New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-02
4 RECEPTION TO CARL SEIZURE
HoNoRs TO CHARLES SUMNER.

HONORS TO CHARLES SUMNER.
SPEECHES BY JOHN WEISS DIR. BARroL, J. q. WHIT
TIER, SENATOR sCHURz, c. p. CRANCH, AND
OTHERS
IRON A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUSBl
BosToN, April 80. The concluding event of
Senator schuzs visit TO Boston reception to him.
this afternoon at the house OF Mrs. Sargent OF Radical
Club fame. 1t perhaps the most brilliant or tho
many brilliant gatherings which these h0spltable
parors have witnessed. They were full OF flowers
and fragrance of women wise, witty and wnsome,
and men hOnored and gifted and famous. On stand
was Milmores grand bust Of Sumner--a stately and
noble presenment by which Mr.. Sumner expressed his
desire to be known to posterty. In front OF this
at a little distance sat Gail schurz himself, with
his graceful wife by his side. Not far of was
the poet Longfellow, with his countenance as
serene and refined and full OF gracious charm as
ono OF his own poems. Whittier was near at hand,
a man whose very look is benediction Clergymen,
and men OF letters and politicians and artists and solid
Boston merchants-take it all in all such company is
seldom gathered togetheri The poet Stedman told the
"interyiewer who sifted him that the literary confer
was being removed from Boston TO New-York; but one
felt to-day as If tho had yet been shorn Of its
glory.
John Weiss opened the proceedings by an eloquent
tribute 10 the moral worth Of Mr.. Sumner--a man Of
deeds rather than professions. Mr. Sargent followed
him with brief speech; and then Dr. BartOl who TOOK
occasion to express the general Of obligation to
Mr. Schurz his noble grafton Of yesterday and also
for his stand in Congress against imitation Mr. Potter
made some remarks full of feeling and appreciation;
and them wonder OF wonders. the poet Whittier
was persuaded stand upon his fee-the first time !
have ever known him TO speak in any assemoy-and
say few words. Like the rest he thanked Mr. churz-
whose Grafton has filed the friends Of Sumner with en-
thusiasu-and thanked him, as DR.. Bartol had done;
though TO the dead down as ever SO slightly falling
rfoctinv hal "A
loved him so wholly.
Then Mr. schurz who had como with the understand
ing that he was not to speak, was ontreated for few
words and spoke them with such simplicity and fervor
as we who heard them Will never forget In answer 10
Mr. Whittier he alluded to his own love for Sumner
He said they had fought together through many srug
ge not SIDE but back to back, so as to oer an
opposng front all around - they two against so
many. He q man OF peace; but he had
seen enough of war TO catch the soldiers
spirit who his cOmrade falls beside him. lifts the
dear corse with one arm, and away at the enemy
with the other. His beloved old comrade had fallen
beside HIM aud he felt left at TO carry
ON his work and defend his memory He alluded to
what Dr. Barto had said Of the fight against imitation,
and he said if he had seemed in that, TO 90 somewhat
against the wishes and ideas OF the section which
he represented it had been because the right must,
in the very nature OF things, be the best Tor
all secons and for absolute right he meant always
and everywhere TO contend. Finally, he expressed his
grateful pleasure at the in which he had been
received here and said that If he had second homo to
choose in America he thought he should not 20 out OF
Boston. How eOQuently he speaks-what charm there
is In his slight foreign accent and yet how perfectly he
has mastered hard English tongue do not need to
tell you OF THE TRIBUNE. The poet aud painter, c. r.
Crsnch, was the concluding speaker and his brief
speech contained 80 perfect picture that obtained
permission TO give 1t to youin full:
IL NAV be superhuous for me- who hadso slight
"a M ia nd hn
MS public career chiefly from across the Atlantic, TO add
my humble testimony 10 the weldeserved eulogies
which have been spoken by 80 many eloquent lips. or
his commanding position IN our pOutlcai history OF ms
Incorporating steadtastness ana unshInkhg courage
OF his persistent assertion OF absolute Justice IN behalf or
an oppressed race and against the oyefDearhg assump
tons aud DruIa! asaauts u te ,b ma. him Se
prophet of a era in Amerca-and OF his untrlng
Rdrs that the nation should recover Its lost ideals
there has been be but opinion as there has
been but voice OF praise, among inc Ilenus VI un
freedom and humanity.
iu ITSELF yet symbolizng to me the man and his career
Many years ago. long ere the land was py ne
proved on what volcanic soil we stoo1; was staying
al Nahant with my friend William W. story, where
afterward Mr. Sumner then In his sunny and elastic
youth, before he was elected to the Senate -,
on one OF those summer afternoons was seated on
the shore busly engaged in painting the picturesque
rocks and views in front Of Mr. story cottage stretch
in out towards the sea- All that the picture needed
was figure on the rocks Just them at the furthest end
OF the long ledge the tall form OF Sumner appeared and
once, landscapepanteIs fashion, otted down
into the picture. He stood in the right place But he
quite unconscious Of his position, that any one was
observing him. Nor did he stand there as ounGer.
He was waiting impatenty for the evening steamboat
TO bring the papers from Boston he had his eye on
tbe State aud the nation, while had mine only that
little ledge OF picturesque rock ana that stretching sea,
and the tall figure that happened " stand there just at
the right moment.
As recall that little study from nature 1t seems to tx
aud symbolic the future Senator As he stands there
in the picture the end OF the long gray ledge looking
seward so did he stand through his life, upon the fm
OF political principle facing the great uncertain
Of the future destmes OF America. There he stands
always in the right place-thOugh the extreme
point Of the time. There he stands, eagerly waiting
Tor the news-the latest news which year after
wear might brug-Of the slow gains OF Justice
upon force and fraud and compromise. There Lo stands
looking into misty distance Of the coming twilight
the mist that aferward gathered into storm and huIr
cane,-whIle and my friends were thinking chiefly of
mature aud art and literature, ana the poetry Of life.
This Is only picture, hardly an incidents bus 10 may
perhaps, 10 add small ylguette or DIT OF scroll
work to the earnest pages Of his bOgrapAy.
with these words the exercises. as far as speech
making concerned, htly concluded. They left IN
our minds the picture OF great soul III a great
body; opposing within his kngly presence with the
majesty born Of pure intentions aud pure life, all
sbans aud all wrong-doing. L. c. NJ.
THE WEST AND INFLATGON.