New-York tribune., 1878-03-04
ton, which was expected to bring security ana
to defend the public credit.
RENJAMM z. WADE.

the mouths or MILLIONS VI FihoAiN =.
His record covers the history OF the kepupii'
during a most important era OF Its existence
Whenever the slavery agitation snail Us IT,
called, he will be accorded Whatever praiS'
NAV be due to the most persistent and con-
sistent. undismayed and answering opponents
of tbe institution. He did not belong to the class
of public men who, with the change In popular
feeling. became sufficiently numerous, ana,
after having been trmmers, finally dlscovereu
the iniquity and the impolicy OF human bondage
Those who read any of the numerous sketches
which Mr.. Wade's death will call out, VIII ma
that from the moment in which he became Il
LEGISLATOR he was pronounced antl-slavery
reformer. He did not follow so much as lead
the little handful called Anti-Slavery Wings
He did not hesitate to speak, so early as
1897 of "the accursed system" bu'
he went much further than those who
merely opposed the admission OF Texas
to the Union. IL required no ordinary horaI
courage to move at that time the repeal OF
all laws making distinctions among the peo-
nlc of Ohio on account of COlOr-hOw much IL
reUlired is proved by the fact that MIR. WADE
honest valor cost him his public place. Of
course. such man, in the prime OF life ana
in the full vgor of his intellectual abilities,
was not so easily ostracised. Against his own
wishes. he was soon sent back to the STATE
Senate, to begin again his anti-sayery WORK.
which never ceased until emancipation re-
moved all occasion for it.
If we should be asked to designate the
most honorable as well as the rarest quail
ity of Mr.. Wades public character, we
4, fuI IL his M
narrative Indifference to mere political success.
He was always saying, no doubt with the most
perfect sincerity, that he was heartily sorry
that he had abandoned the practice OF the
law for any public position. This philosophical
feeling made hm difficult to manage. Nothing
could be done with one who never calculated
the chances of a reelection. Neither caucus
nor convention had any tcrcrs for Il
member who WAS accustomed 10 look back
to the time when he WAS county
Judge as the happicat Of his life. lie
was precisely the kind of statesman
wanted in these days, and seldom
found. Success never spoiled him. The bau-
bic Of tie Presidency never modified his sense
Of right and wrong. He could serve, but he
could also watch and wait. He could stay in
Washington and he honest, but he could not
be dishonest that he might stay in Washing
ton. He had erased the word "cOmprOmi,e y
from his vocabulary, AT the time when COM
promise was thought to he the precious secret
of MI successful craftsmanship; and he turned
his back upon his old party the moment that
party turned its back upon its OLD principles
There has never been an American states
man who had more thoroughly than Mr. Wade
the courage of his opinions. BE astpniShcd
the Southern fIc-catcr, hy showing that his
ability 10 eat frc was quite equal 90 t:cir own.
when they fuined aud clustered, he was not
one whit les. calm and hrm. When they were
inSolcnt, he rctortcd in language OF proper
resentment. When they hiutcd at assasslna-
tion he put PAIR of pistols IN his desk, ANA
Tins showed that he understood perfectly well
the first principles Of scll-dcfcncc. Mr.. Doug
las was not IN easy antagonist to encounter
nobody could be quicker or more thoroughly
in earnest: but we believe that he never
had passage at arms with Mr.. Nad" III winch
he was not worstcd. and sometimes ne was
wor,tcd iguomIuiouSly. NJ. Wadc's bravery
cxtortcd compliments from some oi the most
turbulent of the defenders OF slavery. They
admitted that they knew just where he stood
and lust what he meant, while there were
Noythcrn Senators Of whom they could not say
so much. Even the chiyalry" were obliged
to rcspcct one vino would not compromise, and
who could not be ciusbcd--Who went straight
70 his work. ard, ~ he said OF himself, " could
"not be bluiiri OF hy the mere form or shad-
" Ow Of Il thing
Such Il man as Senator Wade, when the War
Of the Rebellion came, was Invaluable. lie
went directly to the hcaIt Of the matter, and
was afraid of 30 measure, provided lt,"as SUI
GcIcntly vigorous. lie was among the fore
most in comprchcnding and distinctly dccar-
ing that the war meant emancipation nor
WAS he alarmed at its natural sequence, negro
suffrage. When the opportunity came for
moving in the matter, be brought III bill
granting the suffrage to the cOlOrcd people
of the District of Columbia. Ii was cX-
crllcut then to see this man, born in
a humble position, hampercd and him
dcrcd by poverty in his childhood and
his carly manhood. victor over thc accidents
Of his life, bravcly speaking for the down
trodden, and the poor and ignorant. and
claiming for them the palladium Of the ballot
He ended as he bcgan--he was consistent to
the last. He was heard from occasionally in
his retirement in way which proved that the
old spirit WAS still unsubdued. He still feared
concession He had all his old horror of
COMPROMISE; and if he did not always speak
wisely of the policy of the Administration, he
at least left the country in no doubt respect
ing his opinions. He had long memory, and
he had lived long life. He could not forget
that he bad once fought thc beasts at Ephesus.
We must not lament the departure of one
who had lived more chan three score and ten
wears, and whose last days were Il prolonged
and painful struggle with death. We may,
however, regret that he leaves behind him SO
I.,..A Mn