The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-12
THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE.

because 1t is not true of them, but because 1t is
inherent in human nature. Probably the dispo-
eition arises from something other than per-
version OF reverence to God. Indeed, hero
worship is itself perverted by that class who
impiously affect privity with the awful coun-
sells OF heaven. 1t is, perhaps, mode of pride,
in which we assimilate towards an exalted fell
lowship by admT1ng the object, and redouble
the qualification by magnifying him. In so
highmInded a people, we might expect, upon
tais theory, an inordinate hero-worship IN our
country. And so, indeed, it is. But no one
could ever become popular idol here without
Oratory-his own or that OF hts adherents. To
make speeches, therefore, is the American road
TO bonors II young man is conscious of talents
whicn Justify exalted aspirations, be has no
resource but to turn to making speeches. But
he must have themes and occasions. Where Is
he to get them
1t was the sovereignty once imputed to rulers
but now recognized IN the people, that gave
government its pIe-eminent dignity. But the
popular notion ot Its sovereign supremacy,
with the corresponding habit of attaching undue
IN portanCe to 1t, survive their cause, and de.
mand OF an orator that ne shall discuss state
business. Now, how is he to do it il no
urgent, vital, and important issue has been
evolved tOI determination, by the normal opera
tiOn Oi the governmental establishment in con-
neCtion with events? He must give up his hopes
OF houors Hom the people, or else cheat them
out OF them. He therefore exaggarates some
inconsderable issue, or more likely and still
more mscnlesously, he lays down some dogma
far in advance oil events; eXtOlS IT as a cardinal
principle, and exercises his ingenuity and his
eloquence IN showing the alarming imminence
O some disastrous lntTine ement OF il. This an
individual OF toierabe scrupulosity might con-
sent to do. But there is seldom occasion Tor
asprants TO contTive and execute these
impostures Tor themselves The air is thick
with them, ready made, by nobody in particular,
but by all, somewhat unconsciously. That class
OF our citizens who take interest in politics (who
are, alter AL a minority, ana not the better one,
at that) are, consequently, always pied
with these groundless and morbid anXietles.
Their general mno, OF which each is specta-
tor, is like the screen, which to the outside OBJ
server presents the shadow OF some hideouS and
gigantic creature, while to the operators OF the
magic lantern the terrific apparluion dwindles
to petty insect, ingeniously disposed for the
purposes OF the illusion.
We should thus expect to find the DO owerful
and aspiring spirits of the land seeking state
dignltes through such discussions and autago-
nisms as should give occasion tor the employ
ment and display OF their talents, and that as
the ordinary course OF events would furnish
nothing to justify popular attention, the most
. important business OF politicians would be the
invention OF artificial public exigencies, and the
prosecution of partisan subteriuges. Let the
reader consider. Are these corollaries rash? Is
1t not So And yet, in such an Atmosphere
reeklng with the very brnstOne OF dupliclty-is
IT not astonishing that in our public characters
the moral constitution of men should still
survive?
Thaddeus Stevens is the abest parliamentary
politician of our uay. The fertility of some
minds may be Ill ideas, out that OF his is in ex.
pedients. Some may be profound in what they
think, but Thaddeus Stevens is powerful in what
he does. Some may be original but he is
efficient The basis OF thus extraordinary public
character is in the unequalled verify uf his
habitual apprehension OF the political world"
He takes It, in whole or in part, at all tlmes at
W is a Inn nu1n VI hon iua
master OF that sort OF moral meteorology in
which the mutations and incidents OF political
affairs serve as the phenomena. The political
world" and the general world, more or less
contounded by Others are TO him as exclusive
OF each other as are truth and talsehoOd. The
system OF relations which is called political
lie" is system OF subterfuges. But it is a
system, nevertheless, with the moral necessity
OF consistency. The system is but complex
falsehood, but to be consistent with it is to be
true to it. Whether man, endowed with match
less and indomitable fidelity as an original law
OF his character, should or should not employ
the principle in operating, consistently with
its structure, moral machine OF false
hood, is a question. But those who
believe that the debasing bondage of Amer-
can politics can be broken only by detachmg
the system from moral truth must confess the
value of that isolation of politics from morals
which is necesstated by enforcing the integrity
OF its own system. "To hell with your CON
science!" said Stevens, with contempt to poll
ticaster who was willing to constraIn his virgin
moral sense to the brothel ofpolitical intrigue,
and yet afraid to proceed in the undertaking
alter effecting the abduction. The grest parti-
san had left his at home. Save in TINS place, all
the world was its field. 1t was to be conserved.
The burst of contemptuous evaporation, SO
coarsely expressed, might have been rendered
thus:-"My friend, the first business of con-
science is to make one faithful. In the natural
world you must be faithful to truth because
that is the law OF organism. In the political
world you are. OF course, still to be faithful; but
here you are to be faithful 70 falsehood because
talsehood Is the law OF organism. If you can
not be faithful to an organism of ialsehood
you are yourself false IN coming into it. Poll
tics is an mposture, and you and know il,
You insult my conscience by pretending not to
know IT. ....
In personal appearance, few men have ever
worn, IN body, more perfect symbol of the
soul, than does the Leader of the House. Tall
with slight bend in his figure, his presence
conveys the notion OF a dignity OF stature in in
definite reserve. His large hand, with a look OF
It's own, Is ever undergoing some slow change of
ungraceiul but earnest motion, as ii it, too,
could think, and collate, and remember. His
abundant and dark hair, heaped up in curly
protusion, is as changeless as a wooden wig,
giving extraordinary effect to the mobility OF
his features, and his uncommonly high head.
His nose is remarkably long, containing three
distinct variations OF profile which, when marked
IN so pTotracted an organ, looks like
attempts 70 shorten ITSELF His chin is
broad and bold his broWs strkinglY ad-
vancing and eavernous and his mouth wide,
deeply marked, and grim. His eye Is a feature
that must be seen to be conceived of; it can
thrill 10 the subtlest hbrils the soul that looks
into it, yet il does not CLEAN; it can dominate
awe, and contound, yet 1t cannot be said to have
hre; II can be seen across the vast hall from the
galleries of the opposite side, when animated IN
debate, yet IL is not large; in conference, it is
cold; In courtesy, ii is averted ii suspicious, its
scrutiny demolshes duplicity; under excitement