The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-12-19

youngest memDer, just as MS uncle 0ad
entered the senate the youngest man
ever chosen to that body. All through
the lives of uncle and nephew runs this
curious parallelism-a very close con.
nection in business and politics, which
is all the more remarkable by reason Of
the contrast in other respects between
the two. Even the title descended
Senator William Allen was long known
as THE Old Roman, and when he re.
tired the title was at once bestowed on
Judge Thurman.
The decade of lS4O.50 must be set
down in American history as the era
when nicknames in politics were estab.
lished. There is no record Of any pet
phrases" for Washington, Hamilton,
Madison or any Of that galaxy and it
was thought a daring innovation to
"Tom" jefferson; but since 1910 we
have had BLACK Dan, " cold Bullion, I"
Harry of the West" "Old Hickory"
"Tippecanoe, "Old Zack," "Old Abe"
and scores of such minor pets as Cali
co Charlie" and THE Bobbin Boy. "
1t was not easy to stick q pet name on
either Senator Allen or Judge Thur.
man, and a childish diminutive would
have been laughed out Of sight, but
"Old Roman" is well suited to both.
Two years in congress seems TO have
served as a rest to Judge Thurman.
His health, which had been impaired
by hard work, grew batter He de-
clined denomination, and in lS41 re-
turned to the law for four years more,
Made Supreme Judge.
In 1851 he was elected to the supreme
bench of the state and served thereon
till 1856, the last year as chief justice.
This led to his removal in 1853 to Co.
lumbus. His OpinlOns-tO be found in
the first five volumes Of "OhiO State
Reports'-are models Of clear state
ment and logical adherence to elemeu.
tary law. In no other department is
his greatness so generally recognized as
in this. The senator, the politician.
the candidate for vice president may be
harshlv criticised, but Judge" Thur
man always commands respect. Sena-
tor Roscoe Conkling was once address
ing the senate in an impassioned man
ker, and seemed to direct his remarks
to Senator Thurman. at length the
latter got irritated.
docs the senator from New York, :"
he roared, "expect me to answer him
every time he turns to me-"
For moment Mr.. Conkling hesita.
ted, and everybody expected a terrific
explosion. Then, with an air of exQuis-
ite courtesy, he replied;
"When | speak of the law turn to
the senator from Ohio as the Mussul-
man turns toward Mecca. / turn to
him as | do to the English common
law, as the worlds most copious fount
ain of human Jurisprudence"
The usually decorous senate broke
N In a M
man eye moistened a little. 1t is
ever a pleasure to be complimented,
but to be complimented as a law.
yer by Roscoe Conkling-that was
praise indeed. The two statesmen were
the best Of friends and greatly enjoyed
each others society-when "off duty"
Judge Thurman had worked too
hard at Chillioothe-lS hours day dur.
ing some terms of the court, il is said,
His practice at Columbus was far more
leisurely, and he grew into a rugged,
genial, middle aged gentleman of tho
finest "Old Virginia" type. His do
mestic life was sinRularly happy. His
son, Allen, fulfilled the fathers fond.
est hopes, and in later years his family
lived in residence joining that of his
father, so that the two families were as
one. Judge Thurman and his wife re-
mained lovers through all their days of
wedlock, and in 1860 no man in Ohio
seemed to have fairer prospect of
peace and content. The war was
rude awakening and brought to Judge
Thurman a great load of grief.
A Strong Union Man.
He was by family tradition opposed
20 slavery in itself, yet held, in common
with Webster. Benton and Clay, that
II was a matter for the slaves them.
selves to deal with. He denied the
right of any state to secede, but in.
dulged the hope that some milder
method than war might be adopted to
restore the Union. His position was
thus stated by himself at later date;
81 did all could to help to preserve
the Union without war, but after it
began l thought there was but one
thing to do, and that was to fight il
out. therefore sustained all consti-
tutional measures that tended in my
Judgment to put down the rebellion. ]
never believed in the doctrine of seces
sion"
While the storm ragged such men as
Judge Thurman were reserved. When
the ere of rebuilding came and judicial
minds were needed, they came again 20
the front. In 1867 Judge Thurman was
nominlted by the Democrats of Ohio
for governor, against the popular gen