Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-06-15

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dence of Judge Thurman. Captain Hoffman,
of the Samuel J. Randall Club, was intro
duced to Judge Thurman by President John
J. Lenty, of the Thurman Club, and intro
duced each member Of the Philadelphia
Club in turn to Thurman.
Thurman then spoke as follows
My Friends and Fellow Citizens sincere
ly thank you for this manifestation of your
goodwill and esteem. 1t has been we'll
said Find how man is thought OF by
his neighbors and you can form correct
Judgment of that mans character and
worth If I may judge from this demon
stration, as well as from all the acts of kind
ness that I have received from the good
people of Columbus for more than q third
of century, I may indulge in the hope
that I stand well in the affections of my
neighbors (great applause), and when, IN
addition to that, I have every reason to be-
lieve from the attendance here tonight of
that splendid body of men, the Randall
Club of Philadelphia (cheers), that [ stand
we'll in that grand old State, which used to
be called the keystone of the Democratic
arch (renewed cheers), and which [ hope
will ere long become that keystone again,
then have more than ever reason to con-
graduate myself and believe tat I stand
well with my fellow-man. My friends, [
should be the most insensible and cold
blooded man in the world if did not feel
grateful for the kindness you have mani
Tested toward me Tonight; yes and I may
say that you have manifested toward me
before tonight, and yet 1 do not know
about that quite. I say kindness; was it
kindness? 1 was living in my own quiet
home with my good old wife and my chill
dren and grandchildren and friends around
me, wishing for nothing in this world but
peace and quiet, when you, and others like
you, forced me once more into the political
arena. Whether this was kind OF not, time
will tell; whether it was we'll advised or
not, time will disclose, but one thing need
not wait for time to disclose, and that is I
owe you the deepest and profoundest gra-
titude from the very bottom of my heart.
(great applause.)
Now, my friends, you will not -(cough-
ing). [ got SO much of that fire and brim-
stone down my throat that can hardly
talk, and that is not v-ry fair, for from
what some of my enemies say of me [ will
get fire and birthstone quick enough with.
out getting it now. Laughter and voice
ga good many years yet, Judge" You
will not expect me to make a political
speech tonight. When the two parties
shall have been fully marshalled in the
field; when the issues, as lawyers call them,
shall have been distinctly declared; when
all the candidates have their harness on
and are ready for the tilt, then it will be
right for me to bear my humble part in the
ARRAY. [Jheers. Then I give you my
word that [ shall be heard from according
to my feeble abilities. [ think there is still
in this old head some remains OF brains
laughter and applausel to enable me to
tell the people why it is that all my life
long have been Democra: and mean to
die one [applause], and think I shall be
able to give them some reasons why they
should be Democrats from now until they
are laid in the grave. TCheers.
My friends, 1t is not my purpose to say
any harsh thing of our political opponents.
That never has been my style of speaking,
even when I was very young man; I
might say not a man at all, for the first
stump speech ever made was nothing
but boy. Even then always endeavored
to keep civil tongue in my head 1
always recognized the right of every
man to do his own thinking, and if
he would only think honestly and
be as tolerant to me as 1 was to
him, there should be no harsh
words fail from my lips in respect to him;
and SO now. In the contests that happened
in our own party it never has been my
habit to quarrel with those who did not
think just as I thought. I have been be-
fore your convention at st. Louis without
my will, against my will, as a candidate
for great office CHEERS. I was warmly,
nobly, generously supported by that con-
vention; was also warmly and earnestly
opposed Towards those who opposed me
L have nothing in the world but feeling of
Kindness. 1t was their right if they thought
some other man was better-a better man
to be nominated If they thought it was
more polite or advisable, however well
they might think of me, to nominate some
body else, it was their right to think SO.
They were there to exercise their iudg-
ment, and God knows they have created
not single ruffie in my bosom, nor the
least symptom of i'll will towards them.
(Applause.) No, my friends, am here to
advocate the right of every free citizen to
think for himself. believe in it and always
have believed in it, as the very essence of
Democracy and Of free government, and
therefore L wish to say to you all that
SO long as God gives me strength to
speak to my fellow-man, 50 long shall I
talk to them of the good, honest Democra-
cy IN Which was schooled and in which I
believe. tell you, my friends, that the
st. Louis Convention did the thing itself
that should immortaize it. It did one
thing which Of itself should command the
esteem and respect and gratitude of the
American people. It did one thing which
set magnificent example for all time to
come to the American people, and indeed
to all other people who have anything to
do with the choice of rulers, and that
thing was to renominate Grover Cleveland
by the unanimous voice of the convention.
Cheers. No, my friends; when I speak
of Grover Cleveland I do not speak of a
stranger to me. I never saw him until af-
ter he was inaugurated President of the
United States, but have seen him many
times since, talked with him much, and,
although l have not seen him for months
past, [ know that man, l think, and think
know him well, and if there is a brave,
honest, upright, courage ous, patriotic man
on the face of Gods earth, Grover Cleve.
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