Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-06-04
The Liberals" and the Civil Rights
Bill.
from the CHICAGO Jourual.1

Il
The Tribune Almanac, in classify
ing the members of Congress, sets
down Charles Sumner, Carl Schurz
Fenton of New York, Upton oil
Nebraska and Hamilton of Texas a:
"Libo'. ls." 1t will be remembered
that the Civil Rights bill passed by
the Senate last Saturday was the
especial pet of Mr.. Sumner, the one
unfinished work of his public career.
1t is notable that not one of his i'm
mediate political associates voted for
or against the measure on its passage.
Mr.. Upton alone made record. He
virtually voted against it, being pair
ed with his colleague, Mr.. Hitchcock,
friend of the bill The lodging of
Mossrs. Fenton and Hamilton was
not surprising. They are willy politi-
clans, and never pretended to be par
ticuarly friendly to Mr.. Sumner.
But the course Of Carl Sehurz is
quite different He has set himself
up as the intimate friend and success
or of Mr.. Sumner He it was who
stood forth at Boston as his panegyr-
list par excellence. Not content with
that, he declared at banquet the
day following that he was the Elisha
of the dead statesman, and promised
to wear his mantle faithfully. 1--WE
fought side by side" he said cor rath-
ser back to back, during the three
"bitterest years Of Summers life. |
'feel like man who, seeing his COM
trade fall by his side, holds his body
Gin one hand and waves his sword
ain the othor." More to the same
effect did the Senator from Missouri
say on that occasion.
The Civil Rights bill afforded the
very first opportunity to test the sin
cerity of those words. With his dy-
ing breath Mr.. Sumner implored his
friends to stand by the Civil Rights
bill. 1t was the enc undecided bat
tle-feId of his life. Does Carl Schurz
now feel like man who, seeing his
conrad fall by his side, holds his
body in one hand and waves his
sword with the other? A stronger
contrast between words and deeds
could hardly be conceived. Certain
it is that never did the memory of
dead statesman plead more eloquent
ly than did that of Charles Samner
for the Civil Rights BILL and the
"sword" of Gail Schurz was sheathed.
Instead of being the champion of his
Boston pledge, he played the part of
Judas, and forfeited the respect of all
who hold 10 reverence the name of
Charles Sumner. Not only so, but
the enemies against whom he prom
lsed to wave his drawn sword must
despise him as q hypocrite and
sneak.
The probable explanation of Schurz
course is not difficult to divine. He
is Senator from the Democratic
State of Missouri. His term will ex-
pire next year. He wants to be re-
elected, and is afraid that by voting
for measure of justice to the negro
he would blight his political prospects.
That is the only theory upon which
his conduct can be explained. He
utterly lacks the moral courage
which braves danger rather than
merit contempt.
The vote of the Senate on the Civil
Rights bill was the last spadeful of
dirt upon the ELjberal" coffin. There
is now no distinction between "L b.
eral" and Democrat. Mr.. Sumner
did, indeed, occupy peculiar posi-
ton, being Republican in principles,
but unfriendly with the party as an
organization. 1t was shown on Sat-
urday last that herein he was abso-
lutely alone. If he could have lived
to see the record of the Senate on
cSd3'' es22c;eedingly t6at the good
senre of the nation prevented the
overthrow of the Republican party
in 1872.