Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-12-20

ALLEN g.. THURMAN.
The not unexpected announcement of
the death of Allen &. Thurman was
flashed over the wires to the uttermost
parts of the globe last Friday. At the
death of the venerable and distinguished
gentleman there will be a feeling of gen
uine and universal sorrow. His had
been a career to inspire the confidence
of those who believed with him and the
respect Of his opponents. iichad passed
the fourscore mark in years, had been
a factor in the most mOmcntOus period
Of the history of tae republic, and dur
ing a long public life he had so ordered
his conduct that when the final sum
IONS came and he passed into eternity,
he left Il character uuquesti0ned and
unimpcachablo. Entering congress
when u very young man, he saw lit 10
forsake politics for Il time and re-
turn to his profession of the
law and 0 Tiled the exalted
position of chief jus ice of the great
state Of Ohio, a position that he after
4 term or w voluntarily rellnQuished.
la 1868 ne was electc5 as d senator in
the ugre Of the United States and
servod ia that body Tor two terms, a pc
rod Of twelve years. The senate at thai
t.mo contained few democrats, but Ou
the republican, side there were 4 number
OF moa whose genius the eNjgeucies u
the epoch had developed ard made IA.
NOUS. Among them may be mentioncC
such masterful men as CouEli1s, Morton
OF Indiana, EdmundF, and Iatr Carpap,
Ter. Al! were conEo3sediy great, yet ats
the leader OF d hopeless minority agatnst
such d galaxy Mr., Thurman ea=iiy took
rank with the abs45t Of them, With him
justice was Z guiding star, the
law was an open book and
integrity an innate principle. Reared il
the school Of states, rights he Was still u
believer in the union, aud holding fast
to the constitution as d guide he sup.
lyA tNN' NV wal - u CO iSl 40 DCA iIA
uity Of the country, though he differed
radically from tho republicans on the re-
construction measures. At that time
party feeling ran high, but amid tAe
turmoil this gracious gentleman, clad in
the armor of his honest manhood, was
On the best Of terms with the greatest Of
his v,al.rit,al Iy,r,nrnr.t ,yti InJlrnn1
them the amenities OF sOClA! llfe were d
feet, not a name. The retirement from
tie senate Of Mr.. Thurman was a crime
against democracy, against the state
of Ohio and against the country Payne
and Brlce may have had some merit
bat in the balance they were but as d
feather against Il ten. Ia spite OF the
slight the grand man took his retirement
4~racIousiy, never lost his faith IN bis
God, MS country, his party or his friends
and amid his books and the practice of
his profession, ~eurTOunded by his de-
ecend4uts, he rounded out in peace and
content a well spent life, al the ripe age
of s., with faculties uninpaired. Yosuch
d soul tno release could not haV been
uuwe!come; he had 10 regrets for the
past and no fears for the future. With
but tew exceptions the giants OF his
class, when he wac in the arena, haC
passed away, and he stood almost alone
living Oh the reco'lections Of his loyal
earnest prowess in the cause OF nls coun
try. Ills name Is written in lmpsrisha
bic letters on tho pages Of the history o
= the land, and there 1t will ever remhiL
May he have many Successors, for just 4
this time they are needed. Peace to hi
ashes, and loyal reverence to his memory