Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-12-20
DEATH or THE OLD ROMAN.

That splendid headlight which has il.
Illuminated our political heavens tor 50 many
years, and with splendor TO its last moment
has disappeared and forever
For more than twenty five years Allen G
Thurman stood out in bold relief, the most
prominent figure in the Democratic party
loved and venerated by his party friends
feared, admired and respected by his polit-
ical opponents. With him Democracy was
no empty name, no barren speculation, but
Q vital principle. He was born in Lynch.
burg, Va, on the 18th of November, 1918,
and after having obtained an academic edu.
cation and studied law, located at Colum.
bus, Ohio, TO practice his profession. Just
fifty years ago he was chosen IN represent
that district in Congress, and soon there.
Court of the State, and served as Chief Jus.
tice for several years.
Mr.. Humans active political career
commenced In 1867, when he was nomin
ated as the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor of Ohio. He failed in an election by
few thousand votes, but carried Demo
cratic Legislature, by which he was chosen
TO the United States Senate, displacing the
veteran leader, Benjamin +. Wade, at the
end of this term he was re elected, thus
serving continuously in the Senate for twelve
years. In 1888, without any effort on his
part, he was nominated as the Democratic
candidate for Vice President on the ticket
with Dir. Cleveland, and since that time he
has lived very quiet and retired life, en-
joying not only the affection of his friends
about him in his own State, but also the
respect and even the veneration OF fair
minded men of al parties throughout the
country.
Whilst member Of the Senate, no man
10 that body commanded higher respect
from friend and foe His integrity shone
out conspicuously in the days when the
standard Of American craftsmanship had
greatly degenerated, and when corruption,
the legitimate legacy OF civil war, ran riot
in almost every department of the general
government His resolute fidelity To public
trust as Senator made him known, not
only by his associates, but throughout the
country and the world, as the "Old Roman"
of the body, and he was foremost In the
many desperate struggles which had to be
met after the war to recall the government
to integrity, and to enforce honesty on the
part of all who had dealings with it,
Members of his own party, at least, be
lieved that he made no mistake in this
stormy period, and even bis political oppo
nents admired and respected his unsw CRYING
determination and bravery. This was true
Of him during the entire twelve years, from
1869 to 1881, which he spent in the Senate.
Mr.. Conkling said of him that he was never
discounted in debate, and that when thrown
by sheer force of numbers he could beat a
cat falling on his feet.
II has been said, and never denied, that
he left the Senate as he had gone into it, a
comparatively poor man.
History, in making mp its final aud i'm
partial judgment, will inscribe ia letters of
living light TO the lofty integrity, the manly
Independence and stern devotion 10 the
country's interest that have marked every
step of his long, brilliant and useful career
As some admirers once Faithfully said Of
him:
"Among the names now writ on history's
page,
OF poet, statesman. commoner and sage,
No grander name can any man recall
Than Thurman, noblest Roman of them ALL v