Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-14
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER IA. 1890.
Tho Old Romano" Birthday Banquet

1.-THE Old Romans" Birthday Banquet
The full name of 1.-THE old Roman
Of the Democratic party is ALLEN
GRANBERY THURMAN. and he was born
ut Lynchburg November ID, 1873. lis
father was Methodist preacher, and his
mother the only daughter of Colonel
NATHANIEL. ALLEN. of North Carolina. With
his parents he removed 10 Chillicothe IN
1919. Like WASHINGTON, he began life as
surveyor. but. unlike him, did not go TO
soldering. but studied law and became
prominent at the bar. In 1874 he was
elected bv the Democrats 10 Congress, and
subsequently served as member and presl-
dent of the Supreme Court Of Ohio, and as
member of the United States Senate for
twelve years. Before he became senator
MIR. Hays beat him by 5000 votes for Gov
ernor. In 1876 and 1880 he received con-
siderable support as a presidential candi-
date. and in 1893 he was nominated for
yice-President by reclamation, and the
"bandannan became the campaign flag OF
his party.
Mr.. THURMAN did all that no could 20
preserve the Union without war; but
when hOstilities began he sustained the
Federal Government III "all constitutional
measures" He was loyalist who dared
20 have pity upon the poor Confederntes
confined in Camp Chase, and notwlth-
standing his VirRinian ancestry was likely
10 cause suspicion TO rest upon HIM, he
made bold 10 DO many kindnesses TO them
nj which less conscientious or more
politic man would have hesitated.
Mr.. THURMAN made great reputation as
a iudge. Sound sense, true-heartedness,
and deep-rooted knowledge OF law prnci-
piles carried him triumphantly over the
shoals and rocks upon which many other
legal regulations have been wrecked, and
his opinions stand as models Of forcible ex-
preston and accurate statement
Asa Senator, Mr.. BIAISE In his Twenty
Years in Congress-" says Mr.. THuBMAN's
reputation was established from the day
he took his seat, and was never lowered
during his period of service" He was a
member. and while the Democrats were in
power chairman. Of the Judiciary Commit
tee of the Senate. During the illness of
Vice-President WHEELER he was made Pre-
eident pro tenn Of the Senate. He secured
the passage of the THURMAN jury bill"
which took from the hands of the Republic
can officials of the Federal courts the
power TO say who should serve on lures IN
the United States courts and lodged that
night in commissioners-one 10 represent
each political partv-the greatest boon
Congress ever bestowed upon the South.
MIR. THURMAN won a reputation in the
Senate for judicial fairness and for ability
in discussion. especially Of constitutional
questions Mr.. BLAINE says "he had no
tricks i'll debate, no catch-phrases to Sc
cure attention, but was always direct and
manly "a good description of " the noble
old Roman" VINO for nearly half q century
has led the Democrats Of Ohio; who saw
the party go down i'll the storm OF war;
who helped TO rouse IL into life again, and
was rewarded with a seat in the Senate.
where he had scarcely half dozen Demo-
cratic companions and who after many
VARYING experiences is able TO celebrate his
eeyenty-seventh birthday i'll the light of
one of the most glorious victories In Ameri-
can history.
Many words OF praise were spoken Vi MN
last night. They were the homage due per-
sonal and civic virtues. the tributes to a
temperate and kindly character-a man
who is well entitled to be considered the
typical American"
The congratulations of Virginia were to
have been personally conveyed by Senator
DANIEL, but he was not able to be present.
1t was pity, for he could have spoken
with rare eloquence. not only as a Virgil
Man, but as citizen of MIR. THURMANs
birthplace, and "a member of that body
in which 1.-The old Romans" GROWING
work was done.
Happy is the man who at the close of
long and eventful life is the recipient OF
such evidences of tho peopleslove as were
last night showered upon MIR. THURMAN.