The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-12

county bar at the same time being obliged, by
his straitened pecuniary circumstances, to en-
gage in teaching the borough academy. BY
day and by night he thus labored in his double
sphere, displaying that rare energy and mastery
devotion to whatever he had in hand, which
was one of the most striking characteristics of
his siter-life. Notwithstanding the division OF
his time and studies, he was fully prepared for
practice in two years. At the outset of his pro-
iessioBal career, however, he found an obstacle
in his path. The embers Of the York county
bar, with the design of preventing his admis-
sion, had formally resolved that no one should
be recognized as O lawyer who had been pur-
suing any other calling while engaged in pre-.
pairing for the bar. Nr. Stevens paid little
heed to this jealous actlsn, but passed over the
border into Maryla in 1916, entered his name
for examination, was found fully qualified and
admitted TO the bar in that State; and with the
credentials thus obtained at once presented his
claims to admission in York county. They
could not reasonably be Offset and he was duly
admitted to practice III the State of his adoption
at the age Of twenty four. DeVoting himself at
first almost exclusively to the duties of his pro-
fession, in which he achieved a fair reputation
and considerable success several years elapsed
before he entered upon that llustrious political
career which eliminated in his attaining the
most prominent position in the councils OF the
ration.
His Legislative Career.
In 1888 he was elected to the State Legislature
from Adams county, and was subsequently
returned in 1884, 1885, 1887 and ls4l. His
career in the councils of his adopted State pre-
sents very marked resemblance to that in
the National Congress. At Harrisburg Thad
,1a,,o C.n, l,Il al
domineering-postion which he achieved IN
Congress, The politics in Pennsylvania dur
ing the decade from 1880 to 1910 were in a
frighttul tangle, which it is extremely difficult
TO understand, and still more difficult to un-
ravel to such an extent that those of the present
day who were not then living can grasp any
thing more than their leading points. In their
dizzy whirl, Thaddeus Stevens was perfectly at
home, possessing as he did, and as he has still
more fully exhibited in Congress, the great ele-
ments of success in times of intense excitement.
He was elected to the Legislature as whig;
but although he was ever most uncompromis.
ing antagonist of the Democratic party, he en-
countered for time strong opposition in the
ranks of his own party, arising from his decided
enmity to FreeDasonrv, and everything and
everybody which pertained to it.
HIS Warfare AYainst Masonry.
At the beginning of this period the political
complexion OF Pennsylvania was more decidedly
Democratic than that of any other State in the
Union. The overwhelming majority by which
General Jackson carried the State in 1928 ap-
peared to have given the Democrats perma-
nent ascendancy in the affairs of the Common
wealth. But about the year 1882 the Democratic
supremacy sustained severe shock in conse-
quence of the anti-Mason excitement. This new
issue, as was The case in New York, soon lost
its merely Oocial bearing, and assumed all the
proportions and Importance Of great political
question. Tho most intense and bitter feeling
was eEgendeIed, and many districts of the State
werc completely revolutionized by it In their
political aspect. ....
The connection of Thaddeus Stevens with this
agitation was the most important point in his
early political history. He hated Free Masonry
with an intensity which fairly riyalled that of
John Quincy Adams, while he opposed it with
an earnesness which left the "Old Man Elo-
quent" entirely in the background. The breach
in the Democratic ranks became wider and
wider, from 1885 to 1888, and at last eliminated
in their presenting two candidates for Governor,
when Ritner the nti-Mason Whig candidate,
clipped into Office between them. Thaddeus
Stevens became the leading spirit of Governor
Ritner's administration, and was the head and
| front of grand crusade against Masonry, in
| the shape OF legislative inquistion into its
| affairs. The prosecution was conducted with
| unexampled vigor, bat the defense was equally
| stubborn, and, In the end, successful. Prinei-
| pally through Mr.. Stevens counsels, the most
| prominent Masons OF the State were subpenaed
and summoned to Harrisburg, among them
| being the late George II. Dallas and the Hon.
Joseph r. Chandler, of this city. Men Of this
standing were put upon the witness stand and
commanded TO divulge all the secrets of their
organization. This they boldly and emphati-
cally refused to do, and their dignlfed demeanor
and outspoken remonstrances gained for them
the victory. For once in his career Thaddeus
Stevens was baked in his purpose.
In 1886 he was elected a member of the Con-
yention which framed the State Constitution of
1887, and in 1888 he was appointed Canal Com
missioner.
HIS Career In the CoAatiGUtioAaI COA-
veAtIOn
was very prominent one. The Convention
assembled on the I'd of May, 1887, and from the
first Mr.. Stevens acquired marked distinction
for the broad and liberal views which he ad-
vanced on all questions concerning the best
interests of the State, assuming the leadership
| of such of it's members as were in agreement
with him.
| HIS Advocacy OF Equal Rights.
Even at that early day, when to express the
slightest sympathy with the colored race was
almost equivalent to political osIraclsm, the
oppressed African found in him determined