Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-10-02
/. l. L G T II l S CELL A n Y
THADDEUs STEVENS.

The loyal press has been so full and
un inimous i'll its rare testimony to the
rare worth of this great man that we
hardly need add our word. The proof
OF his worth is the poignant conscious
sess OF every loyal man that the nation
has lost one OF its strongest friends
and the bitter hate and sympathetic
depreciation he suffers at the hand
of every foe OF the true UNION, from
the London Times up to the most
sAortsighted and cowardly Republi-
can.
We have lost the only original Abo-
litionist, except Mr.. Sumner and pos
sibly Mr. Julian, that Congress con-
tains. Other Republicans have learn
ed their duty from the events Of the
last fifteen years. They have read the
Nations policy in the high; OF the war.
The rage and madness OF the south
have forced them into the acknowl-
edgcmant OF principles. But Mr.. Ste
vens was one OF that very small num-
Der among American politicians, who
look at affairs in the light of prnci-
pies: One who needed no Fugitive
Slave Bal, no Jeffries or fancy, no
! qua at Sumter to teach him the ne
groes rights or his own duty. More
tian thir,y years ago he was giving
his personal attendance, eloquent aa-
pe:,.s and earnest effort to the Anti
Slavery movement. The only point.
at that early day, on which he differed
with Abolitionlsts was their pledge to
use only moral means. The same
naughty and defiant spirit which flash
ed up III the old man OF 1hfeescore
years and ten, was buoyant then, and
he utterly refused any pledge to con-
fine his resistance. iorJy years ago, to
mere argument. 1t was the same un-
iilnchiny logic which longed to do tor
others exactly as much as he meant to
40 Tor himself.
1t was this old and long familiarity
with the whole question which pre-
vented the war from taking him un-
awares. or putting him to school tor
policy All these, to other men new.
problems had been to him subjects OF
patient Thought and earnest discussion
years before He met Rebeliion fully /
prepared for all its issues This ex-
pian> not only the promptness of his
decision, but The sys,emati- consisten
G.; of his whole course. His war
record is all OF a piece; no hesitation,
10 going forward aasl back. He saw
the whole epoch i'll its germ, and TIE
end from the beginning
He was
the generous sririt. who when brought
Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought
Upon The rlan that please his boy sh thought:
nose high cn.sayors are an Inward light
taatmak the nath before hisu always bright;
Sjl through the heat Of cont'c,, keeps the law
Ia ealmnes> made and sees hgt he toresdw.
H believed in doing what you saw
to he right, not in bringing your ac-
ton down to the level Of the thousand
blind men and the ten thousand selfish
ones who hang on your skirts, meaning
to steal repute from associating with
YOU: at the same time GRIPPING your
action enough to save their own fears
AMI their own interests. Such men
were The loal 'ha' his energy took up
and carried tn o lgh the war. And
now such men. projected hy ms sagac-
itv and courage, are foremost to criti-
else his tirelcss activity and strenuous
leadership.
Other eauses-AatimaSonry for IN
stmcc-had share in his life. But
the question which won him from the
courts into politics, and the one for
which he lived, was the abolition of
American slavery, Every drop of his
blocd was hot tor Liberty Every
thing that crippled or endangered Lib
ertv was his foe.
When we saw him at Lancaster, IN
December, 1857, he had decidel-for
his health $ k and to recruit his neg
lected es.ate--to retire from political
life and devote himself wholly t. las
prudent resolve, which
the bug'e notes OF rebellion scattered
to the winds,
During the whole war we remember
no single instan. i'll which his s.g c.
ty was was at iault. He saw Lincoln,
his merits ANU uCleCtS. tS ClSdii lis
American. He led the Nation and
Congress on al the war measures And
if we oatlive thispresent peril and ride
safely into another administration, 10y
al and Nor.hern,his policy of impsach
ment will be one great source of our
safety. The South longs to bully ana
overawe, and Mr.. johnson would glad
ly help it in its purpose to make in
tigue exc ont weakness.
But that grave at Lancaster reminds
all the rebel herd with a purpose
which one brave soul planted in the
Nations heart-and even yet the fin
ger of TuAppErs STEVENS affrights the
whites into submission. Long may
the old man rule our spirits from his
urn!
A clear, broad expression; a long,
rue, foresight; soul that knew not
the fe " of men; fearless to attack. and
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