The national Republican., 1869-06-12
now STANDS THE ACCOUNT.

Tho ODterNou VI hll OosotNofs IN ureat
Britain today, so far az American states
manshlp Is concerned, Ia Hon. Charles Sum-
ner. 1t ls q remarkable fact that all the
English journals arc daily criticlsing his
speech, denouncing his uttorancos, and con-
temnlng his principles, but studiously avoid
ing the publication Of single word he has
said. Their columns teem daily with ami
madycrsions, criticisms, and intended re-
Dukes Of the Senator, but there Is careful
keeping back from the English public the
principles and arguments which Mr.. Sumner
cnunclated. To-day our great and leading
Statesman Ia tho most abused man In Amer
lea, not by his own people, but by the ruling
and aristocratio classes Of Britain. Here the
Senator has achieved victory which places
him in tho front rank Of our statesmen but
in England, where they formerly praised
him and set him down as Americas greatest
statesman, they now dcnounce him In un-
measured terms.
It Is interesting to inquire the wherefore
of all this, and to ask how comes this
changed state of things in the two coun-
tries.
Mr.. Summers early career was devoted to
the presentation Of truthful and scathlng
erpoSs Of the lnlqultous Institution Of slavery
as 1t then existed in this country, and he ad-
dressed himself TO Its overthrow with an
nergy and purpose that knew no abate-
ment, no firing, no compromise. His great
speech on the "Barbarism Of Slavery" was
published in all lands, and scattered broad
cast throughout England. 1t was every
where commented upon, and Its author was
praised and lauded to the skies. Particularly
was this the case in England, and among
tho ruling classes. When. after this, the
almost death-dealing blows OF Brooks sent
him abroad in quest Of health, English
lords, dukes, and the leading statesmen Of
Britain thronged his hotel and We'd with
each other in doing him honor. Now how
changed! Did Mr.. Sumner speak the truth
then, and does he talk error and nonsense
now2 On both occasions he has told the
truth, and spoken like philosopher and a
statesman.
The question, then, is why did Engllshmen
praise him then and denounce him to-day
The solution of this problem is not diff
cult task. The whole situation then and
now so far as 1t relates to England and
Englishmen is SO plain that ho who runs
may read.
The truth of tho whole matter lies just
here: England, or perhaps we ought to say
the ruling classes of England, have always
desired the overthrow Of the American Re-
public. They saw, or thought they saw,
that slavery would be our downfall, and ac-
cordiugly they welcomed any discussion
that might engender sectional anlmosities
and precipitate the nation to Its decline and
ultimate destruction. They accepted gladly
Mr.. Summers former speeches because they
thought that his words might tend to hasten
the contamination they desired-the over
throw of American institutions and republi
can government. They did this not tha
they liked liberty or believed In Mr.. Sumner
but they would use him as they would use
any other man to pull down democratic
government.
The war came and slavery went down,
that this same professcdly liberty-loving and
abolition England did to aid the rebellion
And now this great statesman speaks again
and what change over the water! He Is
not now speaking Of the sins Of America
but of the sins Of England; and 50 truthful
and pointed are his words that England doe
not only vince, but she trembles and grow
angry under his stunning blows. His gum
are double-shottcd. His words are barbet
arrows, and hence the terrible 1utter.
This Is the difference: English statesmen
who profess to love liberty and to hate
slavery have changed and shufiled and gont
back; while Mr.. Sumner has kept right on
the consistent advocate of republicanism ant
freedom. This will account for their patron
age and fawning on former occasion, AM
for their denunciations now. While he com
planned of despotlsm In America, 1t was well
when he talks of the treachery and sin o
England II Is not SO well.
|