Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-07-09

opposition This indicates that to the Aus.
trians their defeat was serious affair.
GEORGE SUMNER AND THE BOSTON CON-
MON COUNCIL
Mr.. Summer ought to be very grateful for
the fame which the authorities of the city of
Boston are giving him. His Grafton on the
Fourth of July would have been very honor
able to him, even if no silly Common Coun-
Gilman had done him the favor to attack it. 1t
gave to thousands of intelligent people new
ideas of the relations of foreign governments
to the American revolution. 1t was marked
with broad and liberal spirit, and was ex-
pressed in courteous and scholarly language
which gives to oratory much of its effect
and beauty Without artificial efforts, put
forth by friends or enemies, itwould have been
not able to hear it, and would have exerted a
widely-extended and salutary influence upon
public opinion. Some members of the Com
mon Council, suffering under an attack of
sault upon Mr.. Sumner, with the insane ex-
pectation of destroying the effect of the excel
lent lessons he inculcated. The immediate eff
feet was marvellous. Two members of the
Common Council expressed the determination
to read the dirty harangue" at once, and in
consideration OF that worthy and patriotic pur-
pose, action upon the resolution Of thanks was
deferred for one week. Many private citizens
will, in the meantime, seize the occasion to i'm
itate their excellent example.
The gross and vulgar assault upon Mr.. Sum-
ner was made in spirit which, of course,
defeats its own purpose, without relieving its
author or authors from the shame of it. Any
body can pronounce libel But it requires
very much besides blackguardism to make
libel plausible. Mr.. Mooney, the member who
made himself suddenly notorious, is reported
in the Boston Post as follows:
at is said that this self same orator has been
employed as a secret agent to pry into the Sc
secrets of foreign governments-to pretend to
something else than he really was while he was
prying into the affairs of state among Europe
an dynasties. If it is so he had better return
to the dirty work he has so long followed.
This honorable 81 Mr.. Sumner-this caves
dropper-this key-hole examiner-this under
er title FOR the head and FRONT Of a. J,.i;,...,
of the United States but Mister Taney.' Vote
a resolution of thanks to the poppinjay Let
no such evidence of your sympathy 20 forth
to the world from this Board.
This is very much in the Courier's style of
denunciation, and like many OF its vulgar phil
lpics derives its only consequence from the
immeasurable superiority of the customary OBJ
jects Of assault. William Cullen Bryant, in
one Of his letters to the New York Evening
Post, disposes of the calumnies, here, for the
first time, stated in direct form, and with
kind of official sanction
George Summer has visited we believe, cy-
cry country in Europe and several parts of
ASA, In his ten years absence, leaving every
where feelings Of respect and admiration both
for himself and for his country. He is one
OF the few instances we have known among
our countrymen abroad of resolute, unhinch-
ing, unbending representation of American
principles and institutions, tempered by per-
fect appreciation of what was due to the feel
ings and prejudices of others.
His whole career has been an honorable and
firm representation of his country-not as a
salarled agent, nor as man who could afford
to spend thousands in order to open himself
way W tilose secret springs OF action; but as
one acting from the strong convictions of a true
American, and with that moderate competen-
cy which sound judgment and Independence of
character could always make sufficient, not
only for himself, but as many poor artist and
hard pressed traveller knows, for others too
We are glad to see that he is reaping, in the
kind and cordial welcome of his friends, some
reward for his manifold services to the cause of
humanity.
There is class Of men, indigenous to Bos-
ton, very much like old Potter in the play.
They can't bear discussion it flies right to
their heads. They tremble whenever one who
is influential by position speaks in favor of
human rights, lest some of the great men who
annihiate them should come up and cut their
Threats This velvet footed constituency,
feeling its way, catlike, through the
midst of the great questions which con-
Germ the American people, afraid to touch
any Of them openly, but stealthily Civ
ing their countenance to the worst, provoke
the assaults made upon every public man who
states philosophical principle, or historical
fact, the application of which is on the side of
impartial liberty. Mr.. Lunt writes for them
and Mr.. Mooney speaks for them. Fortunate
ly for the cause of good morals and correct
principles, men are not influenced now .a.days.
by any appeals they are capable of making.