The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-03-08
From the Portsmouth Blade.l
Regarding Judge Th0mpson's Candidacy
for. CauuroSS


doubt but the next Congress of the United States
will be Republican. The absolute Dertness of the |
present House of Representatives. the dangerous po-
sftion the tariff forced upon the Democratic party
by its Presidents the disloyal sentiments thrust
the country by the encroachments of the Solid south
and the general development that the Democracy is
unfit for power, all point in tia direction. On this
tide of popular revusion of sentiment will come a
Republican President sure as Cleveland's term |
ends These facts. and they facts, make the
ton who shall represent the Eleventh District
in Congress for the coming term, one of vital and
practical Importance to Republicans. The position,
influence and prestige of the District under Repub
Hcan administration. is serious question, and 1t
should be decided not on the demands candidates
counties but the basis what Is best for the
District a whole.
1t can be assumed for 1t is true that all the aspir
ants for Congressional honors in this District are
men of the highest character and of the most pro-
nounced type of Republicansm. and If the testing
qualities only those of character and party fea
ty hard indeed would 1t be for Republican to make
his choice.
Our present member of Congress. Judge Thompson.
is serving in his term, serving with honor,
credit and worth both himself his constituent
AS far as the number of terms is concerned
fand we may well speak of that now at anv other
tme) do not understand that there is forcible
certainly intelligent. opposition to him that
ground With the exception of Gallfa County, which
will doubtless present ex-Congressman Mccormick,
every county having candidate at the present time
mas received Cnree nominations 1Or congress. so we
will not discuss that feature of the Congressional
canvass; it is up the intellectual standard of
reasons which will control the Republicans in max
ing their nomination for Congress. The man who
has other reason argument for his nomination,
but that he ought have because Judge Thompson
has had two terms, is not of that mental caibre from
which Congressional timber should be selected. He
never could compare well with the past and
Congressman of this District. The crying for place
on the mere ground that Its my turn now,' is
tainly not up to the dignity of Congressional
test So we will dismiss that phase of the question.
There must be positive qualities to recommend can
didates. The Republicans of Scioto County have
quarres harsh words with their brethren
counties. They do that candidates other than
theirs have qualities of merit and Republication.
They simply insist firmly and respectfully that Judge
Thompson should be nominated for the record he has
made not only in Congress, but in his whole life.
They say firmly and respectfully that his nomination,
in the light of approaching Presidential victory
for Republicans, and his election Congress under
Republican President Ono matter who he may be)
would give the old Eleventh District prestige and
importance national in its character. That is one
reason why he should be nominated. His friends ask
his nomination his record and ability To effect
this end they purpose that If hard, honest and per-
suasve work counts for anything, to convince their
fellow Republicans of the Justice of their claims
Judge Thompsons public and private career has
been that of typical patriotic American. Whether
see him at college struggling for his education or
the battefelds of his country winning aurels by
bravery and boodshed in the successful and hon.
| orable pursuit of his profession, the bench
able and impartial Judge. in Congress faith
full and hardworkng Representative, at all times, and
under all circumstances he has met the expectations
| of his friends and performed his whole duty. The
record of his life shows him in all these situations;
yet varied they have been, the does not live
| that say he unfathful in any of them. The
career of strong and true man is always good to
member il is the pledge of promise for life of
| fulness in the future.
