The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-04

the threatened ulSmenOerueuG Vi Inc UNION,
and the whole world confessed the pre-emi-
nence of his fame. He had answered
Hulsemann in behalf of the rights of
man, and thrones trembled but he was
not President. His dreams ended, and in a
few fretful days he slept with his fathers.
Calhoun was distinctively a representative
man. He was sincere, profound, subtle, and
was worshipped by his adherents. He had
reached the chair next the throne, and he had
but one step more to realize his single am
bition; but he faltered as the chasm widened;
he dreamed of ruling over fragments of q
discovered country, and in grand and gloomy
perseverance, he labored until the shadows
gathered into night. Winfield Scott was the
chieftain of his age. The hero of two wars,
he had reached the topmost round of military
glory. The impetuous victor of Chippewa and
Lundy's Lane perhaps dreamed only of twin
stars, but the COMMANDMENT Chief and the
conqueror of Mexico accepted a higher ideal
destiny. TIL stars paled when they we're
won, before one bright dream that to him
was colossal in it's freight of mingled Joy and
sorrow. AT last, after many days of sicken-
ing hope deferred, a subordinate swept over
him like the simeon of the desert. If you
would know how much a child a man may be,
summon your generous forbearance and read
SCOTS autobiography, where he tells why he
was not President. One great hope, one
great infrmity, and one great grief, sun up
the sequel of his great distinction.
'My life has been a failure" were the sad
words 1 heard uttered by Thaddeus Stevens,
when he was setting his house in order for
the memorable messenger. He was the Great
Commoner of the nations sorest trial, and
had witnessed the triumph of his earnest
and consistent efforts for the disenthralment
of the oppressed. He was content when
Drawing popular ignorance and prejudice
against educ ation and freedom; but when he
became the acknowledged leader of the
House, and saw the substantial sue
cess of his cherished principles, his
ideal life was not fulfilled. To him
self his life appeared as does the statue
fashioned to rest upon some high pinnacle.
1t seems ungainly, ill proportioned, and want
ing il symmetry and harmony; but as it rises
to the distance from which it was designed to
be viewed, it's awkward, shapeless lines dis
appear, and its grace and beauty win the adj
miring gaze of the multitude. He had his
measure of infrmities, but there have been
few so sincerely devoted to their convictions,
and who would so willingly forego honors and
applause for conscience sake. When pos
terity shall read of him, it will be as one of
the grand central figures in the panorama of
a nations redemption, and his ~frailties will be
unrecorded-the common tribute the historian
pays to the fallibility of men whose names
are immortal. I thought that he, of all our
statesmen, had most nearly realized the
hopes which inspired his noblest efforts; but
he had learned the lesson that the ideal destiny
Of every life points to the unattainable. How
much he dreamed, and how keenly he
lamented that he only dreamed, there are few
prepared to tell.
Look out over the countless throng thai
have dreamed, and are still dreaming, of the
Presidency. The time was when only the
wisest statesmen looked to the chair of Wash
ington in their ideal achievements, but now,
who that worsbips at the altar of ambition
can p'ead exemption? Not sages and heroes
alone now turn their anxious hopes toward
the mighty sceptre of the first people of the
world. Pretenders of every grade, who have
climbed into position through Shiny paths
swell their shame by indecent struggles to
rule in dishonor. Their ideal is success, ant
I would not say how many bsw before thai
tickle divinity. A few of them win in THEN
mean struggles, only to find their stolen
honors turn to burning ashes on their brows
The broad path to the highest trust of the
republic is thickly strewn with skeletons of
riven castles, and yet the throng that presse:
over them to the same sad destiny is countless
as before. This one dream has unsettled the
best and bravest men, and is the parent Of
strange misfortune. 1t has made strong mer
weak, and estranged mighty leaders from tn,
very devotion they most sought; aud it ha
made the Union the prey of the tempest t.
crafty mad ambition. 1t invented the spo
liation of Mexico; it destroyed the Missouri
compromise; it fashioned the bred Scott de
c%ision; it enacted the fugitive slave law; i
consigned the Wing party to a dishonoret
tomb; it made the Democratic party FORGE
its cunning, and sacrifice its power; it made
men in every section and of every shade OF
sentiment traitors to themselves, to truth
and to their country; it bombarded Sumter
it prolonged the bloody strife to destroy oul
nationality; and after the storm of battle
ceased, it came with horrible discord tt
~lacerate the CHASTITY scars of war.
Do you answer that there are those who's,
attainments fulfil their dreams ? Turn t.
the names least linked with disappointment
in visible aspirations, and learn how tn,
sweet ideal vanishes before the gnawine
III - IL aaNnol L. -.