New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-29
ACHILLES,


Achilles in his tent The cause of this
isolation was by no means creditable to
the patriotism of the great warrior He
is denied share of the spoils which he
had SO much aided to gain. The beauti-
full Buseis was refused him; and the
schoolboy secretly thought, in the bud
ding emotions that twinkled in his
little heart, that this was the
only iustifable feature in his neu-
trality. Catlin, for whom we had, 1t
is to be feared, more genuine admlra-
ton than even for the more authentic
version of the great poet, has dared to
take a jocular view of the event be
even illustrated by an engraving the curl
GUS scene in which deputation OF cap
tains wait on the gloomy leader and i'm
plore his aid in the imminent and impend-
ing strife. This engraving depicts the
hero, as a Nevada rough might appear
to-day, sitting on an inverted tub, and
smoking a bit of dudheen, not unlike
an honest Ribernian on strike or dis
charged from a job. Underneath this
picture are these enduring words:
The hero in his tent they found,
His daylights fixed upon the ground
For the result of the interview we refer
the reader to the original, and various
translations.
The American people and the Repub-
hcan party has its Achilles. The two
first letters of his name are Hon. Charles
Sumner. For long years he was the
apostle, he was the chief among those
who wrought for freedom to the enslaved
millions in the Union. For this cause he
endured contumely and personal violence;
for this cause he witnessed civil war be-
tween the descendants of those who had
made this republic. 1t was war costly
in blood, treasure, and most costly in
alienation of spirit among those who had
promised each other solemnly, in the
name and presence of God, to be friends.
1t was a war that tried the rivets Of the
constitution, and gave it the additional
confidence that it had stood the test with
out explosion.
1t has only been since the first step in
| the march to universal freedom that the
zeal of the great leader has become calm.
1t has only been when the consequences
of abolition are to fall where they deserve
to fall, on the authors of the African slave
trade, on the competitors Of slave with
| free labor, that the hero of American
emancipation keeps his tent. The prospect
of bringing the republic of San Domingo
into the sis terhood of the Union met his
| disapproval as to the manner in which it
should have been done, yet he submitted
neither amendment nor substitute for the
well meaning, if defective, endeayor. He
has been long absent from the councils of
the Republican administration, not by its
fault, for it has been decorous and just
There may have been disparaging resolu-
tons adopted by his Legislature, but
they will, it is said, be rescinded. He
is no longer at the head of committee,
which he led so long and so ably. There
may be, and are, no doubt, grievances.
| We deplore these modes of marking a
temporary and local spite. Yet Webster,
when excluded from Fanueil Hall, never
visited on Massachusetts the Incorporate
and intolerant error of those who may
have violated the decorum of her public
assemblies. Douglas, who held the ros-
trum of Chicago, though himself inaudible
from the tumult which surrounded him,
never finched in his devotion to the
cause he then advocated, nor held his fell
low-citizens to reproach for violation OF
that freedom of speech for which COM
parati7e few were responsible.
And now, when the despotism of Spain
has driven people to resist the bondage
of the crown and of the church, is it the
time for leader Of American freedom to
continue disconnected or inactive? When
q portion of the Spanish people have de-
clared for emancipation Of the slaves, is
it Just to himself or his cause that Mr.
Sumner should find warrant for ever
moral neutrality? We appeal to him il
the name of the colored millions whom HI
has aided to liberate here. They are M
parties to any disrespect which may hav'
been shown Mr.. Sumner. 1t is no
through their counsel that any indiffer
ence may have been shown to his grea
talents and invaluable services. Yet is il
the colored millions who suffer in theil
sympathies if not in their safety by tn
withdrawal of his strength at thiI
critical moment Slavery still exists on thu
borders of our former bondage. Six hun
bred thousand human beings groan in I
slavery even worse than our own. L
there no danger that in the continued ex
istence of this institution a nucleus ma.
be formed for a more general reorganiza
ton at some future period2 The coloret
millions of America wish the last sparl
that may smolder even under the ruin
of Spanish despotism to be extinguished
It may revive. 1t may catch. It ma,
communicate direful confagration upoi
this continent Let the head of the ser
pent be crushed. We win not dilate upol
the obvious duty which the emancipate,
millions owe to God for his vouchsafet
mercies to them, and to humanity for tn
power to intervene for the prevention G
crime. The appeal is made to Achilles t
rut on his disused armor, to quit hi
gloomy tent, forget his wrongs, if any exist