The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-06-15
SOME POINTS AS TO THURMAN.
Communicated


Will placing Thurman on the tail of the
Cleveland kite strengthen the Democratic
ticket and save the waning fortunes of the
man of destiny" from the richly merited de-
feat that evidently awaits himl is Just now
the momentous question that agitates the
anxious mind of the average Democrat. Mr..
Thurman's ability as lawyer or his private
character in social life will nor be assailed. On
the contrary his political opponents will read
lily admit he supplies the ticket with whatever
of that element ii contains. But the public
character and political antecedents of Mr..
Thurman are as rightfully open to adverse
criticism as are those OF his chiettan. His
popularity with the Democracy before the
war and during the Buchanan administration
are not more creditable TO his intelligence,
sagacity and good sense than were his later
acts and avowed sentiments during the war to
his patriotism and devotion TO the Union
cause. That he was always Bourbon Demo-
crat of the straightest sect can not be denied,
and the joyful expressions with which he ac
cepts place on the kite tail of the man who
declares him too old for a foreign ministry
and has carefully snubbed him on all Occa-
sions, and only now orders him TO an inferior
place because he felt the need of the moral
character he thought Thurman could contrib
ute, and upon free trade, states rights plat
form, proves conclusively that he has lost
none of his old Bourbon sentiments. That he
was cordial supporter of the buchanan ad-
ministration under which the disruption of
the Union was planned no intelligent man
can deny, and It Is equally true that he was,
during the entire period of Lincoln's admin
uniformly OppDstu u WdF anu
to all measures resOrted to for the suppress
sion of the rebellion. In sentiment he was
with Vallandigham, but excelled him in dis
erection and was more guarded in giving them
utterance in public places. He gave all his
influence to VallandIgham in his contest with
Brough for governor of Ohio. BrOugh was
elected by over 100000 majority. When GenI
Cox was elected over GEM Morgan, the DEM
ocratic nominee, by 29546 majority, Thurman
labored with all his power in MOrgan's inter
est, and when in 1867, after all the bounty
jumpers had returned frCm Canada to vote
the Democratic ticket, he was beaten by Gov.
Hayes by over 5000 majority. 1t was repeat
eddy charged that at Mr. Thurman's home
parOIed rebels always found cordial greeting
from the Old Roman. In short, Judge Thur
man was in Columbus just what Grover
Cleveland was in Buffalo-a thoroughly dyed
in-the-wOol copperhead, and the loyal men OF
war times have less respect for that class of
men than for the out and out rebels of the
same period, and Thurman's responsibility in
private life can not overbaance or wipe out
the unpopularity of his political character.
Not many men could have endured the humiI-
iation of doing what Cleveland did in this
case, which places him I'm a worse light than
ever before. He deliberately slaughtered po-
litical friends whom he had encouraged 10
hope for his aid for second place, and in
Metellus Climbers language he says of Thur
man:
"Oh, let us have him, for his silver hairs
Will purchase us a good opiEion
And buy mems voicesto commend our deeds"