Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-14

down a system which has stood successfully
against the fury OF the Caesars, and for Is GEN.
turles has taught so many how to live and how
70 die. And shll it stands amid all the storms
that have swept around 1t, and the waves that
governments may fail; constitutions, knowl,
edge, and men may fall; the Heavens and the
Earth may fall but the word OF our God shall
stand forever.
In strange contrast with the eternality of
God and His truth, we come to-day, bearing
the frail, dead body Of great man. He was
not mighty warrior, covered with martial
glory, returning from distant conquests, sur
rounded by the spoils Of war, and the tread Of
his triumphal procession. No; but an aged pa
triot, who has served his country long and
we'll. He has fought no battles on the bloody
field, but he has formed and moved the great
machinery by which battles have been fought.
He has not commanded armies, but he ha
nation, on which all its great political, as we'll
as military movements, depended. BY tn
wisdom and energy Of his counsels, and by the
preeminentiy 70 " produce a moral TeyoIUtoS
which, in its o1tgoings, is to change the aspect
Of the world. I verify believe that the hero
dinary as he was, is q far more common char.
acter in the history OF the world, ald in the
chapter Of Gods events, than he who sleeps in
that CONN. For he was delegated as the
worlds apostle OF human liberty, and well
did he fulfil his commission. He rested
dnot in his work till he had given such an
impulse to the great ocean Of mind, that he
before he was called home. This may not
be the proper occasion, and am not the quail
ifed person to pronounce q fitting eulogy upon
this great statesman. But il is most fitting for
me to say, our hearts are smitten with grief;
great sorrow has fallen upon the land; the
tion mourns; the country has lost vigilant
guardian; right. a staunch defender; the poor,
a faithful friend: liberty, brave champion;
and the highest councils Of the nation, an ac-
knowledged. boid, and masterful leader.
nations mighty heart throbs against the capitol,
mighty intellect has passed from among us; but
happily for the country and for mankind, not
until II has accomplished 70 some extent, the
upon the earth; not until IL had reached its full
maturity and power; not until il had shed q
bright and radiant lustre over our national
renown, and had bequeathed the rich treasures
OF the present, and the instruction of succeed.
ing generations.
How appropriate to the distinguished dead
before us to-day, the pathetic eulogy pro-
nounced over a fallen hero of ancient Israel,
"The beauty Of Israel is slain upon thy nigh
places. How are the mighty fallen. Tell il not in
Gath,-publish it not IN the streets OF Askelon,
lest the daughters Of the Philistines reJoics,-
lest the daughters Of the uncircumcised tri-
umph. fe mountains OF Gilboa, let there be
no dew-neither let there be rain upon you,-
nor fields OF offerings; for there, the shield of
the mighty Is cast away. How are tAe mighty
fallen in the midst of the battle, and the
weapons OF war perished.'' Next 10 the i'm
mortal Lincoln, who fell SO suddenly in the
midst of national greatness and national
fulness, will the people feel their great be-
reayement to-day. For twenty years has the
voice OF this great statesman been heard IN our
national councils and in the midst OF rapid
change, and excitement and revolution, aud
the clangor Of war. his voice. above the strife
of party and the tumults of people, ever sang
out like a trumpet for justice and humanity:
for freedom and for God; and seldom have his
keen foresight and deliberate judgment been
al fault. Often. in his comprehensive plans,
like other great pioneers, has he been ahead OF
his party and his times, bnt the de velopments
Of Divine Providence and the unfolding of
events have usually proved him TO be wise,
sagacious, and right. The crowning excellence
of his public life, however. was unselfshness'
disintere 'ted desire TO promote and indefati.
gable labor to secure the welfare Of all-the
high and the low. the rich and the poor. Has
any spot been left upon his character as a legis-
lator Great intellectual powers and great
acts often excite our admiration and command
respect, but when the light goes out arkness
much we would like TO forget. But is it so in
the case OF this illustrious statesman Has
malice or hypocrisy ever stained the purity OF
his character True, his purposes have some-
times been misinterpreted, when he has thrown
his whole heart and soul and thoughts and en-
ergies into the work of saving his country or
uplifting the degraded. True, with loyalty SO
devoted and uncompromising; with q love Of
country amounting to q passion, he has every.
where denounced treason and its aiders and
But in all that he has done there have ever
been that transparent truthfulness and stern
integrity and lofty patriotism that attract and
secure the confidence Of friends, and compel
the respect and even admiration OF adver-
saries. Love Of man and love Of country
illustrated every act OF his public career
No trace OF selfish aspiration, Of unmanly de.
traction, OF sordid jealousy has tarnished his
public character. The life Of this man is proof
that success in public service, is not incon-
sistent with strict integrity, and that advance
ment does not always want ON dissimulation
and corruption.
We are often told that adherence TO the strict
moral And religious principle, is Incompatible
with a successful and eminent public career;
but such an assertion is q libel on the venerated
fathers Of the Republic, q libel on the honored
living and illustrious dead, a libel against a
great and Christian nation, and against God
himself, who has declared that Godliness 10
profitable tor the life that now Is.
What great simplicity Of manner, in this age
Of ostentatious display and effeminate luxury,
scurity among the hills OF the Green Mountain
State. He was indebted 10 no fictitious aids or
accidental circumstances Of birth, Or fortune,
or family patronage. He owed nothing to tho
partialty of friends or the iss ue OF campaigns,
but rose 20 influence and station and honor, by
his own superior intellectual powers and in.
tegrity and industry. And yet, not like some
otheis raised from obscurity TO greatness, did
he become vain and proud; but amid all his
honors, 10 the last, did he MAINTAIN q rigid de-.
votion to American simplicity and unostenta.
tUOn. his presence In tQo ndtlS Oh l6SlSlhtlOn
was always felt. He was q Nestor among his
i0fheial peers. Few mems opinions were sought
with more respect or received with more rev.
lerence than his. He never resorted TO the tricks
OF mere oratory to carry his point, but he never
tailed in strong logic, convincing illustration,
and intense reason, to satisfy his hearers OF the
Justice OF hls convictions, or the wisdom OF his
principles. Speech In him rather served to
ls sustain than command the judgment. He had
ther avenues to the great throbbing heart Of
the people than those OF mere imagination and
persuasion! He silenced ad versaries and sus.
be less brilliant appeals. Firmness OF purpose,
fullness OF experience and knowledge, Integrity
of principle, constancy to duty, purity Of char
,acter, serenity of mind, correct judgment, un-
Ifiinching courage, and indefahgable and honest
labor, were chiefly the weapons by which he
won his conquests and struck his blows. In
him, as the patriot and the statesman, spoke an
earnest and intelligent mind, which carried
with II tuncOmpromising rectitude and yirtuous
authority, which won success.
For the few past years Mr.. Stevens has evil
IDENTIFY exerted upon the nation more power
full influence than any one man has donein the
Government before. In him were unfted in.
tellect, sagacity, courage, indomitable will, and
sleepless activities, which Gem bIned to ut him
for leadership, which has well been said was
indisputably accorded TO HIM. 1t was not his
nature 10 lag behind, until measures were ma.
iured, and then come forward to swell q ma
Jority; but on the contrary, like bold and true
statesman, he was one among the 0rst TO meet
the peril and hazard his fame upon the remedy.
His entire absence Of equivocatton or disguise,
in arts. his m va N, the ponular