The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-07
ALEXANDER FL. STEPHENS.
moner by Ex-senator Norwood-New
Facts in His Life

We come neither to praise him moi
to bury the great commoner of the re-
public. What of him was mortal has
long been given back to earth, anc
what was spiritual needs no eulogy
from US. His fame, like the question o.
Caesars death, is enrolled in the cap
itol and the capitol covers the cont
nent. These red hills echo and reechc
his name and thousand groves are in
part its sanctuaries. Wherever he ad-
dressed the multitudes-and the mul'
titudes followed him as be journeyed-
he left undying memories, and the
people wondered and many said
"Never man spake like this man."
And this was true saying. "For take
him for all in all we shall never look
upon his like again." And his like the
world had never seen before. This is
no extravaganza of eulogy; no CON-
pliment pardonabls only in an epitaph.
It is unvarnished truth.
I repeat, that in all the tide of time,
history gives no record of any mortal
whose physical and intellectual COM
biuation was comparable to that of
Alexander Hamilton Stephens. Wher-
ever he first appeared-whether on the
hustings, in the forum, or in delibera-
tive bodies-his personnel aroused sur
prise and disappointment IN every be-
holder; but when he spoke the people
marveled at his power and wisdom.
With stature of near six feet in
height, at no age Of life did his weight
exceed a hundred pounds. Pale and
sallow, he seemed to be a boy of Is
years until be attained middle age,
when envious time began to furrow his
beardless cheeSs.
Nor at any time was his health ro-
bust, while for the last twenty years of
his weariscme pilgrimage he was con-
irmed invalid. So feeble and atten-
uated in form was he it seemed as if
every day would be his last. And yet
for the first thirty years of his man
hood his physical endurance under
constant labor was not surpassed by
that ofany other man engaged in SIM
liar work. In the most heated and
active political campaigns he seemed
never to be fatigued. In fact, in the
fiercest of political contest he gath
cred strength, as the eagle rises higher
when the storms grow furious. He
said of himself: II am like kite; I
soar only in the rage of gale"
He was signal exception to the the
ory that great intellectual power is
combined with strong physical devel-
opment. At no time did his strength
exceed that of a boy Of fourteen years.
Such was the physical man, Alexander
Stephens.
But what is to be said when we turn
to contemplate his intellect? It is not
saying too much to assert that at the
bar, un the hustings and in the legisla-
tive halls no man in America has ever
achieved greater renown. He was
never defeated in any contest before
the people. In the gladiatorial field
his career was more remarkable than
that Of any other statesman Of Ameri-
ca. will not consume time before his
neighbors and champions in recount
ing his continuous triumphs. Henry
Clay. in a great speech delivered to his
constituents, began by saying: "Forty
years ago I pitched my tent on yonder
hill, and you, and you, al I you took
me by the hand and made me what I
am" To you who took this homeless
orphan by the hand when he pitched
his tent on that now famous hill and
helped to raise him to his high emi-
nence, it would be presumption in me
to narrate his wonderful career.
His boyhood was unmarked by any
events or incidents of special interest.
His parents were poor and this lad had
to undergo the haroships and depriva-
tions incident to poverty. But the
precious jewel of his head shone with
such brilliancy that it attracted the at
tention of some friends of wealth, who,
with a view to secure his powers for
the pulpit, sent the boy at their own
expense to the University of Georgia
to take the regular course for gradua-
sion. For reasons, best known to him.
self, he preferred the law to theology
and, after graduation, began the prac-
tice as soon as he could be admitted to
the bar. With his power of analysis,
his legal acumen, his tenacious memo
ry, his studious habits, his fuepcy and
enhancing oratory, he rose rapidly at
the bar, and his fame soon covered the
State.
Within less than four years after he
was admitted to the bar, his ability as
a lawyer and debater convinced the
voters of this county that their inter-
ests should be committed to his keep
ing. and they sent MI. Stephens in 1886
to the Legislature, where they kept
him until the year 1911, when he de-
clined reelection. But his fame had
gone over and beyond the State. His
speech on the bill for the State to build
the Western and Atlantic railroad,
and his report for the minority who op-
posed the resolutions, censuring John
Berrien, United States Sem
ator, for certain views and votes in the
alone placed Mr.. Ste
phens in the front rank Of Georgia's
In the year 1913 he was again drawn
away from his first love, the law, never
to return, and as the circumstances