New-York tribune., 1868-08-12

against Slavery, was the rock against which zee
Shareholders Rebellion dashed itself to pieces TIs
Battle of Gettysburg sheds uster round the nsn
| of Ihaddeus Stevens that is not outshOne bv az
glory which perched on the banners of the Re5ubT.
on that field of death.
Mr. Stevens entered public life in 1893 Ia th.
wear he was elected 10 the Pennsylvania Assemble
and he was reelected the two following years n.
was member OF the Constitutional Convention "a
1891 and he again elected 10 the Legislature IN
same year. and the last time i'll 184l. He was AN
pointed Canal Commissioner in 1888, but held III
position for only short time:
In the Legislature he was most distinguished IA,
the part he took in promoting the educational inter
ests of the people. So active was his zeal in behalf
of education, that he Is often accorded the great
honor of being the father of the common school sys
TEN of Pennsylvania The value OF his services NAV
be best appreciated when it IS remembered that al
the tme ii asserted as TACT that one fourth the
adult population of the State could not write then
names. This was doubtless, an eXageratiOn, but
whether true false the syst OF education estab
lished in 1884 met with violent opposition, and stren-
uOus efforts were made the next year, and, indeed
for number of years efterward, 10 abolish It, But
Thaddeus Stevens stood in the breach against its as
saiants as he had before led the of the attack
and succeeded in defeating III the House bill fOi
the repeal of the law, which had been passed by the
Senate.
At this time party spirit ran high in Pennsylvania
Anti Masonry had just blazed up like a calcium light
and the features of men looked distorted IN the glare
their hearts were aglOw with strange fire. Ever
ready TO take alarm at what seemed dangerous Ia
freedom. Mr.. Stevens was outspoken ~ his denun.
citation of secret societies. George Wolf, a Mason,
was then Governor OF the state and
1885, Joseph Ritner, the anti-MasOnic can
didate was elected. Wolves and mules
were the fayorie ephets of parties, and the rancOr
of faction manifested itself even by insults 10 mem
bers in their places in the Assembly. Mr.. Stevens
was challenged to mortal combat by Mr. McElwee
member Of the House, and he retOrted IN bitter
speech, full of the caustic wit for which he after
ward became noted. When the Legislature ad,
Ourned the storm had not yet reached It's hight and
it was not until the close OF Gov Ritners adminstrs
not 4 n a.
tlOns.
The terms of Mr. Stevenss legislative experience in
the Pennsylvania Assembly were the most stirring
times IN our political history. In National politics
the Jackson and Van Buren, teuds and afterward tine
bold measures of Gen. JacksOns Administration
aroused the country to high pitch of excitement
AT the same time the anil-maSOnlc movement gave
birth to passions che most fierce and maleyOlent.
But to crown the whole gigantic projects Of pubic
Improvement IN every part OF the country were ag-
tatng the popular mlnu WIN schemes the most udL-
zlng interests the most opposite and hate the most
profound and lnappeasable. MOnOpOlles like the
Camden and AmbOy, Erie, Newly Central, and
Pennsylvania Central railroads, which were soon 70
rule the country with more than Imperial sway
sprlnging into existence, and canals, then and
long atterward the highways OF intrigue and cor
rupon, as well as of travel and traffic, were seeking
for state and national ald TO secure the advantages
OF their charters The influence OF parties and the
Acknowledgement of individuals and sections
ever kept IN view amid the intrigues of speculatOn
and politicians aud the giant strides of enerpri~
were sgnalized by contest over tue spoils at eVeU
cited the energies of the people, and not even IN the
days antecedent To the Rebellion did men 81
appeal to passion and prejudice. PhlladeIphlA
then the first city on the continent proud OF
her prominence and jealous OF her more backward
but elastic rival kept her agents at Harris
bnTgh to Oycrawe from the galleries the represent
atiyes of the people IN Their places on the iloot
of the Senate and Assembly. Where It would all
end good men afraid 10 ask even OF themselves
But end it did. Philadelphia yielded her preemi
nence ana became - city OF homes The state at
large was benefited immensely. and is to-day reap
ing the fruits OF the turmoil and agitation OF the
times, when A" Joe Ritner was Governor and mad.
