The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-17
THURSDAY, DECEMBER II, 1858.
"The Great COmmOner."

a soLEMN and impressive scene is being
enacted at the national capital to-day. The
Hon. o. J. Dickey the successor in the House
Of the late Thaddeus Stevens, at the opening
Of that body made formal announcement OF
the death of his illustrious predecessor, and
proceeded to deliver eulogy upon his life and
public services. He was followed by the Hon.
William D. Kelley and several other members
of the House, it being expected that the whole
of the session would be occupied in this
melancholy way.
Aside from the universal custom which has
prevailed in similar cases since the establish
mept of the Government, there is a special
significance attached to this payment Of fitting
tributes to the dead. The life of Thaddeus
Stevens was so intimately associated with the
history of the country during the progress Of
the war and the efforts to restore it to its
normal condition after the suppression of the
Rebellion, that it is impossible to
ignore the event Of his death. SO
completely was he identified with the progress
of all legislation which bore upon the relations
of the Southern States to the Union, that his
tory of his career during this momentous
period is almost necessarily history of the
United States. In giving shape and substance
to the Congressional policy of Reconstruction,
he assumed the responsible task Of leading
the dominant party in the lower house
of Congress. When he found it impos-
sible to dictate the policy of Con-
press, with that wise foresight which
is the chief quality of true craftsmanship, he
suffered himself to be led by his party
standing out bravely for every detail OF his
own peculiar theories, and infusing into the
final action of Congress as much OF his own
spirit as it would bear without breaking down
unde, the weight. That he was vindictivs
and resentful in a measure cannot be denied
by his most devoted admirers, but to the fact
that he permitted nothing of a personal
character to enter into his motives
is to be credited the large share of confidence
and respect which he extorted from the most
partisan of his opponents. Actuated by
high sense of duty to his country, moved by
the largest sympathy for an oppressed aud
suffering race, nerved to the most heroic en-
deavor in their behalf by an unshaken conf
dence in the right, inspired with firm belief
In the capacity of man for self-govern-
ment, and always displaying an unconquera-
BILE faith in the ultimate triumph OF the prin-
Ciples of justice and equality before the law,
he was prominently fitted for the position o.
q leader in the most perilous and exciting
times. Added to these grand qualities of
heart was deep and thorough culture, q
readiness of wit and repartee, an eloquence Of
tongue, and an untllnching zeal, which CON-
bined to complete the perfect outline of
craftsmanship, and to give to their
possesaor a capacity for usefulness which has
seldom been equalled and still more rarely
excelled. That the death of such a man
should create profound sensation is not
matter of surprise. That his successor aud
his former colleagues should pay their last
tribute to his memory in terms of almost un-
measured eulogy is both pardonable and
lust.