Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-03-18

not be moved from their settled
convictions Ivy any considerations
of policy or expediency. Charles
Sumner was no trimming or time
serving politician. He left the
Wing party when it was a power in
the nation because he could not
consistently support its policy, and
more than a score of years subse-
quently he withdrew from the pres
ent administration party on equally
high grounds. Those opposed to
Mr.. Sumner always knew where he
stood, and though dissenting never
so much from his views and conclu-
sions, were forced to do homage TO
the sincerity Of his convictions and
the honesty of his motives. If Mr..
Sumner had been more polite he
would probably have been more
successful as politician, though
his nature would have revolted at
wearing honors earned by the sac
rifice of any principle for the sake
OF temporary success. That he
would have been moro successful rs
a statesman if he had taken more
note of the public pulse, is per-
haps true but resting securely in
the confidence of the people of the
State he so long and so honorably
served, he manfully asserted his
convictions, and felt rccompensed
in the knowledge that he had con-
scientiously done what he thought
was his duty. Mr.. Sumner won
for himself the lasting love and af-
lection of the colored race by his
earnest and untiring efforts in their
behalf, both as bond and rs free
men; and his loss will be mourned
by the black man as that of a
staunch and able friend and faith
full ally-as one which cannot be
replaced.
On question of international law
the opinions of Mr.. Sumner carried
with them the weight of great
authority. Few if any men in the
United States possessed q more
comprehensive knowledge on these
questions than he, and this know
ledge was of no slight value to the
nation during the years in which
the Senator vas at the head Of the
Foreign Relation Committee. But
it was not alone in this speciality
that Mr.. Sumner stood preeminent.
He was a man of extraordinary
breadth of learning and culture,
and if he had turned his attention
TO literature as a pursuit, instead |
of merely as a congenial study, he
would have undoubtedly attained
high distinction. AS lawyer he was
great when still q young man, but
the possibilities he might have
achieved in his profession were
prevented by his practical aban-
donment of it after his entrance
into Senatorial life. For the past
fifteen or twenty years Mr.. Sumner
has been looked upon as the lead
ing American orator. He was not
as ready DICTATOR as many of his
colleagues in the Senate, bat when
he was thoroughly prepared his
addresses were master. pciccs in
matter and manner. The announce
ment that he would speak was al
ways sufficient TO fill the Senate
Chamber to overlooking.
Personally Mr.. Sumner possessed
some qualities and characteristics
which had a tendency to repel
rather than attract. He was per-
haps somewhat arrogant and ego
tistical, and for this the party
which for so long made so much
Of him was in no small degree
yet these were COM
pletely over-shadowed by those
grander qualities of heart and
mind which led him to sympathize
with the suffering and Oppressed of
every land, and which kept him so
high above the mire of party poll
ties and above all contamination |
with corruption that he went to
his death without a breath of re-
proach against his fame.