New-York tribune., 1871-04-01
WASHINGTON SKETCHES.
ASPECTS OF THE sANTo DOMINGO QUESTION
MR.. SUMMERS PoSITIoN-THE SPEECHES OF
HIS OPPONENTS.

ASPECTS OF THE sANTO DOMINGO QUESTION
MR. SUMMERS PosITIoN-THE SPEECHES OF
HIS OPPONENTS.
WASHINGTON, March S0.-The Santo Domingo
discussion ended yesterday, for this session at least let
us trust World that the scandaious quarrels II has
caused the bitterness and eyspeang the rancor and
recklcssness the tmidty and tmeserving, the petty
passions and the poor pride have seen exhibited In
that august Chamber could have been laid the table
with Mr. Summers resolutions. But 1t cannot be; TINS
poon of dscord and desenson has struck too deep and
gone too far in that honorable body TO be arrested by
any ando.e known TO policy or patrlotism' We enah
never sec our beloved brethren dwelling together In
unityn again. There ore some In that Chamber VINO
really enjoy this unovely state of things otcourse the
Democrats enjoy it hugely The dainty Machiavelian
Younger Senator from Eew-York takes in 1t fine and
fierce delight His habitua sardonic smile seems 10 say
"work on my medicine work." and that 1t is his medi-
cine that wrought much Of the misehief feel as
sured 80 .-,so-- - - - |N'---z7"
I, woman who has for several eminent individuals
OF both parties In this sad family quarrel sincere regard
and respect who has heart the honor and success OF
the noble Republican party and who yet because OF her
freedom from party ties and Obligations can see soe
things more clearly perhaps than any OF the
themselves, II she may be allowed an opinion and tne
expression it, then shehat is L-woud say that r'
Summers opponents have greatly erred, in exhibiting
toward him the an ger and arrogance In employing the
nyecye and sarcasm. the ordinations and lnsnuatohs
which they SO bitterly denource in him. IL seems to me-
that II, avoiding all dsagreeable personalities, they
would 20 work calmly and coouy to refute his argu-
ments disprove his statements, with the slightest
possible reference to him individually 1t would be far
more potc and sensible. The elaborate and erudite
opening OF Mr.. Howes speech was, it seems TO me,
part OF these mistaken tactics. 1t made too great and
| mornentous, and solemn thing OF Mr.. Summers op-
position TO the Administration Historical parallels
| are most unreliable things vain and falaeious,
| a,d he
| occasion were rather strained and unsatisfac-
| tory The Brutus comparison was especially
unfortunate, as IL gave Mr. schurza chance to paya
superb compliment to his colleague, and fdus Aehates
1t strikes that classic parallels, illusions and ca-
tions are no longer effective impressive even In the
limited States Senate and from the lips Of the most
| learned and venerated Senators. They never seem
spontaneous and seldom absolutely pertinent or JUS
titled by artistic necessity. The infnlte derence OF
| time and life, and circumstance, make them seem
forced and foreign the mere dried husks or human Wis
dom and thought. The Senator had once lesson to
this effect in his own State and Legislature, where after
a grand rhetorical and classical effort plain practical
member made the oft quoted reply: "Mr Speaker, the
honorable gentleman has roamed with Romuus soaked
with Socrates, ripped with Euupdes, and canted with
old Canthardes but what has that to do with the laws
| of Wisconsin, ~
However Mr. Sumner may have erred in policy and In
Judgment however much he may have been wanting in
charity in Christian humility, in loyalty to the powers
that in respect for "the Ruler of his people, TO call
him "fallen man." "human wreck, to intimate that
he Is an mbece a renegade Is certainly going httie
| too far-trayeling beyond the record. Mr. summers
fame whether all deservedy or not posterity and
be wide world must Judge. has become as firmly estab
rhed as any institution principle Of the republic. Mr.
Summers best power appeals TO and exists through the
strong stern innermost moral life OF the NewEngand
people, 10 whom he is all the dearer ana
| greater that he is no politician, no mere manager,
= foltor
tack him. is in their eyes, like heayng Plymouth Rock
| or fitting at Bunker Hill Monument
Mr. Howes personal arraignment OF the great con-
sprator was surprise to many. Though elaborate
and apparently deliberate 1t did not seem to ME thor
oughly wel-considered. Did he forget the apostolic
charge TO another Timothy, Lay hands suddenly
man % His zeal defending the President, heartily
sincere as t s most honorable Yet the tone OF those
Introductory remarks almost startled me. Mr.. Howe
has sngularly sunny and placid countenance, and
would never expect such stngng reproor and solemn
sarcasm from his kindly lips The long thunderstorm
in the Senate to have soured the milk OF human
kindness in his aiabe nature Honey is said TO make
the sharpest vinegar The old proverb says Beware OF
the anger Of the patient man." There is such thing
righteous WRATH and doubt not that the sort
Mr.. Howe and Mr.. Harlan, and Mr. Nye cherish.
The speech OF Mr.. schurz certainly q wonderful
effort something startling and overwhelming, at the
time, II not powerful and convincing He came down
his opponents like flying artillery, swift and strong and
confident His brliancy yet purity Of style his sharp
ness statement his precision Of arrangement his
cearness Of thought his delicate yet daring wit
his quiet yet scathng his magnificent mastery
of English, his apparent fairness and freedom from
passion. his ease sefpossession and phlosophic cool
Of manner all combined TO give TO his arraignment
OF tho Administration beyond all those hitherto
made by the dsafected Senator's Only once did see
him exhibit passion and then not while delivering his
speech replying to the many Interruptions OF his OPP
ponents. He had taken eoolly the blows OF Mortons
batleax and the thruss OF Conkling poisoned rapef'
but the sedge hammer of Harlan struck fire from hn
He repelled that Senator's insult" with superb scorh
that reminded me of Henry Clay, resentins one oi
Benton's savage onsaughts
Yet would that all this scholarly culture MUG WIZ
artistic skill, and subtle logic, this ingenious "su"o'
this graceful oloquence, this genius, TINS Po"e - a.,
of character and position, could have Oe"n eAo''- -
some other way for some otier purpose-in sono We,
not so open TO doubt OF motive or end Tor some pupv
ndispuahly grand and imperative when io ooh a aitep
an serafors over there at outs WIN ,"e lin,
or iormur strnngc combin at0n ana ~, ~
and itir their thumbs at each Olh,, IN. ,ha
men of the rival houses OF Verona, ,rs af home
hnyc had such nm unehrstLn state OF thihsn i the
Caribbean sea would have tathcr n i,h III hcr ma.
Lii s,,I IA, me marine conrulSlon, WIFE sil ~ i.
ho',,nv aud b1nnn.s prov ided OF course 'As '" -
! cnnhi Inva escaped In tie long cat ""