The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-13
JUDGE THURMAN's BIRTHDAY.

Nicholas and McOermOtt, Butte; Leland, Hotol,
Springfield. Ill
JUDGE THURMAN's BIRTHDAY.
A notable company will be gathered
together at Columbus, Ohio, to-day to
do honor to one OF the foremost Of Amer
leans, Allen G. Thurman, who upon this
day completes the seventy-seventh year
Of his useful and honorable life. There
will be present Ex-President Cleveland,
Governor Campbell, Don M. Dickinson,
W. G. Whitney, probably Governor Hill,
and host OF men prominent in the
democratic party, with the history of
which the name Of Judge Thurman has
been SO clearly associated for nearly half
century. 1t will, however, be only in
cidentally political assemblage, for q
number Of republicans have been bid
den to the feast and will doubtless at
tend to testify to the esteem in which
they hold Judge Thurman; but one can
scarcely conceive Of company SO pre-.
ponderantly democratic as this one will
be not finding occasion to express the
satisfaction they can but feel at the no.
BILE victory won at the polls eight days
ago.
The tribute to Judge Thurman which
has taken this form is entirely sponta-
neous. He is comparatively poor man
and his career is behind him, and so
there can be no selfish motives upon the
part of the guests. It Is career Of
which any man might be proud. A Vir-
ginian by birth and Of Revolutionary
stock, Judge Thurman grew up in Ohio,
whittier his parents removed when he
was but SIX years old. Denied the ad-
vantages of schooling beyond the gram
mar grade, he is yet man of fine edu-
cation, acquired while he was making
his way at the bar or serving his state
in congress or upon tho bench. His law
studies were prosecuted under the guild
ance of that famous old democrat, "Rise
Up Bill" Allen, several times governor
Of Ohio, and the late Justice Noah
Swayne, Of the United States supreme
court. His first appearance in politics
was forty six years ago. when he was
nominated against his will for member
of congress in district with large hos
tile majority, which he overcame. AL
though he did good service in congress
and was upon several important com.
mittees, he declined denomination. In
1851 he was elected to the state supreme
bench, where he sat for four years, two
Of them as chief justice. In 1867 he
was pitted against Rutherford B. Hayes
in the race for the governorship, and
succeeded in reducing the majority OF
$4,000 at the preceding election to 5000
and in making the legislature demo
cratic. That body rewarded him by
electing him to the United States SEN
ate, in which he took front rank at the
outset. So good Judge of public men
as Roscoe Conkllng said of Senator
Thurman that he never was discounted
in debate; that when he was borne dowr
by the weight Of numbers he had cats
facility Of alighting upon his feet; ant
that his equipment as a senator was un
surpassed. Senator Thurman was sew
eral times reelected. Unjust ponopo
lies never found aught but an uncom
promising foe in him. His knowledg
Of constitutional law gave weight to hi
words, and his influence was potentl
felt throughout all the years he was i
the senate He was never tlippant i
his treatment Of men or measures, an
has not resorted to the tricks of dems
gogues in his appeals to the voters. Iii
nomination for the vice. presidency b
the democratic national convention i
1888 was scant recognition of the wort
and influence of "the old Roman" H
made a remarkable canvass for q man c
his years, and when he went down wit
the wreck there emanated from him n
complaints or imprecations. He bowe
his head to Fate and retired to see
such solace as he might in the compar
ionship of devoted wife and his book
The country is richer for the publ
services OF Allen G. Thurman. Th
democratic party has in him person t
be looked up to and emulated. 10y,
to party, he has been always true to tn
nation, and no living man can point I
the smallest act of his that was nj
guided by the strictest integrity Of pu
pose and honesty of motive. The den
ocracy and the country cannot have te
many men like him.
THERE is long standing controyers
as to whether or not hen is bird. n
court has yet passed judgment on Il
disputed point, though it may have
be decided in some way shortly. tt
Mckinley law imposes a duty of Fl,
cents dozen on eggs. At the san
time it places birds eggs on the free liz
Now IL it should turn out that hen
bird there would be quite compile
ton over the question of impost duty I
the eggs Of the domestic fowl, and it
quite possible that legal decision m,
DO necessary to settle the matter IF