New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-30

things In fact could scarcely have done otherwise
Thus nature and education made him an idealst-and
indeed he stands there rs tho most pronounced ideas
among the public men Of America.
| IMPULSES THAT LED SUMNER TO POLITICS.
He was an ardent friend Of liberty, not like one OF
those have themselves suffered oppression and felt
the CALLING weight Of chains nor like those VINO In the
common walks OF life have experienced the comfort Oh
! wide elbow-rOom and the quCkeung and encouraging
nauenoe OF free institutions for tho practical work of
| life But 20 him liberty was the ideal goddess clothed
IN sublime attributes Of surprising beauty and bench
cence giving 10 every human being his eternal rights
showerng the treasures OF her blessings ana
| lifting up the lowly to ideal existence.
In the same ethereal light stood in his mind the repub
lie his country the law, the future organization OF the
great family Of peoples That ideasm was sustained
| and ouckened not merely by his vast learning ana
classical inspirations, but by that rare and exquisite
purity OF fe and high moral senstiveness, which no
had preserved and fresh through all the tempta
ons of his youth which remained intact and fresh
| down to his last day.
Such was the man. when, in tho eIuberant vigor or
manhood he entered public life. Until that time he had
entertained aspirations for political career "heh
discussing with friend OF his youth, now man OF
fame the future might have In store Tor the nc
said You may he a of the United States some
day; but nothing would make me happier than 10 DO
President Of Harvard College" And n later years he
| publicly declared: with the ample opportunities OF
private life | content. No tombstone Tor me oouu
bear fairer inscription than this Here lies one VINO,
without the honors emouments OF pubic STATION oa
something for his felow-men 10 was the scholar WHO
spoke and no doubt he spoke sincerely, But he found
the Slavery question his path rather the Slavery
question seized upon him. Tho advocate OF universal
peace eternal reign OF justice and charity couu
not fail Slavery the embodiment OF unlVersai
war OF man against man, OF absolute injustice ana op
| preston Little knowing where the first word would
1 in fha mn
| struggle
| The idealist found living question to deal with'
which like flash OF lightning, struck into the very
depth OF his soul ana set IL on fire. The whole ardor OF
his nature broke out In the enthusiasm OF the anu
Slavery man. In a series OF glowing addresses ana
| letters no attacked tho great wrong. He protested
| against the Mexican war; he assailed with powerful
strokes the fugitive slave law he attempted to draw
the Wing party into decided anti-Slayery policy; ana
when that failed he broke through his party aiat0ns
and Joined the small band of Free Sellers lie was an
aboonst by nature but not one OF those VINO eJecteu
| the Constitution "a a covenant with slavery HIS ega
mind found IN the Constitution no express recognition OF
Slavery and he consistently construed 1t ss warrant OF
freedom. This placed hun In the ranks OF those VINO
| were called Political AboIitionsts"
He did not think of the sacrifices which this obedience
| TO his moral impulses might cost him. For at that
time, Aboti0nism by no means fashonaDle thihg
| An anti-Sayery man was then, even in Boston, posi-
|
make ansavery speeches was looked upon not only as
| an incendiary but vulgar occupation And that the
highly refined Sumner, who was so learned ano aDie'
who had seen the world and mixed with the highest
social circles in Europe who knew the classics oy hear
and could deliver judgment picture or statue hike
a veteran COnnOisseur; who was fay0rite Win tue
wealthy and powerful and could In his aspirations for
an easy ana fitting position in life count upon their
whole influence If he only would not do nything TOOL
! isl-thlt such should 20 among the Aootonists
! and not only sympathize vita them, but work win
them and pose himself 10 chance OF being dragged
through the streets by vulgar hands with rope round
his neck like william Lloyd Garrison-tha was thing
at which the polite society Of that day would revolt
and which no man could undertake without danger OF
being severely dropped. But that the thing which
the refined Sumner actually did probably without giving
a moments thought to the possible consequences.
He went 80 far az openly to DEFY mat DICTATOR
ship which the great Daniel webster had for so many
years been exercising the political mind OF Mas'a-
chusots and which then about TO exert ITS power
in favor of compromise with Slavery. But times were
changing. and only six years after the delivery OF LIS
first popular address elected the Senate of the
United states by combination of Democrats and Free
| Sellers. - .
Charles Sumner entered the Senate the LIST day Of
December, lie entered as the successor OIL Daniel
Webster who had been appointed Secretary OF State On
| the same lst of December Henry Clay spoke his last
word IA the Senate, anu lnen eIg the OhahDer never W
| return.
| striking and most significant coincidence: Henry
Clay disappeared from public life. Daniel Webster left
! tho Senate drawing near his end. Charles Sumner
stepped upon tue The close or and tho be-
ginning OF another epoch in the great American Repuo-
lie we're portrayed in the exit and entry OF these men.
Clay and Webster had appeared In the councils OF the
nation in the early part OF this century The republic
was still IN its childhood in almost every respect still
| tad problem. SLOWLY
and painfully had struggled through the first conflicts
OF theories and acquired only uncertain
degree Of national consistency There were tho some
what unruy democracies OF the States with their fresh
revolutionary "reminiscences, their instincts OF entirely
independent sovereignty and their now and then SEEM
ingy divergent interests and the task OF binding them
firmly together In the bonds OF common aspirations, Of
national spirit and the authority OF national law. had
| indeed, fairly progressed, but far from being
entirely accomplished The United States not yet CON-
paced by the of rapid ocomotion which to- day
make every iuhabtant OF the land 'neghbor OF the
national capital, then still struggling oOnfede-
racy and the members OF that confederacy had since
| the triumphant issue Of the revolution more common
memories of trials suorings, embarrassments,
dangers and anxetes together. than Of cheering
cesses and OF assured prosperity and well being.
The great powers Of the Old World fercey contend
ing among themselves for the mastery, rampled. with
out remorse upon the neutral rights OF the young and
| feeble Republic. impending with one OF
| Them bringing disastrous reverses and spreading
alarm and discomfort the land. dark cloud Of
financial difficulty hung the nation. And the dan
| ger from abroad and embarrassmeDts at home were
heightened by restless party spirit, which former dis.
| agreements had left behind them, and which every
newy.arising question seemed to embitter The out
look was dark and uncertain. 1t was under such cir
cuustances that Henry Clay first and Daniel Webster
| nd At