Page:Confederate Portraits.djvu/204

 i64 CONFEDERATE PORTRAITS

life in Washington it was the same. The venerable John Quincy Adams saluted him with verses more notable for feeling than for genius. Members of all parties treated him with affection and respect. When he gave up his congressional seat in 1859, he received the unusual honor of a dinner tendered by a list of members of both houses of Congress without party distinction, headed by the Speaker of the House and the Vice-President. *' I like Stephens," wrote an opponent. " With all his bad politics

This universal popularity was by no means confined to men of Stephens's own rank in life, but was perhaps even greater among the common people. " Thank God for little Alex," shouted crowds assembled on his first appearance after being wounded by a political adver- sary. And the negroes, especially those in his own serv- ice, were as enthusiastic and devoted as the whites.

It will be evident that qualities like these seemed to pave the straight way to political success. In a certain sense Stephens had such success in large measure. Why that success was limited will become clearer as we go on. But in the tactful management of men for a political pur- pose he had few superiors. And his art was largely sin- cerity. He made it manifest that he himself acted only from a profound and well-reasoned conviction ; that he would throw over his party and even his constituents in a moment, if his conviction was against them ; and the remnant of honesty which is latent in all men, politicians

�� �