Stevens his oracle and the keeper OF his conscience"
a network of canals and railroads Is developing her
resources, destined IN the end 10 make Pennsylvania
the great State OF the UniOn and thanks 10 the Free
schools which Thaddeus Stevens established for her
children, the intelligence of her people is likely to
keep pace with her material prosperity.
When Thaddeus Stevens entered the Pennsylvania
Assembly he had been twenty years citizen OF the
Commonwealth. lie was still young, but he entered
upon the championship of the Right with ard0f
that deserted him. In spite of the defects Of
nature, his presence remarkably impressive.
But any description of his personal appearances that
might give would be inadequate To describe the
man. lie was such an one as Shakespeare had IN hl.
mind when he put that noble pOrtraiuTe of the
deTed king in the mouth of Hamlet. His was indeed
an eye TO threaten aud command but the cold chsel
lngs OF intellectual excellence relieved by
the nobler lines that gave the world assurance OF
more than intellectual worth. OF the medium hight
he walked with difficulty, and did not appear Of bis
actual proportions, but when he stood up his place
IN the House, ms stature seemed To approach some
this erectness almost TO the last and in the end his
intrmitles had To break him-he would not bend.
His forehead was of the broad, expansive kind that
is usually believed in this country betOken intel
lectual force, and his oyerhanging brows gave pc
cuiiar dignity TO his fIce When in repose, nothing
could be nObler than the well-cut regularity OF hs
features; when relaxed Ill smiles. the bees OF
AnacreOn might have drawn nectar from his lips.
But when assuming the mOck-her0ic Of which he
SO fond, 1t difficult TO tell whether gravity
or humOr was predominant in his cOuntenance. In
these last moods he was always amusing often lu-
dlcrous. and sometimes severe MIR. Andrew John,
son doubtless carries with him mental portrait OF
Old Ihad Stevens" from this standpoint, photo
graphed upon the Presidential mind by the light OF
these words: While can have no hostility TO the
President, may and do have very grave objections
TO the he is pursuing. should have forgotten
the Obloquy which had calmly borne for 80 years IN
the war tor liberty. if could turn craven now
In the Constitutional Convention of 1884, Mr. Ste
vens was leading spirit. That Convention was
called TO revise the State Constitution, framed as
early IN our national history lTi6. Ii was COM
posed of many Ot the ablest lawyers and most eml-
nent orators IN the State. Among those still living
may be named Judge Agnew, now Of the supreme
Bench OF Pennsylvania, George W. woodward, late
Chlet-Justice of that State, Judge Long of Lancas
ter, and William NJ. Meredith of Philadelphia-of
those unhappily dead Charles Jngersol OF Philadel
pha, George Chambers OF Franklin, Pierce Butler,
the husband OF Fanny kembe, and James Dunlop
of the most brilliant lawyers who ever practlced
in the Courts of the Commonwealth. 1haddeus
Stevens won distinction among the distinguished
men of that body, some of whom achieved national
reputation, but none IN such measure he. but
when lue WOIk Ol lhe Convention WAS nnlsutu, anu
they came TO sign the Constitution which they
had framed before Offering IL To the people for
adoption he and one other declined 10 place their
names to an instrument containing the word white
applied 20 citizens. lie had labOred hard IN the
Convention 10 have the Objectionable word omitted,
but not succeeding he withheld his name from the
instrument solemn protest against the injustice
which DISTINGUISHED 80 many OF those whom he was
even then anxious to acknowledge as his fellow
citizens. In 1884 he was the champion of general
education; 1888 he stood almost alone rs the advocate
of impartial suffrage. The closing years of his life
served TO enhance his reputation but his early efforts