Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-09-10
Charles Summers TemDtation.

Mingled with some extrsvagsuce of
suiogy. Bishop Gilbert Haven makes, in
last weeks Independent, no oquiyocal de-
liyerance of his opinion:
Every man has an hour when he il
tempted up to what he is ablo to bear.
He may think it is above that point; bui
i, is not so. for God has promised that no
such burden shall be laid upon him.
Only short of that does the tcmpter stop.
That exceeding high mountain must be
assembled. The pinnacle Of the temple
must bedazzls its occupant. He must
be completely y tried before he completely
triumphs. Mr.. Summers hour has come.
1t was not when, young man, lie cast
aside the longings OF q cultivated nature
Tor the cloisters OF proiessorship That
temptation was great; but it WAS honor
able. Nor was it when he broke with
the Wing party OF Massachusetts,, and
turned away from his honorsd associates.
TO cast in his fortunes with q small and
despised company, who preferred prin.
ciple to power, Christian duty to choice
society. That was no temptation. 1t
was call O! God, not u snare of the
Devil. Nor was it when the lovers of
the slave 10 Massachusetts centred upon
their eloquent young leader as the sue.
csssor of Webster, tho champion OF the
cause OF man in the highest parliament
OF earth. though all parties united in that
elevation, through combinations of Dem.
ocrats and anti.Dsmocrats of nil shades
were essential to its success. Yet this
combination was to advance the cause of
freedom, was to put her best political
representative where he could best work
her work. He suffered no temptation in
that grand hour of his history. 1t was
Goods all-animating voice
That called him from on high;
'Tis he whose hand set forth the prize
To his aspiring eye."
The temptation comes to-day. A chief.
elected because his arm had achieved
Summers ideas; because he had abolish
ed the barbarism and mado freedom ma.
tional, and slavery not even sectional
this chief and he fail to agree on = mat.
ter OF minor Importance. Ono desires
the AM exation of an island; and the
other opposes it. Grant soon after re-
moves friend Of Summers from an im-
portant seat. 1t seemed unjust, retalia-
tory, unstatesmanliks. His own re.
moval from an important craftsmanship
soon follows. 1t is attributed to the
same source. These are the points oil
his offending. To these may be added
one severe charge-that Of using improp.
er means to effect the annexation of St.
Domingo. This category. His appoint.
ing few relatives to minor Offices, his
receiving few presents for his unmeas.
ured services. would never have been
mentioned had not the other grievances
arisen.
And yet for these petty considerations
Mr.. Sumner is being urged to cast away
oil his lifework. to undo all he has so
grandly done, to throw his smancipated
friends into the clutches OF their angry
masters. to trample his fame, his deeds,
his humble allies into dishonored dust.
How will the country exclaim, if he
takes this fatal step:
What private grcfs he has, alas we know not,
That makes him do it.
They must be private, for no public rea-
sons could compel such a conclusion.
The time has come when the party
that has done this work asks continu-
ance of power. Its ambitious enemies
have beguiled certain of it's former sup
porters from their steadfastness, and
are now seeking his corporation. They
60 10 him with plausb.e words. They
promise equality and fraternity with the
negro, open couits, open schools, open
churches, open inns, and equality in all
places of public resort. They moan no
such purpose. They carefully exclude
their promises from the reports of their
conversation. They hate the party that
has conquered-its ideas and its nanag.
ers. They will drive out those ideas,