Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-13
n.,,n NJ Allen G.. Thurman.

M ..nld Roman" Is dead. That fne
old gentleman, whose name ana Aainc
80 so dear to Democrats. and who
SO richly earned the gratitude OF the
co,,,h IN the DAYS when the South had
-. ,,sords in Congress. has entered upon
III. rest He had lived TO a ripe age,
md after having been one OF the most
active of men, he retired so completely
from the public gaze that Few moh'As
AFRO the average American could hardiy
,emember whether he was living OF deau.
lately however he received an injury
from an accidental fall, and this fact,
announced in all the papers, reawakeheu
interest H. him, and was the occasion Oh
many kind expressions concerning him'
lie rallied for awhile, but never re-
covered from his injury. and on yesterday
no died. having more than completed MS
sd year.
The fact that Mr.. Thurman was born
Z, Virginia was never overlooked by me
,eople Of this state, and it added to the
interest that our people took in his career
He was successfully Democratic meihpei
of Congress from Ohio, Judge, ana Chiei
Justice of the Supreme Court OF thal
state. and United States Senator. AS
senator he served from 1863 TO 1851 ana
then II was that he rendered his greatest
service 10 the country. Those were DAYS
when the Republicans were hlled VIA
lust OF power, and when hostility 10 the
south was at its highest. 1t was fortu-
nate for us that Mr.. Thurman was IN the
Senate, for he was thus able 10 check
much vicious legislation. AS seha' )r
he took high rank. lie was matca iOr
the best of our opponents, but some Oh
them unable TO refute his arguments
undertook TO undermine his popularity at
the North by casting doubts upon his
record for loyalty to the Union during the
late war. These Institutions he met
manfully. He showed that he was
tr,a Union man. but that ne respected
and admired the southern people.
In the Senate Judge Thurman served
as chairman of the Judiciary Committee;
promoted the passage of an act competing
the Pacific roads to fulfil their obligations
10 the government was United states
commissioner at the international None
tarv Conference in Paris in 1881, and was
the author of the Thurman jury bill, by
which for the first time the Democrats
of the South were able to secure proper
representation upon juries I'm The United
States courts. His service in this matter
was of incalculable value 10 us II ne
had done nothing else to deserve cui
gratitude this would entite him TO Gun
lasting remembrance; for before the
passage OF this bill the juries in question
were TOO often composed of our bitteTes
political opponents.
Several times Mr. Thurman was q
prominent candidate for our nomination
10 the presidency; but his location wa
against him--our party always preferrini
10 take q candidate from New York rattle
Than from Ohio. However, in 1888, he wa
nominated for Vice-Presdent ON IN
ticket with Mr.. Cleveland. when on
ticket was defeated. All his life Nh
Thurman had been In the habit OF usin
a big red silk handkerchief, and his FIRE
display of the "bandana' in the Senat
was the subject OF much remark, an
furnished much material for humorou
paragraphers. And so the bandana Decam
associated with his name, and in tn
campaign of 1855 many Democratic ear
paign flags were made in imitation Of tn
Dandana.
Mr. Thurman was patriot ana
statesman. Ills public services were grea
and his name was unsullled. His ability
debate. his stern defence of the right an
his courageous resistance TO the tyrann
cal majority in the United States sena'
well entitled him 10 the loving epith'
bestowed upon him by his friend, TT
Old Roman" for he was the mobiles
Roman OF all those who stood betwee
the fury OF the Radical majority in Col
gress and the well-nigh helpless peop
OF the South.