Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-10-31
THURMAN's SPEECH.
A Grand Democratic Address-The Murch-
ison Letters,

A Grand Democratic Address The Murch-
ison Letters. a."
Judge Thurman on stepping forward
was again received with great en'tz Ism.
He stood waiting several minutes N0f the
applause to sub,ide and then spoke % fol-
lows:
"MY FELLOW CoUNTRYMEN AND Eel
LOW CITIZENs:-When stood on the re-
viewing stand to-day and cav filing before
me that magnificent parade, enc Ct tn.
greatest I ever beheld [cheers], and saw
the manly bearing ard happy fa:es of the
men who marched in it, I could not but
reflect hog different was the condition of
tie people of West Virginia twenty years
ago, could not but look back over the
past and call unto mind your gocdly State
when was first invited here by the State
committee of the Democratic party, to rem.
der such assistance as might DO in my
power to bring the State out from under a
despotism that extended over all your
borders. At that time at least one-third,
if my memory is correct, Of the white men
of West Virginia were disfranchised in
the land on which they were born. [Cries
of Fright! Right!' and long continued
cheers. This despotism hung over West
Virginia. Then the great Democratic
party, that knows no worship except to
it's God and freedom, then it was that that
party undertook to make supreme offcrt
TO break the shackels off of the people OF
West Virginia. It was then thought that
| I might be of service in discussing the
QUESTION whether or not you should have
a constitutional convention, or some con-
stitutional enactment, to remove this cIusl
despotism from ths people, which prevent
cd you from holding office or even voting
in the Stat, Of your birth. 1t wa;
thought I might be of service in this
work, AID 1 was called to it by your
Stste committee. 1 accepted that call
sid spoke many times and ut many
places over your territory.
WEST VIRGINIA CITIZENSHIP RESTORED
The result of the contest that was ther
waged you all know. In 1872, if remem
her rightly Ia voics: You're Away:
rightly this disgrscsful disfranchisemen'
was removed root and branch cheer
end the God. given right of citizensbip, the
right of the American voters, instead of 6
mo ,kery and scorp, became the truth il
West Virginia ca vel az any other State
of the Union. Loud applause
'From that moment began the prosper
ity of your State, my friends. At that in
slant it began to start to grow Into wealth
and progress. And when I reviewed tina,
great parade, and thought that nj
only every man in that parade
was q Democrat, but voter, to re
main free forever, my heart ewellst
with emotion, and thanked my God tbs
I had been able to do come little par
in bringing about 30 glorious result"
At this point Judge Thurman produces
; bis bandans. 1t had an electrical effec
on the audience. Cheers went up fror
over 1000 threats as the grand cid ma
) deliberately led it in his hand and wipe
, his bow.
"Now, my friends, I propose to speak
you briefly tonight" he continued.
am not accustomed to make long speeche
; If I would 60 on aud s,y all that I feel
b my heart when stand in this state wi'ie
has always been my friend, and who
10 friend have always been Cries of that
q right and long applause II
% should give rein to what feel On this Q