Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1879 — Senator Thurman Interviewed. [ARTICLE]

Senator Thurman Interviewed.

A correspondent at Columbus has interviewed Senator Thurman. I asked the Senator, says he, if he wasn’t greatly surprised at the result here in Ohio He admitted that he had confidently expected that it would be different, but added: “ While it is a surprise to me and a disappointment, because I wanted to see the Democracy carry Qhio this fall, still, so far as I am concerned, it will relieve me from the duties of an arduous position, and give me a chance for rest, which I need.” “ The Republicans claim that this victory of theirs wipes out the Democracy in Ohio, Senator. Do you agree with them?” “Wipe out the Democratic party? Why, no 1 The Democratic party can’t be wiped out I I believe it to be indestructible. It will never die so long as we have a form of free government. You might as well try to make me believe that the world would be burned up next week as that the Democratic party could be destroyed while this Government is a republic.” “ To what do you ascribe this triumph of the Republican party? Never before did they make so determined a fight in a State contest.” “They made up their minds that they must carry Ohio, or their party would fall to pieces. The Republican party is a different organization from the Democratic one. It must now and then make a tremendous struggle to retain existence, and this was one of them. It ,is now grasping for power, and power with it means a great centralized Government, in which all the States shall be absorbed, so that they shall be nothing more to it than the counties are now.” “A nation, as they call it; not a union of the States?” “Yes, a great nation controlling everything within its borders from one head. This they seek to obtain by the aid of every means at their command. The money power, the power of patronage, by raising false issues to alarm the timid, and every other device they can invent is brought to assist them to attain this end. See the great corporations that are springing up everywhere. They will not look at a State charter, but go on to Congress to become incorporated. Railroad companies, telegraph companies, and banks must all be chartered by the United States Congress to carry on business, formerly they were content

with State charters, but now they won’t have them. This shows the drift of affairs toward centralization. I will not say it is a monarchy they want, but they certainly desire to abrogate the rights of the States, and to make it all into one great Government. And that is where the Democratic party must make its fight in the future.”