The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-29

prayers to the dead. The malice, anger,
and ill-speaking are not Christianity, the
secular world knows already, without his
proving. They are clear-sighted enough to
feel that church forms, discipline, and doc
triDes are but the outside garb of religion,
and evely battle such as this about them,
with its indecorous vehemence and fury, but
serves TO create doubt whether the sectarian
bodies possess the true idea Of religion or not.
We would earnestly suggest to all the
churches, Protestant and Catholic, that their
disputes and chickering's are quite as vulgar
and distasteful in the public eye as those of
Individuals, and that, if such things must be-
they keep them in future carefully out of
notice. When they come voluntarily before
the world, let it be solely on their Masters
errand to teach men to deal Justly, love
mercy, and walk humbly with their God.
SENATOR SUMMERS GREAT SPEECH.
From the n. Y. World.
The throng of eager listeners who filed
every seat and every inch of standing room in
the Senate chamber attests the futility of
General Grants persecution of the distin-
guished Senator of Massachusetts. Long
before the commencement of his speech, the
ladies' gallery bloomed with new bonnets aud
more interesting faces; the diplomatic gallery
was equally full and splendid; even the re-
porters' gallery had sprinkling of ladies; the
ton; members of the House were wedged in
among Senators on the floor the cloak-room
was occupied; and multitudes hung about the
doors and lobby, like swarming bees upon a
hive. The prescribed orator had reason to
be proud of a spectacle which showed how
VAIN and abortive is the executive attempt to
disgrace and crush him.
The speech, which we published in full, is
remarkable for the perspicuity of its state
&c tba of ito 10 tho
redundant sufficiency of its proofs. 1t has,
no doubt, like most of Mr.. Summers elabo-
rate efforts, the fault of prolixity, which de-
tracts considerably from its oratorical merits.
Mr.. Summers habits of research are an i'm
pediment to his eloquence. Instead of the
rspidity, compression, aud fervor which be-
long to the very highest order of public
speaking he encumbers himself with a mass
of raw materials which he exhibits in their
crude state without working them up into
finished fabric His ample quotations from
recent documents could not have been
spared or abridged, as they are the proofs
which support his Indictment; but his diffuse
repetitions of their substance were needless,
their bearing and effect being too obvious to
miss appreciation. His accumulated citations
from books of international law, as they teach
nothing new, might have been spared. A
clear statement of the principle they are
brought forward to prove would have been
sufficient, as nobody whose opinion deserves
any respect was likely to dispute the doctrine.
Abridgment and condensation would have i'm
proved the speech as a work of art, and have
made it more effective as an appeal to the
popular judgment.
1t is, however, in its main positions, con-
vinclDg and unanswerable, showing even
more skill in the selection of topics than in
their treatment. With reticence and dis
cretion which reflect credit on the soundness
of his Judgment, Mr., Sumner forbears to
discuss the question whether the acquisition
of Santo Domingo is in itself desirable, al
| though he does not conceal his opinion that
| it is not. He strikes directly at the vulner-
abie points OF General Grants negotiations,
| and makes out SO clear and strong case as
to preclude the possibility of any effective
reply. He convicts the administration of
fragrant, scandalous violations of public duty,
establishing his accusations by the written
testimony of it's own agents and the authen-
tic orders of the Navy Department.
Nothing could be more opportune than his
selection of the time for the delivery of this
crushing speech. The Santo Domingo Com
mission will return to Washington just when
Mr.. Summers scathing exposure is the reign
ing sensation, and their report will sail in the
wake of speech which must break and nullify
its influence. Their glowing account of the
fertility and resources of the island will be re-
| gafded as an lmpeftlnence Dya puOuc Wnlcn
is palpitating with indignation at the ma
chiDery of menace and intimidation set in
motion by General Grant. 1t will be like a
description of the surprising beauty of q
set of diamonds which thief has undertaken
to steal. They might be desirable ornaments
if honestly obtained; but scorn of the intended
theft precludes any interest in the question
of their value. 1t is more important that the
national honor should be maintained, and the
Constitution upheld, than that we should
acquire half of an island in the Caribbean
Sea about which the country never cared q
straw until General Grant forced it upon
public attention.
Mr.. Sumner shows that, since the inception
of this scheme, the President has kept the
greater part of our effective vessels of war
stationed in the waters and lowering about
the shores of Santo Domingo, as a means of
influencing the negotiations. The object of
this system of menace and terror is to uphold
the usurper Baez, who is plotting to sell his
country, and to maintain him in power
against the wishes of the Dominican people
The evidence advanced by Mr.. Sumner or
this chief head of accusation is conclusive and
irresistible. The unprincipled usurper Baez
has been kept in power for the last eighteen
months by the intimidsting presence OF
the United States navy in Dominican waters
and the open threats of our naval
fficers. The bare fact that dozen of ouI
most heavily armed vessels have been sta
toned in Dominican waters is, of itself, ever
without any explanatory documents, damnine
evidence of unjustifable coercion. Why
n Il