Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-09-19

ner's public career of moro than
twenty years, and who feel how
! much the country owes TO him. In
this emergency, indeed, his judgment
seems TO us 20 be wholly unsound,
and tn course which he advises tull
OF peril to tho very cause he seeks %
serve. But that he speaks and acts
in obedience to tho same sense OF
duty which has always governed him
there can be no question whatever
In the unspokcn address which he
| leaves as legacy to his friends he
disavows ali personal feeling OF hos
Utility to the President whom he has
50 severely condemned. Yet that he
feels that he himself has been pursu.
ed with personal hostility there is no
doubt. The event which has wound
ed him sorely, and which, as we said
at the time, and have always thought,
was an immense political blunder,
was his removal by the Senate from
the craftsmanship OF the Committee
on Foreign Rotations. There are
reasons suggested, of which we ac-
knowledge the force. That his re.
naming in the chair might haye sori-
ously embarrassed, il not frustrated
the negotiations with England is pos.
slble. But that was n smaller mis-
chief than the removal Mr.. Sumner
undoubtedly believed that his remov-
al, and that of his friend Mr.. Motley,
were signs OF the Executive displeas-
ure with him. But in both instances
he was mistaken.
Under deep sense Of wrong,
however, it is not easy to be sure
that we are free from personal feel
ing toward those whom we believe
to be the wrong doors. But Mr.
Summers arguments must be judged
upon their own merits. The address
which he leaves is partly arepetitlon
Of his speech in the Senate OF the
3lst of May, and of has letter to the
colorel citizens, and partly an advo.
cacy OF Mr.. Greeley rs the candidate
OF civil service reform and reconcilia-
ton. Bat Mr.. Greeley, in his Port
land speech, finally disposed of his
CLAIMS as q representative Of the re-
form Of the civil service. Mr.. Sum
ner, like all who insist strenuously
upon one Presidential term as the
panacea for the evils of patronage,
apparently supposes that reelection
is the only motive tor misuse OF the
appointing power, forgetting that in
eligibility removes all sense OF re.
sponsibi!ity, and makes the other
motives to abuse OF the power as
strong as the desire of reelection
AS for reconciliation, we quote Mr..
Summers own words. In his letter
to the colored citizens he says, The
present position OF the colorcd ciu-
zen is in peril; > and in the address
which he leaves he says, anxious tor
the equal rights Of all, and knowing
well that no text of law or Constltu-
ton is adequate without support
ing sentiment behind" etc. Where,
then, shall that sentiment be found !?
Suppose, as Mr.. Sumner believes, the
Democratic party is honestly con-
verted, are the Democratic princi
pies, policies, ard traditions Of the
last generation the school from which
we can reasonably expect the senti-
mcnt which will honor the new
texts, and make the defense Of equal
rights efficient? But il it is not con
ver.ed, it is as wild to hope for its
success now as it was IN 1865.
The address merely repeats the
Senator's convictions an i, is one
OF the most melancholy events OF the
campaign that many OF the sincerest
personal friends of Mr.. Sumner are
compelled to diitcr wholly from his
Judgment upon a great public ques-
ton at the very moment that their
hearts are saddened by his illncss.-
Il Harper's Weeily.