The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-13
Tbe Late Leader of the House of Repre-
senatives.

DOlitiCian. H0Hucal HlehuS aio iVi PN''v -
poses constrained to detect imaginary merits,
and political foes are for like reason led to
deny virtues which are really possessed
After death, however, this division OF senu-
ment is in a great measure done away VIII,
and people can give credit or oensure as tney
deem lust. Viewed, then, from the stand
point Of opinion which we can occupy the
day after the death of Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens,
we can emphatically say that great man has
left us-o4e of the pillars of the State, pillar
which has lifted its head above all its fellows,
and done more to support the fabric OF policy
pursued by the United States for the
past six years than any other man,
living or dead. Friend and foe alike
o-day unite in an opinion as to Mr.. Stevens
which is singularly unanimous. There is be-
tween the estimate of the Democracy and tha.
of the Republicans little difference. They all
join in granting to him transcendent abilities
abilities of character which command re-
spect and success. From no quarter do we hear
it said that Mr.. Stevens was not singularly
able statesman. They may differ as to the pro-
priety of his views, as to whether or not the
ton, but all confess that he displayed consum
mate tact in gaining for them a general
adoption. None can complain of the estimate
made by the Age in sketch of his life, when
it says:-"He stood among the most prominent
men of our time. 1t will not be easy to name
another man who has exercised as wide an in
fuence, who has embodied go many of his own
,liar in tha ,,I
the government. The extraordinary quality
In Thaddeus Stevens was his force of charac-
ter, joined to certain simpleness of purpose,
and real sincerity in the pursuit of it,
From all sides come like tributes, and
passing from these We cannot hesitate to see
in these tributes testimonials of the real worth
OF the man, his great powers, his uudoubted
purity and sincerity, aud unyielding will.
There are few men who within the allotted
space of life can see what has been vouchsafed
to Thaddeus Stevens. He was past his
prime before he entered politics. Com
mencing at time when most men have
either arisen high, or lost all ambi
tion to seek for renown, he started his
career with two purposes in view. The first
was to secure to every child in Pennsylvania
the advantages of free school education.
The second was to carry out the doctrines of
equality, give freedom to all men, and if pos
sible, secure to them both social and political
equality. He had two seemingly insurmount-
able obstacles to overcome. Around the two
demons of ignorance and slavery
were clustered defenses seemingly impregna-
BILE. There was but handful of the faithful,
seeking to cause the walls of two Jerichos to
fall down. Yet the walls have fallen, and Thad-
deus Stevens lived to see them fall, and to
know that of all men he had done the most to
accomplish the result. BY his almost unaided
exertions, his invective, ridicule, and argu-
ment, he forced the Common School bill
through Legislature opposed in its heart to
its passage, and dared his constituents to
defeat him because of his course. story is
told of how he visited town in an interior
county to speak in favor OF the bill, and
was met by an audience unanimously opposed
to it, who greeted him with boots and howls.
AT once commencing his address, he told him
that they were Ignorant FOOLS" and that he
would leave it to themselves II their action
he secured a hearing, and, it is even said,
gained the election of member in favor of
the bill. Certain it is that the children of
Pennsylvania have to thank Thaddeus
Stevens more than any other man for
an excellent system of education.
Overcoming the giant of ignorance, he turned
his arms against slavery, and astonished its
friends by the audacity OF his tactics. Ever
watchful, ready debater, he soon found op-
portunites to aid his object through legisla-
tion, and strict watch was kept on all his
movements by the Southern delegation.
Whatever Thaddeus Stevens moved was
carefully watched. With the ascendancy OF
the Republican party in Congress he became
the master spirit. Ever ready with repartee
and a caustic allusion, and thoroughly un-
scrupulous when he sought to attain an OBJ
ject as to whose feelings he trod upon, he was
feared with an exceeding great fear. He be-
came the leader of the House of Representa-
tives. There can be no position more difficult.
The teacher of a back woods school,
with unruly children under his con-
troll, leads a life of comparative quiet
when compared with that of master
mind who seeks to shape the popular policy OF
our national legislature. He has to maintain
his post of constant warfare. He has opposi-
tion both within the ranks of his friends and
from all the opposite members. 1t requires
tact of rare quality, ability of the highest
order, readiness never failing, and withal