New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-05
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, MONDAY, MARCH s. 1888

the associate fustice, S25 600 aud foreign minis
ters three times their present coinpcnsa.ion no
was electeu to the XLIVth Congress without oppH-
sition a Republican candidate receiving only
twelve votes out of 1922 He WAS reelected 10 the
XLVth. XLVItb and XLvIlth Congresses but re-
signed last year after his election as Governor VI
Georgia. T.,
When the resolution providing for the Potter IN
vestigating committee came mp before Congres Ia
1873, Mr.. Stephens took strong xrounu ur
lished in the newspapers mt the lne, anu III
speaking of the proposed Electoral investigation
he then said My own opinion u.s. tn as end sner
a contemplate farce or horrible tragedy. Inc
idea that Mr.. Hayes couId DO peaceaoly un-
seated by Congress he declared to Dc as rc
fend in the ghspe Of toad IN the ear Oh 70 ,,o
which sprung all our woes" Public opinion IN
Georgia turned against him, and 1T seemed 81 one
time very doubtful if he would be renomlnated
June l l. he wrote letter to his constituents saw
ing: /" If am not Democrat OF the stralghtest
had sent him to Congress should pronounce sen
tence of condemnation" he said he would ne
trusted, receive il with as much fortltude ana
philosophy as Socrates received the he MOCK ana
with as much dignity and composure as Cesar re-
ceved the blade of the envOus Casslus anu the
final stab OF the migrate Brutus."
Early III 1882 IL was known that Mt. stephens
wished to retire from public life Mt the close OF his
term III Congress- but about the same tline tHe III
dependent leaders in Georgia began to tax OF nom
mating him for Governor. For time tnere was
some doubt as to whether he would accept such
nomination, and the uncertainty led 10 strong
movement among the Democrats to place MN ~
the head of their ticket. Mr.. Stephens then nad no
aspirations for the Governorship, but III ietter,
10 his friends be stated that If hS health continued
To be "a good as it had been during the winter Oh
1SSl-S2 and If unmistakable evidence was iur-
nished that 1t was the Will OF the people thaI no
should serve them as Governor he knew OF no iea-
son that would justify him III refusing so 20 90.
There Was some bitter opposition TO his nomination
on tue part of a small body OF Democrats, nut
the convention nominated ann and Mr. stephens
at once entered upon an active campaign ,whch
ended In his election. DURING the caihpiish nc
promised that, while has political Affiliations Wtio
entirely with the Democracy on principles ana meas
mes, he would not be ii elected partisan toy
crnOr, but would ioOR TO the best interests ana wei
fare OF the STATE. =,
Mr.. stephens was ie author of a constitutional
View of tue Late " ar BE weeu the sta ies,' lis
tory of the United States" q" Review or mo Naf
Between the States " aud reviewers heyle"eu'
the latter being supplement to his " war Bct"eeh
the >tates.'
Considering the precarious and often Frustrated
condition OF his health throughout hi. whole HE.
the wonder is that he should have lived ~ long,
Even in his best days lie always seemed
weak and decrepld. lis growth Was much
retarded On his admission to the bar at
twentv-tSO he weighed only elghty-ioW
pounds, and two years later when lbs was
elected to the Legislature. his friends congratu-
lated him on his eX cellcnt health. his weight having
increased twelve pounds lie grew two inches IA
height alter his admission TO the bar, and DID not
crt his last tooth autll his twenty-seventh year.
Serlous and excruclatnglY paiuinl attacks OF SICK
ness follow ed another quick succession from
early youth aud he may be said to have been en-
gagged IN "A continual struggle with his bodily mir
mites a conflict IN which his will aud intelligence
seemed Uftcn about To suler deleat.
The cause of Mr. Sephc sh last illness was Sc
we're cold, caught during las recent journey TO
savannah, ana which confined him to his
bed after MS return 10 htdhtd'
He grew weaker each day. but his physicians were
not alarmed until his stomach refused 10 retain
food owing 10 an attack OF ueuralglaof the bowels,
which caused him much pain. Last Monday be
SAID 10 Captain Ncllus keeper Of the Peniieutiary
am gong to de On tine following day be
repeated this remark more positively, ana several
times he saId The time will come when Will nor
have strength To rally, and tins may be tho time
Much of the time toward tine last he was uncon-
scIOus morphine being used 10 relieve his san riug
The story OF his private virtues is one on which
the mind, nauseated with revelations OF gree and
corruption In high places, would gladly linger.
Though Ne had been "A successful .awyer and was
long in public life his whole estate did not amount
I. few wears ago. before he began TO have an income
from ni- books to more than : 10000. Charity had
scattered ali the rest. Perhaps IL will not bc hard
TO guess where some of il went when u Is remem-
bered that be educated AT his own expense no less
thirty-sx yOung mou, aud set them on their feet IN
various professional stations lie seemed to have
the power OF attaching u.en closely TO himself his
people lNvod hm aud revered him - "a leader aud
his negroes were as faithful 10 him after emancipa-
ton as they had been " hen hes was actually Masr
Alec" Ills goodness of heart was proverb. lie
was a man varied and elegant reading Hud eX
tensiVe requirements Whatever place the future
may give him ne "A citizen, ar % man he must be
honored for a life that above seproacn and
above suspicion.