4 Id m
the study of law at seventeen but like thousands of
brave and patriotic young men, left his books and
Office at the first call to in 1851. He left his
Pennsylvania home for the front Sergeant in his
company, which was assigned 10 the sth Pennsylya-
| MA regiment He completed his three months serv-
ice, and re-enisted private in Company 'B' of
what afterwards known the 105th Pennsylvania
tho famous wild Cat' Regiment of the Army ef
| the Potomac. In the few following months he was
promoed-frst to Sergeant, then to First Lieutenant
and finally to Captaincy. Those who know him can
easily see how he soon gained reputation for gal
| lantry and bravery. He fighting soldier. He
received his first wound at the battle of Fair Oaks
| while leading his company. He rallying the
"boys" and he arose from kneeling position and
faced his company to order 1t forward he struck
| by musket ball, which entered the right shoulder
passing clear around his body the left SIDE inct
ing serious and painful wound. He sent to the
hospital at New Haven, Connecticut. But his pat
riotic nature would allow him be laid up long
Before the wound altogether healed, the dashng
officer. impatient for action hastened to the front
He followed his regiment into every engagement in
| which it participated, up to the second Bull Run
| when he was again wounded. This was the serious
painful and heroic event of his life tits only to the
providence of God and magnificent constitution and
SPIRIT that he lives to read these lines He shot
in the right breast the ball facturng the second and
third ribs carrying with it pieces of clothing and
| fragments of bone and lodging in the right lung
where it remains, and where it is still source OF
trouble to him and of apprehension to his friends
For ten long weary months he lay upon what al
thought his bed of death, but that indomitabe
age and insurmountabe will power, which he pos
sesses, with the kindness of Almighty Father
ried him through. Still he did not turn his steps
from the service of his country but he
convalescent he enlisted in the Invalid Corps In 1868
and served in Kentucky and New York in enforcing
the drafts He resigned in 1854, and thus closed
reer of patriotism and military gallantry that II
would be hard for the annals of the produce
| superior. His service was not crowned by military
title display. but in his breast rests badge placed
there by the deadly foe that is more terrible in.
sigma of his courage and service the battlefield
than any official recognition. In these days of mug
wumpery and revived copperheadism, we believe in
paying tribute to the soldier. The who served
his country the battle-fe deserves well of the
not only served his country WELL but has left upor
her battle-felds the blood, the strength and the
health of young and stalwart manhood? What car
patriotic citizen say After quarter of century
the trials the experience the sueriDgs and the
ord of such man, can have adequate compensa
tion in this life, except from the admiration of hit
country men.
After the Judge Thompson commenced the
practice of his profession. He removed to Ports.
mouth in 1865. He has always been recognized both
by his professional brethren and by the people
man of remarkable legal and judicial ability. As
young man he elected Probate Judge of thi:
county and sermed with satisfaction to people
After one term he went back his profession, and
pursued it with industry and success until he was
elected to the Common Pleas Judgeship in 1881. Il
was Judge Thompson's career on the bench that prn
cipay gave him his first acquaintance and standing
in the District. His fearless administration of JUS
tice his economical management of the courts, his
strict and studious attention business, above
all his depth of Judicial character and legal Learnt
gave the people of Southern Ohio the first opportu.
nifty of knowing that he was far very far above the
average lawyer in the of his present capaci
ties and future possibilities He called from the
bench in 1884 by being rendered the unanimous nomi
| nation for Congress. After vigorous campaign he
| was elected by a most complimentary majority, and
took his seat in the 49h Congress the first Repub-
licau Congressman from Scioto County, and also as
the first Republican soldier Congressman eyer sent
from this District.
Since Judge Thompson entered Congress he has
been most Industrious in behalf of his constituency
| The talk, sometimes fippantly INDUCED in that he
has done nothing, is only made by those who believe
that the sum total of Congressmans life is to make
speeches. Judge Thompson is not speechmaker
His duties have been performed by acts, not words
No constituent addressed him a line that he did
! not get an answer, soldier appealed to him
for aid in his pensions that the aid given. To
these matters especially has he given his abors and
his work has been done quietly and effectively in the
Departments, and in the Committees of the House,
rather than by noisy speeches the floor of the
House. We are well aware that these labors do not
show up on dress parade, but will be remembered by
Judge Thompson's constituency over the District.
To the District at he has been equally useful
Through his labors he secured appropriation for
$500 for an ice-pier at Ironton, also appropriation
for the same amount for the same purpose
at Portsmouth; he secured an appropriation
of 900 for public building Portsmouth he eff
fected arrangement by which se5oe0 was to be
apart out of the appropriation Rivers Harbors
to remove Bonanza bar. That these measures pub
lie service thwarted by the veto of Democratic
President is but another reason why Judge Thomp-
shn ha