The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-08-22
Original Correspondence.
MaosHANE I'M WASHINGTON.
LETTER NUMBER EIGHT.
HON. THADDEUs STEVENS.

! lion. TIIADDECS STEVENS.
This distinguished gentleman, who fur
nishes tie brains for the Eump, deserves
something more than an ordinary nCtce
He Is the ''Great Commoner'' in a body
of very common men-the man of ''iron
wilr' where 50 many depend on their brass
the great embodiment of the disembod-
led Congress, which now shows only a
Rump.
Thaddeus Stevens was born in Vermont,
emigrated to Pennsylvania at an early age,
and settled at Gettysburg, where he taught
school and studied law. About 1884, if
memory serves me, he was elected to the
State Legislature. He was soon distin-
guished for his thrilling eloquence and un-
equailed power of invective.
Prominent in his legislative career was
his bold and persistent efforts in favor Of
general system of education. This affords
the bright spot in his career-the only
measure upon which he can venture on
posterity with safety to his good name
Apart from this, his declamato ry powers
were such as TO render him an invaluable
leader for a minority, or attacking party.
Ritner was elected Governor in 1885,
the democrats having divided on Wolff
and Muhenburg. The same causes that
elected an An Masonic Chat was the
name of our opponents then) Governor,
gave the. same party a majority in the Le-
gislature. Thus placed in power, Stevens
appears in new role, as the leader and
mouthpiece of the new State administra-
tion. Here his talents were tried, and
here he-failed.
His first measure was to reveal the Sc
crets of Free Masonry. He had sought
imitation into the sanctana of the ssbrethren
of the mystic tie," but as he labored un-
der the physical defect of club foot, he
could not ,cork:, 80 he was rejected. Eter-
nal war against the "bIocd- stained ORDER
Gas he called i) was the consequence.
He got an Investigating COMMITTEES.
with himself as its chairman-something
like his present Reconstruction Committee
which constituted itself Star Cham
Der, and in mid-winter hauled every Free
Mason of prominence to Harrisburg TO tes-
tify as to the secrets of Masonry. The
hardships endured by these citizens can
be better appreciated when it is understood
that at this time we had no railroads to
Harrisburg, and the unfortunate Masons
had TO reach that place through the snow
drifts as best they could.
Stevens warfare upon the Free Nfasons
was singularly like his present warfare
upon the South. His theory and aim
then was to rende, Masonry odious-to COM
Jfscate the property of the lodges, and to
prevent Masons from voting and holding
office ! But the whole thing proved, as
every man not blinded by passion saw it
would prove, miserable abortion-a
Qnixotic adventure that only brought rid
icule upon the "drill sergeant" as Stevens
was then called, and his friends. Thus
failed his first great measured
His next was equally unsuccessful, and
much more disastrous. The United States
Bank had been shorn of its corrupting
power by General Jackson-Congress had
refused to renew it's charter, and the
''monster," as it was called, was consider
ed as dead Stevens, by reaching the
pockets of certain members of the Legisla-
ture, galvanized the defunct institution into
new existence as the United Staes Bank
Of Pennsylvania. Sudden fortunes were
made by those In the ''ring," and after
short, spasmodic existence, the Bank col
lapsed, beggaring thousands of widows and
orphans, whose all was deposited in its
vaults And while many legislators in
creased their pile hugely, Nick Biddle, its
President, was compelled to retreat to An