Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-09-22
SOME DEMOCRATIC BLUNDERs.

When President Cleveland was
forming his Cabinet, the name of
Judge A. G. Thurman, of Ohio, was
pressed upon him for recognition
in that relation. 1t was not favor.
ably considered, because of Judge
Thurman's age. When the Pres-
dent found that he was distrusted
by his party and that while he might
get the nomination for President
again there was no chance for his
election, unless the old spoils loving
Democracy could be aroused, he set
to work to have Thurman nominal.
ed for Vice President. By urgent
importuning he was induced to &C.
cept. This much was not strain,
except upon the inclination of Mr..
Thurman. He did not desire to re-
enter active political life. But as
the canvass progressed, the condI-
lions became gloomy and all the in
dications pointed to a disastrous de-
feat. Then it was that the manag.
ers insisted that Mr.. Thurman should
undertake q laborious speaking cam
paign. He went into Northwestern
States. spoke Of few times, and was
then switched off to New York, to
enthuse the Democracy there, to
counteract, If possible, the enthusi-
asm with the Republicans, occasion.
ed by the return of Mr.. Blaine. He
reach d New York last Thursday,
somewhat indisposed and not in a
condition to make a public address
of any length. Extraordinary exer.
tons had been put forth to gather
large crowd. About 10000 people
assembled to greet him. His two
sons and family physician protested
against his appearing on the stand
to speak. His daughter came to see
him and joined in the protest. The
Judge himself was averse to speak.
ing because of his health. But Brice
and Barnum and the Democratic
managers would allow no denial.
They forced him to the hall, and re.
quired of him q speech. He was re.
ceived with ever evidence of respect
and affection, and after the noise oc-
casioned by his first appearance had
subsidized, he proceeded:
al aoas nominated by the st. Louis
Convention for the office of Vice Pres.
ident of the United States, bat felloc-
citizens, Allen G. Thurman is poor,
aceak, broken dozen maa.-I hare been
quite unloeU this afternoon, and am
in no condition to speak to an immense
audience like th,s. While / speak to
goa I am almost induced to make the
effort, but L am really too aceak."
Scarcely had the words quoted es
capped his lips before he began to
sink to the floor. He was caught
by those standing near him, and
more dead than alive, was carried
from the stand and laid down until
enough of life was restored to bear
the fatigue of a move to his hotel.
There he was put to bed, and short
ly afterwards falling asleep, remain
ed in that condition for thirteen con.
secutive hours.
Is not that a pitiable picture 7
There never has been in the history
OF American politics a more heart.
less and brutal episode recorded.
The exlgencies Of party are so serious
and threatening that not even the life
of the "old Roman is considered
worth farthing in comparison, and
at the risk of his life he was pressed
into service by the wreckless man
ayers, in the hope of stemming the
tide that is sweeping onward against
Cleveland and his party. The only
redeeming character in the Demo.
cratic campaign is Thurman.-To
him the party looks to revive its
dropping spirits, and to inspire some
thing like enthusiasm in its move
ments. And Thurman they must
push into the contest, if his certain
death follows.
From the inception of the Presi.
Dental campaign, dating with Cleve
lands message in December last, all
through to the present time, there
has been nothing but Democratic
blunders. The message, declaring
for free trade was followed by the
Mills bill, empathiziDg that doctrine;
then followed the veto messages of.
Tending the soldier element of the
Union forces; then the Fisheries
treaty, and the surrender of Ameri.
can rights then the retaliation mes
sage, for which there was no excuse
"a piece of i'll disguised buster, de.
signed to arrest the stampede of the
Irish-American vote from the Dem.
ocratic party; then the Chinese bill
introduced by Mr.. Scott, predicated
upon the rejection of the recently
negotiated treaty with that country
by China, achen no such rejection had
taken place; and now by the cruel
sacrifice Of the health, fnot the life,
of a man whom every one respects,
even where they most radically diff
fer with his political heresies; consti.
tute succession Of egregious mis-.
takes, the effect of which it will be
impossible to counterfeit.
There never, indeed, has been a
party in this country hedged about
by so many acts and events to cause
distrust and to command reproba.
ton, in the midst of a Presidential
cam paign. There has not been
single incident or a propitious indi
cation to encourage Democratic
hopes, but every thing to discourage
and dlshearten. The drift Of public