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


challenged battle with such weapons
He was always willing to give advice and as
BistanCe to the young and inexperienced men,
bers of the profession and his large library was
ever open to their use. He had many young
men read law with him, though he did not care
to have students. There were, however, two
recommendations which never failed to procure
an entrance into his off ce--ambition to learn
and inability TO pay tor the privilege.
MIR. Stevens first engaged actively in politics
with the anti. Masonic party in lS25-29, which
he joined IN their oDuOsitlOn 10 secret societies.
He was elected 10 he popular branch OF the
Legislature of his STATE IN 1853 as a represen-
Latiye from the county of Adams, and continued
TO serve IN that body almost without lnterrup-
tiOp until lS4O, during which entire period he
was the lender of his party in the Legislature,
II not the State During thus service he cham-
poned many measures OF Improvement; among
Others, the common school system OF Penlsyl-
Yauia which at a critical moment he saved from
overthrow by a sp, ech which he always asserted
to have, in his opinion, been the most elective
he ever MADE,
BY Il at single effort he established the prin
Ciplr, never since seriously questioned IN Penn
sylvauia, that it Is the duty OF the state to
provide the facilities for education TO all the
children Of the Common wealth. In behalf OF
this measure he joined hand with his btterest
personal and political enemies. lie highly
eulogizcd for his course upon this question the
CHIEF Of the opposing political Parry, Governor
George Wolf, and denounced with all his power
OF inVectiye the timC.sCryers OF his own party.
Himself the child OF poverty, he plead the
intellect and elOquence broke down the barriers
erected by wealth, caste, and ignorance, and
earned a name that will endure as long a
child OF Penn sylvania gratefully remembers the
blessings conferred by light and knowledge.
In lS37-3S Mr.. Stevens was member of the
Convention called TO revise the Constitution OF
Pennsylvania, an assemblage which numbered
as members many of the strongest men OF the
State among whom Mr. Stevens stood in the
front auk. This Convention, Notwithstanding
the able and strenuous opposition OF strong
nj, 1ol Inv Mr. ins snr ia Mnr
"Whtep AS q qualification of suffrage, thus DIS
franchising lace. On this account he refused
TO append his name o the completed lnstru-
ment, ana stood alone in such refusal For the
same cause he opposed, but uusuccessluly, the
ratification by the people.
In 1912 Mr.. Stevens, finding himself deeply in
debt by reason OF losses IN the iron business,
and liabilities incurred in numerous iudorse-
ments made for friends, removed to Lancaster
county, one of the largest, richest, and most
populOus counties OF the State, and resumed the
practice of his profession. His reputation as
lawyer had preceded him, and his income almost
at once became the largest at the bar. In few
years be paid his debts and saved the bulk Of
his estate. In 1913 and 1890 he was elected to
Congress from Lancas er county, When, decltn-
ing 10 be a candidate he returned TO his profess
sion until 1863 when he was again elected and
continued to hold the seat without interruption
till his death. His course upon this floor has
passed into and forms no uuimportant part in
the history of mighty people In a great crisis
of their existence. But have promised to loave
TO others 10 say WnaL uaS Oe proper III llluSLId-
tion OF his great achievements in his latter
days.
10 those here who judged of the personal ap-
pearanCe OF the deceased only as they looked
on him bearing the burden OF years and stricken
with disease, though he still stood with eye un-
dImmed aud Will undaunted, may say that IN
his prime he was man physically well pro-
portioned muscular and strong of clear aud
ruddy complexion, with face and feature of
great mobility and uuder perfect command aud
ContIol. lu his youth and early manhood, not
withstanding his lameness he entered with zest
into almost all of the athletic games and sports
of the times, He was an expert swimmer aud
an excellent hoIseman. When residing at Get
tysbutg he followed the chase, aud kept his hun
ters ana hounds.
On recent visit 10 his iron works found the
old mountain men garrulous with stories OF the
risks and dangers Of the bold rider, as with
horse and hound he followed The deer along the
slopes and through the gaps Of the South
Mountain
In private life, among his friends, M Stevens
was ever genial, kind, and ccnslderale. To
them he was linked with hooks of steel. For
them he would labor aud sacrifice without
stint complaint, or regret. In his hours of
relaxation there could be no more genial
companion. HIS rare conversational powers
fund OF anecdote, brilliant saes OF wit, and
wise sayings upon the topics of the hour, made
his company much sought, and many of these
are the current coin OF the circles in which he
moved.
Mr.. Stevens was an honest and q truthful man
in public and private lite. His word was sacred
in letter and spirit, and was never palered in a
double sense. In money matters he was liberal
to fault, and out of his immense profess
slOnal income he left but meagre escate. In
his private charity he was Lavish. He was in
capable OF saying no ia the presence of want
or misery. His charity, like his political con-
ViCtious, regarded neither creed, race nor color.
He was n good classical scholar, and was well
read in ancient and modern literature, especially
on subjects OF philosophy and laR. In his old
age he read but few books. Shakes peare
Dante, Homer, Milton, and the Bible would,
however, generally be found upon his table in
his tleepmg room, whore he was accus toned to
read IN bed. He was simple and temperate in
his habits. He disllked the use Of tobacco, and
Tor lOrly Years never used or admitted ia his
house intoxicating drinks, aud only then by
direction Of his physician.
MI. Stevens was deeply loved and fully trusted
by his constituents. He vas often in advance
of ther view: sometimes he ian counter to
their plejUdIces or passions: yet such was his
popularity with them, so strOrg thtlf faith in
his wisdom, i'll the integrity Of his actions an /
the punty Of his purpose, that hey never talled
TO sustain Linn.
Popular with men OF all parties, with his o Wn
supporters bis name was Il no sch I'D word. To
them aud among themselves "Ull Thadn was a
name of cudearment, Whlle even his foes spoke
No man ever dled more deetly mOurned by a
Consu uCucy Than Tina ldeus Stevens.
Hay-ug briefly sclec ed One of the incidents
THAI ma Eed the history of my triends will in
conclusion say few 30 d5 OF him on u subject
in connection with when he Is probably more
widely X oTn lhan any O'her-sayery. Mr..
Stevens was always an anti'slayery man, +. ON
the ume he le't bis naive mountains to the
moment Of his CCth he was not ouly anti.
slaYery 10 the common aCCeptaton OF the term,
but bOiI, fearless, determined, and uDcomprO-
missing foe OF oppression in any and every form.
Iip ~ 4g a l hpfnra H., u gnp a