Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-09-06
SUMNER.
His Farewell Speech Before Leaving for
EurOpe-A Statesmanlike Effort.
He has Charity for his Opponents, and
the Hand Of Friendship for
- the South.


BosToN, September S.-Senator Sumner, be
fore leaving for Europe, confided to r. W
/ Bird, of the Liberal Republican State Com
mtttee, for publication, speech which hi
had intended TO deliver at Faneiul Hall thi
afternoon.
/ Senator sumner in his note to Mr. Bird saws
Il had confidently hoped returning to NEE
| my friends in that venerable home so dear L
! Us and 10 all, and to speak once more on tn,
| great questions involving the welfare of ou
country, but recurring symptoms of a painfu
/ character warn me against any such attempt
/ Ny physicians advise that must not for th'
present make any public effort, and he pre-
The address is entitled AThe Presidential
ElectiOn-Greeley or Grant, and cOmmen
ces:
FELIow-CITIzEEs-I is on the invita-
I tion Of the stale Committee Of Liberal Re
! pubicaus, that have the hoDorof addressing
/ yOu,and shall speak directly to the issue be
/ fore IL. II / am frank and plain, Will be
/ only according TO my nature and require
| ments to duty at this time; but
there is nothing that l can say which
/ Is not prompted by a sincere desire to serve
my country, and especially to promote good
4 viii and equal rights TO all. In the ap-
/ proachiug Presidential election the people
/ have a choice between two candidates, and
by the operation OF our electoral system,
| superadded by the dictiOn OF the National Con-
yention, the choice is practically limited 60
I President Grant and Greeley, 50 that no prefer
ence for another can be called affection, as
one OF these must be taken. Preferring
Greeley, have no hesitation in assigning the
reasons that lead to this conclusion. " Z .
Believing the present incumbent unfit for
/ the great Office TO which he aspires for "A sec
ond term, and knowing that vote for him
would be regarded as a sanction Of abuses
and pretensiOus, unrepublican in character,
I early saw the difficulty OF taking any part
for his reelection. / delared, while recogniz-
ing party as an essential agency, that / could
allow il TO cOnstrain my conscience against
what deemed the requirements Of the public
good. Regarding always the substance rather
than FORMS I have been Indifferent TO the
name by which might be called and was not
impressed by the way in which candidate
vas urged. His supporters, while admitting
his failure and even abuses and pretensions,
50 notorious in his civil life, commended his
reelection as necessary TO uphold the party
with which I have been associated, but II is
easy 10 see that all who vote for such candi-
date for such a reason was 70 do evil that good
might come, which Is forbidden in politics as
Two courses seemed open: One was to alb
stain from voting, and confess that this was
my irst inclination, but it is not easy for me
IN question; nor is IL my habit 10 shrink from
responsibility, but the doubt that beset me
was removed when l saw the Democratic
party adopt a candidate opposed to President
Grant who was not an original Republican,
and already nominated by the Republican
Convention, and at the same time accept the
Republican platform on which he was nomi-
mated. An old party which had long stood
out against the Republican cause, now place
itself on the Republican platform
The best ever adopted, with he-
publican candidate who was the most
devoted Republican, ever nominated,
thus completely accepting the results Of the
war. and Offering the hand Of reconciliation.
At once the character OF the contest changed.
This was no common event. Pardon me II
say that to me fl was one OF peculiar interest.
For years have sought to establish in the
National Government the great prfn5i5 pies of
the Declaration OF Independence, awning al
ways that when this was done, nobody should
surpa-s me in generosity toward former rebels,
not only by the logic OF my life but by con-
slant srieeehes: and was bound to welcome
leor
platform. The extent OF this obligation VIII
appear before close, and now its per ofm-
ance harmonizes with the opposition 70 the
prolonged mtsrule Of the present Incumbent.
Evidently am not at liberty 10 abstain from
voting. .s .-. --
ace Greeley, 1 ind two differing in character,
but Of chief Importance: Firstly, that he rep
resents reformed civil service, with the one
term principle, without which this reform is
too much like sham; and, secondly, that he
represents reconciliation, not only between
the fwo sections but between the two races,
which is essential TO the repOse OF the coun-
try and a safeguard Of equal rights. To these
must be added that he does not represent
these personal pretensions so utterly incon-
sistent with a republican government, which
are now known rs Grantisms. In voting for
Horace Greeley you will not sustain nepO-
tlsIn; YOU VIII not sustain gitt-taking, re-
warded by officiai favor, and Will moi lend
your sanction 10 san D0nfn 20 machinations.
with its unconstitutional usurpatiOn, it, vio-
lation Of international law, and its indignity
Mr.. sumner then reiterates and simplifies
his previous charges of nepotism against the
President condemns gift-taking, denounceS
the San Domingo business, and advocates the
one-term principle and civil service reform.
He then speaks OF reconciliation as follows:
"Froln the practical question OF civil strviee
reform ] pass 10 reconciliation, beng the
most important issue presented to the Ameri-
can people" Mr.. sumner enlarged upon this
point, and said we seemed 10 behold fVr the
first time the dawn OF a better era, when equal
rights for all viii be placed under assured
peace and reconciliation; and that the choice
Of Greeley will tend 70 assure the triumph of
p6ace. The Senator said that every interest
of the Democratic party wOuid lead them TO
adhere 10 the covenant made az Baltimore,
and concluded as follows
Instead Of irritation and pressure, let there
be genteness and generosity. Men in this
world get only what they give-prej udice for
for pref Judice, animoSity for anifnOsity, hate
for hale; likewlse, confidence Is returned for
confidence good q ~ Is returned Tor good viii,
friendship Tor friendship. ON this rule, which
Is the same for a nation as Tor an individual,
/ would now act. SO viii the Republic be ele-
waited tosneW nights Of moral grandeur, and
our people viii manifest that virtue, the
greatest Of all, which is found in charity.
Above The conquest Of all others, will be the.
conquest OF ourselves, nor VIII any fellow cit.
zen suffer in rights, but all will ind "a new
safeguard in comprehensive fellowship.