Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-04
senator Summers speeeb.

Mr.. Summers recent speech in the senate re-
plies TO itself. His angry assault on the pres-
dent was too angry TO be effective, too violent
and unjust to have his own approval when the
passions of the hour have passed away and left
him to review what he has done, with his mind
under the control of calm reason aud manly
feeling. The provoeation Mr.. Sumner has re-
ceived, and which we have not failed to de-
nounce, was due more TO Secretary Fish than 20
the president The quarrel would not have had
beginning if Mr.. Fish and Mr.. Sumner had
both been unassuming, unpretentious, and m-
vincibly good natured under all circumstances
Mr.. Fish has a great lack of these peculiar
tiles. Mr.. Sumner has a great record which
will forever command respect; but he is not
faultless in his bearing towards Others There
fore, the deplorabe quarrel was possible; and it
is the more deplorable, because it has been al
lowed to become what it is by suspendng in
Mr.. Sumner, for time, the greatness of mind
which should have raised him above it, and
given him that grander bearing which would
have been far more effective and triumphant
than bitter personalities and passionate speeches.
This higher bearing under provocation would
have increased admiration for his character and
given his reputation additional brightness
We have no disposition to write a review of
Mr.. Summers speech. No review or reply is
needed. We shall make only two points against
it. In the first place, Gen. Grant is not such a
man as he appears to be in that violent speech.
The man who captured Vicksburg and planned
the great movements by which the rebellion was
suppressed, does not lack either ability or patri-
otism; and the president who has dealt so wisely
and firmly with the questions growing out of
reconstruction, who has done SO much to break
up the Indian rings and reform the civil service,
and whose administration has managed the
finances of the country so admirably, has strong
claims to respect and good will. In the second
place, Senator Sumner owes some respect to the
convictions and feelings of his old associates of
the republican party There are thousands of re-
publicans in Massachusetts who have sustained
the party from the beginning and are as sincere
and honest as he in his best moods but who
differ from him entirely in regard to Gen Grant
He should take some account of this fact He
can not make such astonishing personal assaults
on the president without assailing the republican
party itself which supports him and has plainly
indicated purpose to nominate him for re-elec-
ton. Under such circumstances, our admired
senator's criticism of the administration should
be more candid and considerate, and more
thoughtful of what is due to the thousands of
honest and intelligent republicans who support
it. If MIR. Sumner supposes these republicans
have admired him without thinking very posi-
lively for themselves, he is very greatly mis-
taken.
We are told that the democrats will use Mr..
Summers speech as a campaign document. 1t
is impossible TO imagine any other use that can
be made of it. So far as it has any influence
whatever, it will aid the democratic party; but
it will iniure Mr. Sumner himself more than
anybody else, because it overdoes the matter of
combative assault and moves most people TO
ask themselves how it was possible for Senator
Sumner TO prepare and deliver such a speech
but il will be remembered that the best men aIe
not free from humane passions and mistakes.
Moreover, there is great deal of truth in few
works spoken in the senate, Saturday, by
Senator Wilson. They are reported as fol-
flows: "Mr. Wilson deplored this polit-
cal speech-making; the people he said,
thought less of senators than senators thought
of themselves; nor did he believe that all the
speeches made in the senate siuce last December
had changed five votes" 1t is very true that
senator are tempted to overestimate their per-
sonal power and influence. Republicans are ac-
customed to think for themselves The history
of the republican party shows that it was created
and has been sustained by men of this eharac-
ter The men who have gained great positions
byirepresenting them ably and truly, never have
had and never will have power to control their
convictions. They will not Withdraw adj
miration from Senator Sumner, but, at the
same time, they will not extend this admiration
10 his recent speech.