The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-17


machinery he guided without exhausting labor.
The consumer and the producer we're neigh bofs,
the most perfect means of transportation iucili-
I tated exchanges of commodities, and the taxes
imposed by middlemen and the many agents
required by trade with distant nations were
saved to the producer
Whether in the Legislature OF Pennsylvania OF
the Congress of the United state, no project for
the development OF latent resources or improved
transportation that came within his conception
Ot constitutional limits ever failed for the want
OF his support. In view of our almost limitless
range OF climate and soil, aud boundless and
diversified agricultural and mineral resources,
he regarded our country as sufficient not only
for lis present population, but for hundreds OF
millions OF people in the enjoyment OF every
material comfort and the rehnemCnts OF u better
than Augustdu age.
Regarding our country as the refuge of all
who could flee from the inequalities of other
lands, and the intelligence of the people as
essential To its perpetuity, he held it TO be the
primary duty of the State to insure the prob
cheney of every child in 'orthography, reading,
writing, grammar, and arithmetic, which, by
the experience of the world, are PRONOUNCED
to be the rudmental branches OF all know
ledge" He would not consent to withhold
the privileges OF an elector from man be-
cause he was 1literate, and thus punish him
because the State had not done its duty by
him in childhood; but he proposed that the
Government should provide school. houses
teachers, and other appliances for the eduCa-
tion of all children, and then further enact
that no father or guardian shall be permitted
to vote at any election for any pubic officer
who shall not have caused at least One-hat of
the number of his children or wards between
the ages OF five and fifteen years, or, If he have
but one, that one to attend school during at
least eight months within each of the years
they are entitled TO attend SCHOOL,
To those who believe that the thing that has
been is the thing that shall be forever, and that
that youthful giant the American Republic,
shall never escape from the leading strings in
which he has consented to be held by those
bed-ridden hags, the monarChles OF Europe,
these theories, doubtless, sound like the raw.
ings of one bereft of reason. But those who
know the attractive influence of pO yer, and
that the theatre of our action is a virgin couti-
nent, with lakes. rivers, and coast lines capable
of accommodating in our internal or domestic
commerce a commercial marine 81 eater than that
which now carries the commerce of the world,
will regard them as the sure prophecy OF the
future that Is before ue.
Mr.. Stevens believed in the po siblity of the
commercial independence OF the United States.
He also knew that when that should be
achieved the people coul1 bring their domestic
relations into harmony with the fundamental
Ideas of their republican Government Wise
men VIII not think Of him as isOnary because
he anticipated coming events aud proposed
bene6Cent chances before the public mind was
ripe for their reception. great truth bravely
uttered Is never inopportuue. Nor do time aud
age blunt the aOiness CT such utterancCs; and
the advanced propo ltons and fervd words
with which Thaudeus Stevens so often stirred
our blood and swayed our Judgment will shape
the future of the country.
When the age is ripper, other lips will echo
them with with persuasive and conclusive force
Then the American peoole, instead of asking
| the little paIiOualities of Europe what they may
do will dictate the internal policy those nations
must adopt on pam OF seeing their most valuable
citizens, allured by our happier condition, come
! 10 swell he power and grandeur OF the Great
Republic. Then will bis dream be fulfilled, and
! then will the world behold the fitting monument
of ?ennsylyauia's greatest statesman, Thaddeus
Stevens.