The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-13
SEATTLE. FRIDAY. DEC. rs.
ALLEN @. THURNIAN.

In the death OF Allen C. Thurman the
country loses Democrat OF the old
school. He was one OF the few men the
span or whose active official life connected
the present with the ante-bellum past II
is over half century since he. as a man
JUST pas, o. took his seat In the American
congress. The comprehensive retrospect
offered TO him In his declining years can
be appreciated only when one considers
how. with what II now regarded as remote
history. the leading men OF that time are
associated. When Thurman FIRST went to
Washington city James X. Polk was presi-
dent. Andrew Jackson was stu alive.
though with his great vitality gone. Web
ster. Clay and Calhoun were striking ma
tlonai figures. and John Quincy Adams.
the sixth president OF the United States.
was la5oring Ia the lower house. his
strength, courage and aggressiveness un-
impaired. No men IN public life today
WILDLY recall those times. unless they are
Calusha A. Grow. Justin $. Morrill, and
John Sherman. and Thurman ante-dated
the latter In his entrance upon tho arena
by full decade.
When Mr. Thurman retired from con-
sress. In 1856. he gave himself up 10 the
practice OF law and attained the highest
distraction in his state. with a reputation
as a lawyer and Judge that extended be-
yond its borders His temperance upon
the scene Of national politics was not
hrough. abou: untii he was over 50 years
OF age. when he VAS elected To- the United
States senate. lie entered that body with
many Of the qualities or a statesman al
ready conceded 20 him. and from the first
he ranked - one or It's strongest mem
hers, Ills intellectual equipments were Of
the first or6er. and his personal ln,eg-
rty, never questioned. gave him a leading
position IN his party. and commanded the
respect of these 70 whom he CHANGED 10
be politically opposed. lie had many OF
those rugged. sterling qualities which in
slts thu couldcoce OF others, and there
never vas a t'mo when he was not trusted.
even when carried away by fanaciss which
his better judgment ought TO have been
able 20 resist.
judge thurman was al Intensely strong
peE'ecrat ans an uuylsldins partisan. Al
though good either. hts ALLEGIANCE ~
Democracy was always more sacred than
t. his country. Hs opposed The Mar and
would have allowed the South 10 secede.
Walle y would perhaps De unius, TO elias.
him with that body of noa-eonhatauis
known as eoaperheads. he ola nothing for
the preservation OF the Uuion Although
Ohio IS a stste was ferveugly loyal. Thur
nlsn showed little or no sympathy with the
Northern Cause. lie objected 20 freeing
the slaves and strongly opposed he thlr-
ieeath. fourteenth and ntgsenta amend
aaents- Elected 10 the senate when recon-
structon Es1 hardly been completed. he
showed no hezi:sacy IN auylng himself NI;a
his party IN al ;be obstructive methods
adopted % prevent rehabilitation OF our
finances ana iAs starting of the country
en- the road 20 progress. lie opposed The
resumption ~ specie payments aad the
maintenance - oar national credit. ana
later an was completely carried oG his fee,
by the greeaalck erase. la,o sae as!usive
vortex OF which ae WAS swept. along with
number ot o;ae7 sod mea Who ouea;
10 have known better.
IN some respects. therefore. Judge Thur
man can hardly be considered a s,ronx na-
tlonal character. Eut IN matters OF gen
eral legislation . the consideration OF
which he could devote himself. free from
tie influence ~ political theories OF party
eNpo5isacy. BE vas NertaAle torce, His
ieaTa.ns. experience. power of reasoning
ana geasral culture. m&So hla man
whose opinion Was valued and whose In
fueaee became dominant and unmsstaka-
bic lis character and reputation were
never attacked. aa3 his personal honesty
81 the last remained unimPeacaab.e. VITA
these admirable qualities 20 naturally stood
out prominently amons ;Ae paolic men OF
his time and during his twelve years ser
vice IL the senate he was perhaps the most
conspicuous member OF his party sasse.