The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-02

do so?
The Close Of tho senate DeSate-The
Politicians Asaiast tho esident-victory
with the People.
We cannot permit the debate in the Senate
to pass into history without adducing some
considerations In reference to the tone of our
politics so far as they affect the coming cam
paign. This whole discussion has been vrtu-
ally the chorus to the opening Presidential
drama-the overture to the political opera that
will charm or vex us during the summer. We
have felt impatient with the discussion. It has
had no redeeming quality except earnestness.
The amount of meanness and spite and innuendo
and selishness it has shown In our public men
cannot but make painful impression upon the
country; for, whether we be democrats or
republicans, we certainly are Americans,
proud of our country and our Senate. and it
is no comfort to us to look back upon debate
which no American can read without sorrow.
Mr.. Senator Sumner is the greatest sufferer
In this debate. Here is q man who has made
himself known as pre-eminently the Senator.
We believe it was Mr.. Emerson who compli-
mented him as one who had avoided the COM
plaisances of politics. He has always pro-
claimed himself the inhabitant of higher and
purer atmosphere than that of ordinary poll
tics-a stranger to the depravlty of parties.
Patronage, the caucus, invective, the fascina-
tions of place and society and power were
put aside. He was, as we have been taught
to believe, too great man to stoop, too proud
man to intrigue, too much Of an American to
contribute in any way to the misfortune of his
country. Above all men, he was supposed to
be free from the emotions of anger or disap-
pointment or ambition. He was the Senator,
and, like Cato, he was the impersonation of
cold justice. This was certainly an enviable
fame, and 1t belonged to Mr.. Sumner
until he threw 1t away in this debate.
This Senatorial god is seen to have
legs of clay running almost into mire.
Look for moment at his recent course.
Inspired with an angry feeling towards Cen
eral Grant, he introduces a resolution into the
Senate asking that certain transactions in the
sales of arms to the French government be
simply to offer such a resolution to secure its
passage for public opinion would have COM
PEELED every Senator to vote for it, and we should
have had prompt investigation. But prompt
investigation was not wanted for the Senator
took the unusual step Of reciting an elaborate
preamble containing unsupported averments
meant to affect the country. In addition to
this he took step more extraordinary in max
ing an elaborate speech discussing these unsup-
ported averments. And 30 came the debate
Mr.. Sumner took the country at an advantage.
He proceeded to pronounce the accusation
and the judgment at the same time. He knew
perfectly we'll that the effect of his course
would be to cast an imputatiOn upon the ad-
miuistratiOn which no subsequent investiga-
ton, no matter how clearly it might exonerate
the government, could dispel. The rules of
the Senate, the extreme latitude permitted
to debate and the generous courtesy ex-
tended to all Senators, regardless Of party,
gave Mr.. Sumner the opportunity of doing
this unstatesmanlike thing. He took advan-
tage of his legislative immunity, and showed
as Senator he could permit his anger to
make him the author of expedients worthy of
the political conventions of Tammany Hall.
1t is no pleasure for US to pass this judg-
ment upon Mr.. Sumner, for he has noble
name and fame very dear to the nation.
Would he have treated Mr.. Lincoln in the
same wayp Would he have thrown into
The Senate in Lincoln's days pre-
amble filed with mischievous and dam
aging statements, unsupported by evil
dence, and after holding it there for three
weeks, until the public mind was saturated
with the poison, ask to withdraw it9 If he
meant his preamble for patriotic purpose
why did he shrink from vote of the Senate?
IF he felt that he had acted in all things as
Senator; as fair-minded, impartial Senator
meaning all things well, why did he confess
that his preamble was trick, an expedient,
q political subterfuge, and that, having done
its work, he would not ask voter Nor was
the work which it did worthy of an American
Senator. He meant to prove that an American
administration had been disloyal to Germany;
that it had violated its neutrality obligations
for corrupt purpose; that the Executive had
in some way known of the evil and was q
party to it. The time selected for this
extraordinary pronunciamiento was when
the Emperor Of Germany was about to
sit in arbitration upon the San Juan boundary,
when we were about to appear before the &C.
neva tribunal with our case against England.
Mr.. Sumner knew well, no one in these States
knew better, that the effect of his preamble
of unsupported averments would be to grieve
the German mind, inspire GOODNESS in the Ger
man heart and give ENGLAND a chanca To