The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-09-13
Democratic Blunders.

Democratic Blunders.
When President Cleveland was forming
his Cabinet. the name OF Judge A. G.
Thurman, OF Ohio. was pressed upon MIN
for recognition ID that relation. 1t was
not favorably considered. because OF JUDGE
Tburman's age When the President
found that he was distrusted by his party
and that while he might get the nomlna-
ton 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 noml-
mated for Vice President. BY urgent I'M
portuning he was induced to accept. This
much was not a strain, except upon the
inclination of Mr.. Thurman. He did not
desire to re-enter active political life. But
as the canvass progressed, the conditions
became gloomy and all the indications
pointed to disastrous defeat. linen II
was that the managers insisted that MI
Thurman should undertake laboriOus
speaking campaign. He went into the
Northwestern States, spoke several times.
and was then switched off to New DIRK.
to euthuse the Democracy there. to coup-
teract, if possible. the enthusiasm with
the Republicans. occasioned by the return
of Mr.. Blaine. He reached New York
last Thursday, somewhat indisposed. and
not in condition to make public address
of any length. Extraordinary exertions
had been put forth to gather large
crowd. About 10000 people assembled to
greet him. His two SONS and family ply
stefan protested against his appearing on
the stand to speak. His daughter came to
see him and joined i'll the protest. The
Judge himself was averse to speaking be
cause of his health, But Brice and Bar
mum and the Democratic managers would
allow no denial. They forced him to the
hall, and required of him a speech. He
was received with every evidence of le-
spect and affection, and after the noise
occasioned by his first appearance on the
platform had subsidized. he proceeded: II
soas nominated By the st. Louis Convention
for the office of Vice President of the United
States. but felloio- citizens, Allen G. Thar
man is a poor. auedk. broken -doien num-
haze been quite auaaoeu this afternoon,
and am IN no condition to speak to an I'M
mense audience like this. While SPEAK to
uou I am almost induced to make the effort
but am really too freak -
Scarcely had the words quoted escaped
his lips before he began to sink to the
L. h,, of lin
near him, and more dead than alive, was
carried from the stand and laid down unit
enough of life was restored to bear the ia
tigue of move to b is hotel. There be
was put to bed, and shortly afterwards
falling asleep. remained In that condition
for thirteen consecutive hours.
Is not that pitiable picture There
never has been in the hist DRY of American
politics more heartless and brutal cpl
sode recorded. The exlgences of party
are so serious and threatening that moi
even the life of the "oId Roman is con-
sidered worth farthing in comparison
and at the risk of his life he was pressed
into service by the reckless managers, in the
hope of stemming the tide that is sweep
ing onward against Cleveland and his
party. The only redeeming character in
the Democratic campaign is Thuiman -
To him the party looks to revive its droop
ing spirits, and to inspire something like
enthusiasm in its movements. And Thur
man they must push into the contest, il
his certain death follows.
From the inception of the Presidential
campaign, dating with Clevelands mes
sage in December last, all through to thu
present time, there has been nothing bu
Democratic blunders. The message, de
claring for free trade was followed by the
Mills bill. emphasizing that doctrine; theI
the veto messages. offending the soldier
element of the Union forces; then tb,
Fisheries treaty, and the surrender q
American rights; then the retaliation
message, for which there was no excuse
piece Of i'll disguised buster, designed u
arrest the stampede of the Irish meri.
can vote from the Democratic party; thel
the Chinese bill introduced by Mr.. Scott
predicated upon the rejection of the re-
Gently negotiated treaty with that country
by China. when no such rejection had ia
ken place: and now by the cruel sacrifice
OF the health, if not the life. of maj
whom every one respects, even where they
most radically differ with his political her
estes; constitute succession of egregiou.
mistakes. the effect of which it will lie i'm
possible to counterfeit.
There meyer. indeed, has been party il
this country hedged about by so many acts
and events to cause distrust and to com
mand reprobation, in the midst of Pres
idential campaign. There has not been
single incident or a propitious indication
to encourage Democratic hopes, but every
thing to discourage and dishearten. The
drift OF public sentiment, manifested in
the unprecedented stampede from the
Democratic ranks of the laboring element
the open revolt of the great manufactur.
ing interests; the estrangement of the
died-in-the. wool Democrats. and the dis
gustful indifference of the refining and
rose-scented Mugwumps, combined with
a conscious sense of failure of the first
Democratic administration for quarter
of century, present an array of blunders,
faults and failures that not even Demo
cratic audacity Can withstand.
A singular experiment with wheat has
been made in Massachusetts. Last year
Mr.. David Drew received some grains of
Egyptian wheat taken from a mummy
eXhumed near the ruins of Memphis. and