leave the party. Mr. Thurman adhered to his
party. With this exception, his political course has been one of
unswerving constancy and fidelity to all the extreme demands and
severe creeds imposed upon the Democracy by the South. His Virginia
birth, his rearing within the lines of the old Virginia Military
reservation in Southern Ohio, his early associations with kindred and
his friends, all contributed to his education as a Democrat. He
naturally grew to strong influence with his associates, and when he
came to the Senate was entitled to be considered the foremost man of
his party in the Nation.

His rank in the Senate was established from the day he took his seat,
and was never lowered during the period of his service. He was an
admirable disciplined debater, was fair in his method of statement,
logical in his argument, honest in his conclusions. He had no tricks
in discussion, no catch-phrases to secure attention, but was always
direct and manly. His mind was not pre-occupied and engrossed with
political contests or with affairs of state. He had natural and
cultivated tastes outside of those fields. He was a discriminating
reader, and enjoyed not only serious books, but inclined also to the
lighter indulgence of romance and poetry. He was especially fond of
the best French writers. He loved Moliere and Racine, and could quote
with rare enjoyment the humorous scenes depicted by Balzac. He took
pleasure in the drama, and was devoted to music. In Washington he
could usually be found in the best seat of the theatre when a good play
was to be presented or an opera was to be given. These tastes
illustrate the genial side of his nature, and were a fitting complement
to the stronger and sterner elements of the man. His retirement from
the Senate was a serious loss to his party--a loss indeed to the body.
He left behind him pleasant memories, and carried with him the respect
of all with whom he had been associated during his twelve years of
honorable service.

--William G. Brownlow, a quaint and eccentric man, took his seat as
senator from Tennessee. He was in the sixty-fourth year of his age,
and in impaired health. He was born in South-western Virginia in the
wild and mountainous region adjacent to the borders of three other
States. In early life he was a Methodist preacher of peculiar
earnestness and force, with special adaptations to the people among
whom his ministry lay. To his Church he always retai