The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-13
strife After Death.

We can think Of nothing more ill-advised
than the publication at this time of the sup
pressed speech Of Charles Sumner giving his
version Of his difficulty with the President on
the ST. Domingo question. This criticism
is upon the friends" Of Sumner who
made the publication, not upon the
journals that of course, made the pub
LEGATION as matter of news This digging up
the bones of the dead to be used as missiles
for political combat is the meanest thing that
has been done in our politics for long time.
This is saying great deal, for our politicians
have done so many mean things to one
another that no gentleman can think of pub
lie life without fear and trembling. In this
instance there was every reason for the suppress
sion OF Mr.. Summers speech, at least until the
time when it would be literary and historical
curiosity. He had not delivered it himself or
consented to it's publication. That in itself
shows that he felt that it should not be pub
lished. Then, Sumner was not q coward, and
he would not have aimed blow from tho
grave. He was in active public life to within
few hours Of his death. If any wise purpose
were to be served by this speech he was the
Judge, and the only judge. For his executors
or party associates to assume that they knew
better than the Senator what was due to his
State and the country was to outrage ths
memory of the man they claimed to serve.
We do not take into account the merits of
the question. We have no doubt many things
were done and said by Mr. Sumner, as well as
by the President and Mr.. Fish, during that
heated ST. Domingo time, which they all re-
GREETED. No fact is better known, for in
stance than that Sumner himself always felt
that he should have, as q supporter of the
administration, called upon the President and
frankly mentioned his reasons for opposing
St Domingo before he made his sudden as
sault in the Senate Had this been done the
treaty would most likely have been withdrawn
GREETED that he had not done this; and, per-
haps, the feeling that he had not been alto
pether free from indifference in regard to thu
President may have inspired him with the
resolution not to pursue the matter any
further
This speech does not exalt Mr.. Sumner It
is a very human speech, full of temper and
yexation and littleness of detail and per-
sonal complaints. We could understand
Senator in ill health writing such an address,
but we can never imagine the intrepid and
glorious Sumner actually rising in his place
and discussing to a listening Senate what
passed between Mr.. Fish and himself at his
own table, or intimati1g that he really thought
the President Was eager to engage with him
in a duel, or that he dreaded personal en-
counter with General Babcock. The more Wa
look at it the more painful and pitiful it be-
comes. dishoncring in the last degree to the
foolish .oen who coula rife tie grave Of .
dead Senator to make war upon living Presi-
dent Are cur political relations to become
SC bitter that even death will not grant us
truce2 Shall we carry Our small quarrels and
strifes beyond the grave? Is it possible that
we shall ever feel that, before everything else
in the world, fame, success, party-power and
political emclument, it is incumbent upon us
to be gentlemen, and that no gentleman would
treat the memory Of friend as Mr., Sunanora
has been treateda