
The speaker next proceeded TO answer
the arguments of Sherman concerning the
grievous condition of the colored race in the
South, claiming that they were now in the
enjoyment of greater prosperity and great
er civil rights than were ever enjoyed on
this globe by an equal number of their race.
He dated the prosperity of that section from
1875, when the democrats came into control
and radical rule and carpet bag government
ceased At the end OF ten years it can be
safely affirmed that there is not an industry
in the South but is more prosperous than il
ever was in that region before, until now
they have in many lines Of manufacture be-
come the rivals of the mills of the Eastern
States. The speaker sketched briefly the
many enterprises in the development Of the
South, the free schools for coored youth,
the contentment which exists among the
colored people, and the fact that they have
not migrated to any of the old free States.
All this, it was argued, proves that they
were not discontented nor murdered, nor
deprived of their rights, as depicted by Sen
ator Sherman or other republican orators
The colored man seemed to prefer living
with the white men of the South, even
though they be democrats, to dwelling in
the tents of the radicals, even though they
be saints.
Judge Thurman quoted from the tenth
census (1SSO) statistics to show that the col.
ored people are in the majority in but two
| of the Southern States, South Carolina and
Mississippi. In regard to the condition Of
South Carolina. the speaker said: EVERY
thing that feeds or clothes the negro in that
State is within his reach to degree that he
never knew before Could this be the case
| if South Carolina is in the lawless condition
that the radical speakers represent it to be
No. This continued stream of prosperity
under democratic rule proves that that rule
| is benefcent; and the quiet that prevails in
the State proves that the people of oil
classes there are contented under their gov
eminent"
Judge Thurman denied the assumption of
Secretary Sherman that all the colored
voters in the South are republicans, and
would vote the ticket if not terrorized. He
said: "If it were true, it would be a serious
question whether people so servile and
cowardly arc fit to exercise the elective
franchise For one, do not believe that
| they are so utterly debase. believe that,
having good reasons for not voting the re.
publican ticket, they abstain from doing
| so in great numbers, or vote the democrat
ic ticket. / know very we'll that under
| the manipulation of Freedmen's Bureau
| agents soon after the war, the colored people of
| the South were to great extent drawn into re-
publican so.called Union leagues, and were taught
to believe that if the democratic party succeeded
| they would be once more reduced to slavery.
| do not deny that great effect was produced upon
their minds by these false pretenses, but we have
good reason to believe that year by year these
| false impressions have grown weaker and weaker,
and that the negroes have, to great degree,
| learned the truth"
Judge Thurman stated that when tho democrats
carried Mississippi in 1871 it was said it had been
| done through terrorism and fraud. This was
| false. and ho read letter from United States
| Senator Reves to tie President in support Of his
| assertion. Revcls was colorcd minister and
| republican. He had served in the Senate with
him, and found him to be man of education and
respectablity. His strongest wishes were for the
| prosperity and happiness of the colored race.
| The letter, after stating that tho blacks were
naturally republicans. said that they had been
| imposed upon and robbed by set of scoundrcls
1 NIL nlr ntttrn nnfI had
risen in their might and overthrow their OPP
pressors.
ONLY A "B ST GIRL."-Eight hundred invita-
tions have been issued for the wedding of Miss
Sophia Brown and Mr.. W. W. Sherman, which is