New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-08
MIR. Summers Letter i'm Support of
Greeley.

The letter of Senator Sumner in reply t.
certain colored citizens of this city, giyin.
his reasons for supporting the Liberal Re
publican"-Tammany candidate for President
was published last week. We present be
low the main points of it, the most of which
are familiar to our readers, as they wero Sc
forth some weeks ago in his last Santo Do
min.o speech
Mr.. Sumner commences his letter by 9
contrast between President Grant and Hor
ace Greeley, tho substance of which will be
found embodied in our editorial columns, in
another place, and then proceeds:
My early opposition to the treaty of an
nexatiOn was reserved, so that for some time
my opinions were unknown. 1t was only
when l saw the breach of all law, human
and divine, that / was aroused; and then
began the anger of the President and of his
rings, military and Senatorial,
Other things might be mentioned as show
ing the sympathies of the President, but l
cannot forget the Civil Rights bill, which is
the cap-stone of that equality before the law
to which all are entitled, without distinction
| of color. President Grant, who could lobby
so assiduously for his San Domingo scheme,
| full of wrong TO the colored race, could do
nothing for this benefcent measure. -
Among the antecedcnts deem it my
duty to mention the little capacity of indus
try of the President in protecting cOlored
people and in assuring peace at the South.
Nobody can doubt that small portion of
the effort and earnest will, even without the
lobbying, so freely given to the San Domingo
scheme, would have averted those Ku-Klux
outrases which we deplore, 80 that there
would have been no pretense for further
legislation by Congress. But he was dis
abled both by character and the drawback
of his own conduct.
Second.-Passng from antccedents," 1
come now to the present position of the two
candidates, which is the subject of your next
inquiry. If. in any former particulars the
two are on an equality, yet in all substantial
respects, the obvious advantage is with Hor-
ace Greeley. Each was nominated by Re-
form COnventlOn-Ono at Cincinnati and the
other at Philadelphia-so that in this respect
they may seem to be on an equality. But,
it will not fail to be observed, that the Con-
ventiOn at Cincinnati was composed of able
and acknowledged Republicans, many of
whom have acted with the party from its
first formation, who, without previous organ
izatiOn, came together voluntarily for the
sake of reform and purity in the Government;
while, on the other hand, the Convention at
Philadelphia was composed of delegates
chosen largely under the influence of Office
holders, who assembled to sustain what is
known as Grantism, being the personal gov
eminent and personal pretcnsions of Presi-
dent Grant, involving nepotism, repayment
of gifts by official patronage, neglect of pub
lie duty, absenteesm, military rule, disre-
gard of constitution and law, with general
unfitness, and indignity to the colored race.
Therefore the Convention at Philadelphia,
though calling itself Republican, was less
Republican than that at Cincinnati The
two platforms, so far as concerns especially
the colOred race, are alike in substance; but
that of Cincinnati is expressed in terms most
worthy.
From the two nominations and the two
platforms L come to the supporters of the
candidates, and here L look first at those i'm
medately about them, and secondly at the
popular support behind. Horace Greeley has
among his immediate supporters, in all parts
of tho country, devoted and consistent Re-
publicans, always earnest for reform and pur-
ity in Government, on whose lives there is
no shadow of suspicion, being contrast in
character to those Rings which play such a
part in the present Administration. Look
ing at the popular support behind, the adj
vantage is still with Horace Greeley. Presi- |
dent Grant has at his back the diversified
army of of1ice-holdcrs, drilled to obey the |
word Of command. The speeches praising
him are by ofiicc-holders and members of |
Rings. Horace Greeley finds focking to his |
support large numbers of Republicans unwil- |
ling to continue the existing misrule, and as |
allies with them regenerated party which |
comes forward to unite in the Liberal move
ment. Democrats in Joining Horace Gree
ley have changed simply rs President Grant |
changed when he joined the Republicans, ex-
cept that he was rewarded at once with high |
office. The change ls open. Adopting the |
Republican platform, which places equal |
rights of all under the safeguard of irreversi-
BILE guarantees, and at the same time accept
ing the nomination of lifelong Abolition
list who represents prominently the senti-
ment of duty to the colored race, they have
set their corporate seal to the sacred cove
nant. They may continue Democrats in
name, but they are in reality Republicans by |
the same title that those who sustain Repub-
lican principles are Republicans. Or rather
they are Democrats according to the original
significance of that word dedicated to the |
rights of the people. 1t is idle to say that |
Horace Greeley and the Republicans that
nominated him are any less Republican be-
cause Democrats unite with them in support
of cherished principles and the candidate who
them.
1t is also idle to say that the election of
Horace Greeley as President, with Gratz
Brown as Vice President, both Interchangeable
will be the return of the Demo-
cratic party to power. On the contrary it |
will be the Inauguration of Republican prin-
ciples under the safeguard of Republican
President and Republican Vice President
with Democrats as avowed supporters. In |
tho organization Of his administration and !
the conduct of affairs Horace Greeley will |
naturally lean upon those who represent best |
the great promises made Of equal rights and |
at Cincinnati. If Democrats |
are taken, it will be as Republicans in heart,
the associate terms of the settle
ment as an irreversible finality. Gentle
men: In thus answering your two inquiries,
1 have shown why you, you as colored fell
and all who would uphold your
rights and save the colorcd race from indig-
nifty, should refuse to sanction the reelection |
of the President, and put your trust in Hor-
ace Greeley.
Here follows a good word for Mr.. Brown |
and more about the military rings, and the |
letter-writer adds: Speaking now for myself, |
/ have to say that my vote will be given for
Horace Greeley; but in giving it do not go
to the Democratic party, nor am l any less a I