Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-19
THURMAN IN THE SENATE.
His Great Work, Aided ty Senator
Bayard of Delaware.


Partisan Only In Public Aifairs-uis Per-
sonai Friendship with senator Edmunds.
Baltimore Sun Special.
Washington, Dec. IL. Widespread
regret is expressed here over the death
of ex Senator Thurman, full of years
and honors as he was. During the ~
years that he served in the Senate
Judge Thurman was one of the most
conspicuous figures in public life His
sturdy energy, his intellectual force,
his sterling integrity, his wonderful
powers as debater, his untlinching
advocacy of Democratic principles,
either in triumph or disaster, and his
perfect fearlessness made an impress
upon the stirring times of his Sena-
passed by not one of his associates on
both sides of the Senate chamber.
On the 4th Of March, 1869, Allen g.
Bayard of Delaware, were sworn in
side by side as members of the Senate.
Bayard was Al years of age and Thur
man was 56. Both the older and the
younger man were at once recognized
as the destined leaders of that slender
but gallant band of Democrats who
faced without faltering the overwhelm-
ing host of Republicans on the other
side. 1t was in the said period OF re-
construction. Such of the Southern
States as had been nominally readmit-
ted to their rights in the Union were
misrepfesented on the floor OF the SEN
ate by carpet-baggers, who had nothing
but enmity toward the section they
claimed TO represent. Ten Senators in
all sat on the Democratic side of the
Senate and Sc on the Republican side.
For the entirety of the term upon
which these two Senators had entered,
warfare, fierce and relentless, was
waged in the effort on the part of the
majority TO keep the South in political
subjection and by the minority for the
restoration of the equal rights in the
Union which was it's just due. Many
time did that contest seem almost
hopeless. The arrogant and all power
full majority rode roughshod over those
opposed to them. Constitution, laws.
parliamentary usage and procedure
were all ruthlessly thrust aside with
the brute force which comes of num-
bers.
Those exciting days can never be for
gotten by the men who witnessed them.
Undismayed by defeat, undeterred by
threats, but rallying ever and ever like
Spartans in close phalanx that little
band of 10 echoed the clarion voice of
Thurman and applauded the undaunted
front of Bayard. Though SO close to
three-acore, Thurman never showed
signs of fatigue and wavering. In the
desperate and protracted fights over
measures TO bind the South in chains,
lasting often through the long hours
of the night and into advanced day of
the next morning, he sought no rest
The enemy, with it's giant force. could
toll off relays for sleep and refresh
ment, but the feeble Democratic bat
talon must be always on it's guard.
Every member of il was a perpetual
sentinel, and the leader never took his
foot from the extreme edge of the
ramparts. Those who fought him 30
hard were fain to hear tributes to his
valor, his endurance, to his mastery
tactics of attack and defense. No such
parliamentary battles were ever fought
as in that Legislative campaign which
stretched over a period of years, and
which was to determine whether COM
munity comprising IL eommonwealths
was to be held in perpetual vassalage
or was to be emancipated. By and by
Thurman and Bayard and their true
followers heard the slogan. The army
of rescue came faster and faster The
band on the Democratic side was re-
inforced and reinforced until before
Thurman left that chamber he had be-
hind him majority: the South was
free, and all the States of the Union
were once more upon a mutual and
common basis. He might well be par
doned the brightest glow of pride in
taking to himself the Just pride of work
well done in contrasting the situation
of his country at the time he entered
the Senate chamber with that on the
day he departed from its doors.
Mr.. Thurman's death recalls oppor-
tunely the glorious record which Bay
ard, the chevalier, without fear and
without reproach, made equally with
him in defence of the fundamental prin-
eiples of liberty and self-government.
1t is well it should be recalled at this
moment when men literally unworthy
to loosen his shoe are engaged
in the futile endeavor to sully name
the synonym OF patriotism and public
and private honor.
Judge Thurman, like all men Of gen
erous and broad minds, was a partisan
only in public affairs, Several of his
most intimate friends in the Senate
we're on the Republican side. He
and ex-senator Edmunds of Vermont,
than whom no more rancorous partisan
ever existed would stand opposite each
other on the door of the Senate and
hurl incessant invective and irony
across the aisle dividing them, SO that
the uninitiated would often fancy them
coming to blows. A few minutes later
they would be seen locked arm in arm
and chatting most familiarly as they
disappeared in the privacy of the com
mittee room belonging to one or the
other. Both were great lawyers and
almost equally matched. While one ex-
celled in logic tho other did in satire.
Mr.. Edmunds had the reputation of
being able to say more cutting things
than any man who ever sat in the
Senate. His keen rapier of caustic
irony would at times cut deep into the
quivering sensitiveness of his friend
from Ohio, but then it was grand to
hear how the "Old Roman, " az he was
Justly styled, would, with a sweep of
his battle-axe of reason and truth, lay
low the swordsman Of Vermont. In
his arguments he went to the core OF
the matter at issue. He was not given
to repetition as are SO many who aspire
to the class of statesmen. He never
talked unless he had something to say
and he invested with interest every
subject which he discussed.
N. B. Danforth. Second and Market
streets, and the Miller Drug Co., l02 Market
street, druggists, will tell YOU that john
cns,tu Nf,s,Ratfo nil ,.l,,o..,