People's voice., 1900-08-02

1.-THE gentle Yirtues-so constantly T.
lustrated in all the relations of his pri-
vate life-the unaffected kindness of
disposition, the purity of thought, the
guileless candor, the fealty to truth,
the harmless mirth, the fOrgetfulness
of self, the tender regard for the rights
and feelings Of others and the genuine
sympathy with all around him, which
make him the prince of companions
and the paragon of friends, which
clothe his presence with perpetual sun
shine and fill his household with do
mestic affection and happiness"
This was the estimate Of the private
character Of Adlai e. Stevenson held
by ]. Proctor Knott, who had known
him intimately for many years. AS
both were natives Of Kentucky, there
may have possibly been some elements
Of partlality as the result Of state
pride, always strong In the Blue Grass
country, in this opinion Of the char
acter Of the Democratic nominee for
vice president, but those who have
known Mr.. Stevenson personally will
generally recognize it as just and true.
Regarding Mr.. StevensOn's public
services there is, Of course, as diver
gent opinions as there are differences
Of political bent and affiliation, but
with reference to his personal charac-
ter and qualities, to which this sketch
mainly relates, there will be little dis
sent from the statement that he is a
high type Of the American gentleman.
Those close to him socially insist that
the eulogy pronounced upon Sir Thom-
as More may fairly be applied to his
personality:
Il do not know if there be anywhere
to be found a more learned or better
bred man. He is so civil to all men
and yet so particularly kind to his
friends and is so full of candor and af-
fectiOn that there is not perhaps above
one or two to be found anywhere that
is In all respects so perfect friend as
he is. He is extraordinarily modest,
there is no artifice in him, and yet no
man has more of a prudent simplicity
than he has"
The attainmentS Of Mr.. Stevenson as
lawyer, his ability as a statesman
and those varied talents, exemplifed
in his public activities, which have
given him distinction among the prom
tnent men Of the country are known
and recognized by those who follow
the current history Of our times. Mr..
Stevenson is a native of Kentucky,
having been born in the Blue Grass
State on Oct, %, 1885. He early re-
moved to Bloomington, Ills, which has
since, with the exception of a few
years, been his home. He graduated
from Center college, at Danville, KY,
in 1855 and was admitted to the bar
in 1858. His public services may be
thus briefly epitomized: He served as
district attorney Of Woodford county,
Ills, from 1864 to 1868 and was a pres
idential elector for Mcclellan and Pen
dleton in 1864. He was elected to con-
gress in 1874 and served one term; was
renOmlnated in 1876, but was defeated.
In 1878 he was again nominated and
elected. Again he was a candidate for
congress in 1882, but was this time de-
feated. He was delegate to the Dem
ocratic national convention In 1884 and
assisted in the nomination Of Grover
Cleveland as president, who after his
election and Inauguration made Mr..
Stevenson first assistant postmaster
general, a position which he held until