Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-06-05
The Liberals and the Civil Rights
Bill.

The Tribune Almanac, in classifying
the members of Congress, sets down
Charles Sumner, Carl SchurZ, Fenton of
New York, Upton of Nebraska and
Hamilton of Texas as !" Liberals" twill
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 political career. 1t
is notable that not one of his immediate
political associates voted for or against
the measure on its passage. Mr.. Upton
alone made record. He virtually voted
against it, being paired with his col
league, Mr.. Hitchcock, friend of the
bill. The lodging of Messrs. Fenton and
Hamilton was not surprising. They are
willy politicians, and never pretended to
be particularly friendly to Mr. Sumner.
But the course of Carl Schurz is quite
different. He has set himself up as the
intimate friend and successor of Mr.. Sum.
ner. He it was who stood forth at Boston
as his panegyrist par excellence. Not con.
tent 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. ave fought
side by side" he said, "Or rather back to
back, during the three bitterest years of
Summers life. l feel like a man who,
seeing his comrade fall by his side, holds
his body in one hand and waves his
sword with the other" More to the same
on that occasion.
The Civil Rights bill afforded the very
first opportunity to test the sincerity of
those words. With his dying breath Mr..
Sumner implored his friends to stand by
the Civil Rights bill. 1t was the one un-
decided battle field of his life. Does Carl
Schurz now feel like man who, seeing
his cOmrade fall by his side, holds his
body in one hand and waves his sword
with the other? A stronger contrast be.
tween words and deeds could hardly be
conceived. Certain it is that never did
the memory of dead statesman plead
more eloquently than did that of Charles
Sumner for the Civil Rights bill, and the
sword" of Carl 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 in reverence the name of
Charles Sumner. Not only so, but the
enemies against whom he promised 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 a
Senator from the Democratic State OF
Missouri. His term will expire next year.
He wants to be reelected, 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 CON
tempt.
The vote of the Senate on the Civil
Rights bill was the last spadeful of dirt
upon the Liberal" coffin. There is now
no distinction between Liberal" and
Democrat Mr.. Sumner did, indeed, oc,
cupy peculiar position, being a Repub
lican in principles, but unfriendly with
the party as an organization. II was
shown on Saturday last that herein he
was absolutely alone. If he could have