The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-08-20

at Dartmouth College in 1914, and the
same year removed to Pennsylvania,
where he became teacher In an acad
emy. While employed in teaching he
gave his leisure 70 the law, and was ad
mitted to the Gettysburg Bar in 1876
He pursued the practice of his profession
in Adams county until 1912, when he
removed to Lancaster, where he after
wards resided.
Mr.. Stevens entered public life in 1898.
In that year he was elected to the Penn
sylvania Assembly, and he was reelected
the two following years. He was a mem
ber of the Constitutional Convention of
1887, and he was again elected to the
Legislature the same year, and the last
in 1911. He was appointed a Canal
Commissioner in 1888, but held the posi-
tion for only short time.
In the Legislature he was most distin-
guished for the part he took in promo
ting the educational interests of the peo-
pie. So active was his zeal in behalf Of
education, that he is often accorded the
great honor of being the father of the
common school system of Pennsylvania.
The connection of Mr. Stevens with
the Masonic agitation was the most i'm
portant point in his early political his
tory He hated Free Masonry with an
intensity which fairly rivalled that of
John Quincy Admas, while he opposed
it with an earnestness which left the "Old
Man Eloquent" entirely in the back
ground. The breach in the Democratic
ranks because wider and wider, from 1885
to 1888, and at last eliminated in their
presenting two candidates for Governor,
when Ritner, the anti-Mason;c Whig can
didate, slipped into Office between them.
Thaddeus Stevens became the leading
spirit of Governor Ritner's administra-
ton, and was the head and front Of
grand crusade against Masonry, in the
shape of legislative inquisition into its
affairs. The prosecution was conducted
with unexampled vigor, but the defense
was equally stubborn, aud in the end,
successful. Principally through Mr.. Ste
ven's consels, the most prominent Ma
sons of the State were subpenied and
summoned to Harrisburg, among them
being the late George NJ, Dallas and the
Hon Joseph r. Chandler, of Philadel-
phia. Men Of this standing were put up
on the witness stand aud commanded to
divulge all the secrets of their organiza-
ton This they boldly and emphatically
refused to do, and their dignifed demean
or and outspoken remonstrauccs gained
for them the victory. For once in his
career Thaddues Stevens was balke1 in
his purpose.
During the administration of Joseph
Ritner as Governor of Pennsylvania Mr..
Stevens was the principal adviser Of the
Executive, and was prominent in the ex-
element at Harrisburg known as the
"Buckshot war;" which originated in al
! legged election frauds in Philadelphia
county aud other places at the general
election of 1888 These disgraceful pro-
cedngs for long time prevented the or
ganization of the Legislature, and occa
stoned fears the most wide spread and al
arming. The episode was one of the most
remarkable in the history of the country.
Mr.. Stevens was elected from the Le-
gislature with all the ignominy that par
| ty raucor could bestow. Sent back to
his constituents, Mr.. Stevens published a
stirring address to the people of Adams
county, and he was triumphantly re elect
ed. An escort to the State Capitol was
offered him by his admiring electors, but
ne declined this mark of popular eastern
as CiEcinatus or the elder Cato would
have declined similar honor. His let.
ter refusing the demonstration is remark
able, taking his subsequent career into
AZ -. hot Ol
the future that was before him he said
"Victories even over rebels in civil wars
should be treated with solemn thanksgiv
ing rather than with songs cf mirth."
From 1912, &hen he removed to Ian
caster, to 1913, when he was first elected
to Congress. and during the ten years in
teryening between the first and soconC
periods of his successive service, Mr. Ste
vens practiced his profession with grea
success, and never entirely abandoned i
| even amid the important duties OF his &C
e tive career in tho House.
In Congress, Mr.. Stevens wrought on
G for himself lasting reputation. Neithe
8 tho Thirty FIRST nor the Thirty sacond Con
9 gress was concerned with measures to cal
. out his great ability. or to give neN
q member of the House particular promin
v ence before country but IN the interva
!, that ELAPSED between the Thirty-secoa
: and the Thirty sixth Congress grave que'
h tions had been sprung upon the people
:, and on his return to Congress in lS3!
y Mr. Stevens at once took a promineu
j position. During three sessions he va
chairman of the important Committee {
Ways and Means, and he held the pos
o ton of chairman of the Committey o
a, Reconstruction of the Thirty ninth an
: Fortieth Congress- He also served Q
,c other committees, his last important pos
sr ton being chairman of the Board of Ma
" ayers, on the part Of the House in IL
$. impeachment of Andrew johnson befo
the Senate. Mr.. Stevens was also mer
L. of tho naliio,ora Convention in st