Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-17
THE DAILY SPY.

For single copies ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 3
To news agents per hundred. ................. 10
For the WEEKLY SPY, 50 year.
-----------
Massachusetts.- --NTr. Summers Re-eIcc-
ton.
The public will commend the good sense
of Mr.. Sumner in declining the compliments
which his friends in Washington sought to
pay him in honor of his reelection to the
senate In these troubled times, the usual
expressions of triumph over any personal adj
vantage secured, or any political prestige con-
tirmed, are trivial and unworthy. Yet the
ell. rion of Mr.. Sumner-by vote such as is
rarely given to public servants, even in this
state of large majorities evidences an under
tone Of public sentiment that does merit
passing notice. The record of Mr.. Sumner
during the twelve years of his public lite, is
mainly noticeable for its faultless and heroic
consistency. Chosen in the first instance as
the exponent of the advanced views OF
the free soil party views then and for
several subsequent years prescribed at the
capitol where he was compelled to defend
them-he has continued to this hour their
GiIdliiplOA am AiANhN -AN''t4o'i
to be sure, by changed times and circum'
stances, and the constantly changing aspect Of
public questOns-the ground ideas with which
he started have always found in him the same
frank ingenious. enthusiastic support so that
no man of decent intelligence can possibly
have misunderstood him, or doubt to the
real influence he intends still to exert in pub
lie affairs. Those who doubt the correctness
of his views honestly, and those who hate him
with the cumulative malice of men for one to
whom they have done lifelong injustice,
thought this would be suitable time to put
an end to his career. They tried all the usual
partizan devices and-failed. Mr.. Sumner
comes out of the conflict with the deliberate
and almost unanimous judgment of the COM
monwealth in his favor.
The opponents of Mr.. Sumner are there
fore logically correct when they hold the state
responsible for the leading and fundamental
ideas he represents - ideas which liberal
statesmen all over the world accept with un-
qualified homage and respect. The state will
surely accept the responsibility. With it she
has prosperedbey ondmost commonwealth and
is 'clad in complete steel" against all maligners
Mr.. Summer is approved ON account of his
ideas. 1t would have been something worthy
of an effort to secure senator of such exalt-
ed personal character that when his opponents
exhausted their ingenuity to devise charges
against him, not one could arraign him for any
md lriS Tn
---------o -..~..a vis5ri-
bors, have not hesitated to become rich
out of the distrtsses of the country, it is
cheering to find one Marcus Aurelius whom
the world instinctively accepts for an exam
pie. But with all the purity of his character,
with all his varied and elegant culture with
all the peculiar knowledge which renders him
an authority in questions of international
comfy, he would have sought the approval
of the people of Massachusetts in vain. if he
had not also stood for the principles which
Massachusetts holds to be essential to the
honor and welfare OF the country. This is his
strength and fortress. The state has had
great men before commemorate her support-
men versed in nearly all knowledge, accom-
plished in nearly all the walks of statesman
ship, radiant with the best gifts and graces of
genius-but she has analysed them with the
care of a prudent chemist, and if they have
failed in that respect wherein Mr.. Sumner has
been faithful, she could only say to them u
"Henceforth be no officer of mine"
There have been opportunities during the
last twelve years when it would have seemed
easy and pleasant to corruptible man in his
position to have turned his back upon his past
life, and, like Webster, to have accepted pay
ment in the promises of those to whom his
cause was betrayed. But from that moment
his sun would have setin sudden night Such
career was not possible for him. His con-
victions were part of his life. If they were
sometimes aggressive it was because he knew
that only so could any depressed cause
be lifted into beauty and power. If
he is wrong, then jeff. Davis is right in
denouncing those who sympathize with him
as among the g traditional disturbers of the
peace of the world" Then the traitor Cox is
right in arraigning them as constitution
breakers and disorganizers. Then the Boston
Courier and Post are right when they Willy
and malign the state that protects them, and
the institutions which are the promise and Sc
curity of its prosperity. But when the dark.
ness which the revolt of their old friends
and allies have brought upon the country
passes away, the country will be glad
to acknowledge that Mr. Sumner and such
as he were in the beginning both right and
wise. When peace agains brightens the land
with its glories, and liberty is the rule WHEREBY
er the redeemed flag is horne, we believe that
not Massachusetts alone, but all the states
which recognize its authority, will also recog-
nize in him statesman to whom the honor of
its redemption will be greatly due.
The State Finances.
The report Of Hon. Levi Reed state auditor,
submitted to the legislature, Thursday, pre-