The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-22
The Adams Grafton.


lam II. So sard embodies an interesting re.
view ofihe history of parties in this countrv
for the past half century. On the princinle
that nothing but good should be spoken q
the dead, its strain of unmixed eulogy ma,
pass unchallenged, but we confess our sur
prise that man commonly believed to be
50 severely impartial in his judgments as
Charies Francis Adams, should have found
no nav in the diplomatic or executive record
OF the deceased statesman. The truthful
chronicier who writes the story of tho Re-
oelii9n, will be obliged to admit that the con
duct u The Trent affair was an inexcusapie
oiunder throughout No man had Det'er op-
portunit;es for knowing this than ne VINO
held 1T TIE time the post of Minister TO Eng
land. The obvious course Of the government,
dictated alike by the public safety, and inter-
nat ional law was to have remanded the cap
tiyes, Mason and Slidell, instantly to British
Jurisdiction. Had it been done promptly it
would have been universally acquiesced in at
home. and highly applauded abroad. It was
a great opportunity to vindicate our own inter-
probation of the law of nations uninfluenced
by menace or coercion. It was unwisely
thrown away and as a consequence, the
country was subjected to the deepest humiia.
ton which it has ever been called upon to en-
dure. The despatch of Lord John Russell,
demanding the immediate restitution of the
Rebel enemy, is one Of the most peremptory
and insolent state papers on record. 1t was
discreditable to its author, but it helped to
show in clearer light the impolicy of the
act which made such an imperious summons
possible, and embittered the anti.anglican
feeling of the whole American people.
Mr.. Adams passes lightly over Mr.. Seward
completely with Andrew Johnson's apostasy.
This will always constitute the darkest page
n the biography of the ex-Secretary. john
son would have amounted to nothing, but
for the countenance and encouragement of
his chief minister. His applause of the act
ing Presidents inflammatory speech from the
portico Of the White House on the 22d of
February, 1s66-his conserving to dignity the
famous swing Ground the circle" by his pres
ence few months later and his ostentatious
break with the Republican party were meant
to bolster up the waning fortunes of his chief
Fortunately the people, however true to their
leaders while they pursue the straight path,
win not follow them when they desert to the
enemy and the elections of 1866, demonstra-
ted that the most eminent statesman of his
time was unable to command corporars
guard when he turned his back on the great
organization he had helped to create, and of
whose principles he had been, in earlier years,
the fervid and eloquent champion. History
repeats itself and what was true OF Seward in
1866, was equally true of Sumner in 1872.
Wemention these things in no spirit of disre-
spect to the memory of the departed states
man, but because in candid review of an
eventful public career, the lights and shades
should be artistically blended to constitute
faithful picture. 1t would have been strange
if there were no defects in character so
marked with good traits as that of the man
who played so distinguished a role in Ameri
can politics for thirty years. But we believe
that future generations win honor him more
for the mastery efforts lie made to educate
public opinion to right conceptions of duty,
in reference to the greatest of all the issues
of the century-the irrepressibe confict-to
inspire them with sentiments of obedience to
the ''higher law" than for his subsequent la.
bors, meritorious as they were, in the Depart
ment of State.