Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-03-22
Alexander III. Stevens.
Nil. Evening Wisconsin.

By all odds the most notable public
character ever produced by the EN-
pire State of the South" Alexander H
Stephens, has at last penetrated the
mighty mystery of eternity. His
death ended a perpetual illness of hall
a century, during which long period
he wrought as unceasing as the flow OF
Niagara, as though he were physical
as he certainly was q mental giant.
His first conversion to any theory OF
craftsmanship was when South Carolina
rebelled against the revenue laws,
which brought forth "Old Hickory''
Jackson's famous "By the Eternal, "
and from that day to this his soul has
been In arms against any tax on Whis-
ky. He believed it to be unconstitu-
tional. This and his love for Georgia,
philanthropy and the young, are the
only things to which he has remained
steadfast throughout all his long Ca
reer. He has been both for and against
slavery. for and against secession, for
and against honest money and for and
against reconstruction.
Mr.. Stephens had many noble quail
tiles. He was always kind generous TO
the poor, in fact the leading philanthro-
pist of Georgia. He loved the young,
and for many years he has been the
direct and only means by which nu.
mercus young men have been literally
educated and given the equipments to
meet and win battles of the future.
This is one Of the noblest of all human
charities, for the world of tomorrow
must depend upon the mental and
moral training of the youth Of to-day.
Mr.. Stephens physical appearance
was somewhat picturesque. He was
short, thin and saliow, weighing only
| So pOunds-sOmetime s pound or two
more-and for many years was wheel
ed about the floors of congress on
| chair. He was physically so insignif-
cant IN comparison with his powerful
! mind and great personal influence, that
a distinguished Senator from Wisconsin
IN describing his impressions on first
seeing the famous 'cOtton statesman"
| said: can empty coach wheeled up to
the treasury building and Alexander
b. Stephens alighted from it." His
yellow coach, rusty hat, curious cane
and red bandana were familiar to
almost every person in Georgia and to
every visitor at Washington. He, in
turn, knew almost every Individual in
his state and all the men of even mod
crate prominence in the union. He,
was tremendous worker, aud carrisd
his irail body and his far-reaching
plans through all the political, social
and financial revers1ons of the south
and the vicissitudes of the rebellion
by the sheer power of his mind, of
his unfagging will When his mind
broke down he withered and passed
away like frail flower plucked up from
the nourishment Of mother earth. His
"War Between the States" and his
/" History Of the United States" re-
quired vast amount of tiresome and
Ioilsome research, yet he completed
them as though he were ten robust men
instead of q puny invalid, preparing
every night to take his couch for the
last time.
It is we'll known to all readers OF his |
tory and clearly shown by his own book |
that Mr.. Stephens supported Douglas
for President instead of the southern |
candidates, Breckenridge and Bell, and |
in the secession convention of Georgia |
and before her legislature opposed war |
and dis-union, with a power and elo-
quence that shook and startled the en-
tire south. When, however, Georgia |
decided to override him and wheeled /