Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1890 — HONORING THE OLD ROMAN. [ARTICLE]

HONORING THE OLD ROMAN.

Democrats of Prominence Olefrrate Tliurman’s Birthday, Hon. Allen G. Ihnrman'was 77 pears* old on the 13th inst., and it was celebrated heartily by Democrats from all parts of the country. Among the prominent people present were ex-Presidont Cleveland. Senator Brice, Congressmen Springer, Outwaitef ManSur, Coleman, Duburrow, McGann, Gov. Boyo, of Nebraska, Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, and many others. A public reception was given Mr. Cleaveland at 10 o’clock at the State House which was attended by a host of people. At the conclusion of the residence at the Capitol the ex-President drove 'to the residence of Judge Thurman and congratulated him on the anniversary of his seventy-seventh birthday. He assured the Judge that the Democracy of the Nation were rejoiced in his continued vigor and hoped that he might yet be spared many years of usefulness. Judge Thurman replied that no years of future acts of his could possibly increase the warmth of the congratulations which he had received from all parts of the United States, and that he was continually asking himself whether his services had really been such as to deserve all this homage. Judge Thurman entered the banquet room in the evening with Mr. Cleveland. They were arm in arm, the ex-President supporting his venerable companion, who further assisted by a cane, walked slowly up the hall. His limping gait attested the inroads that his old enemy, the rheumatism, had made upon his vigorous frame. A mighty cheer wont up from a thousand throats as the audience caught sight of tho two distinguished guests of the even ing, and this cheer was prolonged and thrice repeated ere the procession reached the upper end of the hall. The cheering was repeated when tho guests took their seats at the table, and it was accompanied this time by every person in the room waving a red bandana handkerchief. At the conclusion of the banquet Mr. John L. Lentz, Chairman of the Thurman Club, rappod the vast assemblage to order, and after a short speech introduced Congressman Outhwaite as the toastmaster of the evening. Judge Thurman responded to the deafening calls for the “Old Roman,” in a speech of some length, in which he reviewed the progress of the country in his life time and the part he had in such progress. He was followed by Ex President Cleveland in the sub je~t of “Citizenship,” He eulogized Mr. Thurman lavishly and referred at some length to the recent Democratic victory and the causes contributing to it. He was applauded very generally. Hon. W. T. Wilson, of Virginia, spoke on the “House of Representatives,” and ex-Sena-tor McDonald, of Indiana, on “ Ihe Senate.’’ The other toasts and speakers were: “The Democratic Party in Relation to Future Public Economy," Gen. Thos. Ewing; “The Early Ohio Bar,” Hon. Richard A. Harrison: ‘ Democracy in America,” Hon. Wm. C. P. Breckinridge; “The Democracy of the Future,” Hon. Don. M. Dickinson. Among the features of tho occasion were the large number of congratulatory letters and telegrams received by Mr. Thurman. Among the senders were ex-President Hayes, Governor Hill, Senator Evarta, Chief-justice Fuller, editor George W. Childs. cx-Secretary Garland, Gen. John P. Rea, Gen. Benj. F. Butler, Justice Bradley, Geu. Jubul F. Early, Justice Brewer, Hon. Carl Schurtz, Henry George ■ and Senator Carlisle. ’Some of the letters I were accompanied with regrets at being ; unable to attend the celebration, and all i contained words of cheer for the age! Ohioan.