Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-03-21
Alexander Hamilton Stephens.

The death of Mr.. Stephens willre
call not merely the more recent events
of the Rebellion and that short lived
"Confederacy" of which he was the
second executive officer Long be-
fore those dark days he had as a
public man acquired national reputa-
ton, and had been recognized as a
leading spirit of the great Wing party.
In his support of Mr.. Clay there was
something chivalrous, which had en-
deared Mr. Stephens to the many
friends, both North and South, of the
great man. In the National House of
Representatives Mr.. Stephens was the
brilliant and effective champion of the
Opposition to the Administration OF
Mr.. Polk and to the Mexican measures
of that President. He came at last to
be regarded as one of the most moder-
ate of the members from the slave
States. Up to certain point he bad
been an answering friend of the
Union. As the hour of dismember-
ment approached, he seems honestly to
have used all his power, authority,
eloquence, against the increasing mad
ness: but when the time came for
standing almost alone or for yielding
to the current of Southern opinion, he
made the great mistake of his life, sur
rendered to the turbulent influences by
which he was surrounded. He was
not man to do things by halves, and
accepting Office under the Confederate
Government, he did his best to main
tain its desperate fortunes. Unques-
tionably he accomplished a great dea.
of mischief by misleading those who
were still wavering; and he has the
credit, whether it belongs to him or
not, of turning the scale against loyal
| ty by speech which he made in the
the Virginia Legislature. Yet even
then he was longing for return to the
Union. Whenever negotiations were
set afoot for conciliation, or at least for
peace, Mr. Stephens was full of activi-
ty, however small his influence,
After all was over and the cause of
secession hopelessly lost, Mr. Steph-
ems accepted the result gracefully and
| with good sense. He came back to the
House of Representatives. after long
absence, feeble, worn-out and prem
aturely old man. Always an invalid,
be was no filter for the sick chamber
than for the House; hut DO exerted
himself with inGomitahle resolution,
and participated in many of interest
ing questions. The country liked to
hear from him and was interested in
his personal welfare Of all the lead
ing men of the Rebellion, he seems to
have been regarded by the loyal with
the greatest leniency, and to have been
the most readily forgiven. There was
an impression that with the political
crimes now indelibly associated with
his name his sympathy had never been
great or cordial; and that he had yield
ed to the influences which the most
pertinapioas Union man, under the
same circumstances, would have found
it hard to resist. Possibly posterity
may Judge him with less consideration;
but we think that the presumption is
that he will appear in history as he ap-
pears to us, as man of eXcellent pub
lie intentions, though found unfortun-
ately deficient in strength of character
at critical moment. At the same
time let it in his favor be remembered
that the strength demanded was of a
specially eleyated kind, and one of
which universal history furnishes few
| instances. Y. Tribune.