The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-20
Summers TRADE,

Friday the 3lst day OF May, 1917, is
made memorable in the annals of Ameri-
can Legislation, by Charles Summers re-
sort to "ways that are dark, and tricks
that are vain," to pour forth torrent of
the worst possible hate and jealousy
upon the President of the United
States.
Summers effort on that day cannot be
called speech, it is written essay, not
upon subject worthy the time and best
thought of great mind, and profound
thinker, but an essay upon which
months had been spent to set forth in
word form personal hatred and jealousy
unsurpassed in ancient or modern Legis-
lation, and that personal hatred and
jealousy directed against one of the purest
men, and greatest soldiers of this or
any other nation; against Gen. Grant,
whose name will be revered when his
foul calumniator shall have passed into
merited oblivion.
Mr.. Sumner is not content with pour
ing out the vials of his wrath upon Gen.
Grant, but he must violate the sanctity
of the sick room and make the late
Edwin NJ. Stanton say what he never
dreamed of saying as to Grant and his
ability to perform the duties of Presi-
dent of the United States. But for fear
some Greeley zealot may accuse us OF
misrepresenting Mr.. Sumner in detail
ing his pretended conversation with
Mr.. Stanton a few days before his
death, a conversation which Mr.. Sumner
says haunted MIN night and day, be-
cause he regarded it as legacy belong
ing to his country.
We give the Stanton paragraph or
section of Mr. Summers essay at length
as follows:
"Something, also, must be attributed
to individual character; and here [ ex'
press no opinion of my own; I shall al
low another to speak in solemn words
echoed from the tomb.
On reaching Washington at the open
ing OF Congress in December, 1860,
was panied to hear that Mr.. Stanton
lately Secretary of War, was in failing
health. Full of gratitude for his un
surpassed services, and with sentimen
of friendship quickened by common po
litical sympathies, lost no time in see
ing him, and repeated my visits unit
his death, toward the close of the sam
month. My last visit was marked by
communication never to be forgotten
As I entered his bedroom, where foun'
him reclining on sofa, prOpped by pill
lows, he reached out his hand, alread
elammy cold, and in reply to my inquiry
"How are you?" answered, "Waiting 70
my furlough." Then at once with sin
gular solemnity he said; 81 have some
thing to say to you" When l wa
seated he proceeded without one wor
of introduction: 81 know Gen. Gran
better than any other person in tn
country can know him. 1t was my dut
to study him, and l did so night an
day, when | saw him and when l di
not see him, and now tell you what
know, he cannot govern this country,
The intensity of his manner and tn
positiveness of his judgement surprise
me, for though I was aware that tn
late Secretary of War did not place tn
President very nigh in general capacit,
l was not prepared for a judgment
strongly eouched. AT last, after son
delay, occupied in meditating his r
markable words, l observed, "What yc
say is very broad" "It is as true as
is broad" he replied promptly. adde
"You are tardy; you tell this late; wi
did you no: say it before his nomin
tion?" He answered that he was n
consulted about the nomination, and h'
no opportunity OF expressing his opini'
upon it, besides being much occupied
the time by his duties as Secretary
War and his contest with the Presider
I followed by saying, "But you to-
part in the Presidential election, al
made succession of speeches for hl
in Ohio and Pennsylvania" 81 spoke
said he, "but / never introduced I
name of Gen. Grant. spoke for t