The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-25
charles sumner.

Charles Sumner.
A notice of the admirable memorial
sermon of Rev. w. B. Derrick, of the
Third-street M. Il. church. on Sunday,
March %, appeared in Yesterdays paper.
To-day is given the text in full, as follows :
"a great man fallen this day in Israeli
II Samuel. Ill chapter, SS verse
No wonder that SO many are congregated
here to-day to testify their heartfelt sor-
row for our nations loss. That thrill OF
anguish every American felt all
acress our great land. Why few days
ago did strong men, little accustomed to
weep, shed tears as they met each other on
the streets, and why was there mourning
in SO many households, and our children
saddened, as if by tidings that one of our
dearest kindred had died? Why, but be-
cause we all felt that this was to each one
of us a personal bereavement, to every
true American the saddest intelligence that
had ever reached this, our city.
The nation, sorely bereaved, had wept
for its departed statesmen and heroes be-
fore, but never had it mourned the death
of SO illustrious son. The fathers of the
Republic, with fitting honors, had been
laid to rest. The people, devoted to their
chosen rulers with that devotion which lib
erty alone can foster, had shed tears of
conmingling sorrow and gratitude when
the only Washington the centuries could
afford died in good old age, in quietness
and full of honors. Such statesmen as
Clay and Webster, too great to be Presi-
dents-Sumner still greater-had been
almost idolized by the people while living,
! and sincerely incurred by them when they
died, but never before have they mourned
as now they mourn for him who, at the
very height Of his popularity, from the
very pinnacle of earthly glory, was sum-
moned to the home of the fathers, beyond
the bounds of time and space.
1t is not my purpose to intensity your
grief, but let me rather, as minister of
the Gospel of Peace, whose mission ID is to
comfort the afflicted, indicate some of
those elements of consolation which may
help to assuage our grief. He, like Moses,
went to the border of the promised land,
and by faith beheld, as from the heights
of Nebo, the future glory, and yet was
not permitted to enter the land and see the
promise fulfilled. This seems sad indeed,
but what if the nation had been left with
out their great leader, while as yet wan
dering in the wilderness and no promise oil
peace had greeted their longing eyes? Yes,
teven in the bitterness of our sorrow there
is this occasion for gratitude. the dark cloud
is fringed, and we can say, thank God he
lived to see the promised land, ready to
become the perpetual and peaceful heri-
tage of great people but he knew not
the time of his death, yet with steady
steps towards the Jordan Of difficulty
and doubt he pursued his course
and the waves rolled back tina
the united tribes bearing the sacret
. ark of liberty might at once 60 over ant
possess it. Our bereavement is bitter
our loss is great-our hearts are heavy
but we accept all that--God has permitted
with an unfaltering faith, believing tina
he will raise another Elijah, whose fai
fame and untarnished character likened I'm
f to the lamented Sumner. Yes, the trans
cendent brilliancy of most illustriou
career, history has no record to make o.
all those pages devoted to the life of Sun,
ner as his best legacy to his bereave,
6 unsullied name. True, "a great man ha
, and never spoke too early or too late. III
! was chosen as man opposed to slavery
Those who approached him, never faile
f to discover what was nearest his sou
! Liberty liberty liberty and equality to all
! He was grea. man-great by birth, grei
:; in learning, great in principle, great
q truth, great in law, great in virtue, great
! deeds. firm in friendship.
Uncompromising in defending the caus
# of freedom, a truer, yea, stronger chan
4 pion never lived for the cause OF the Of
a pressed of every land and nation. His grea
!. ness is not only acknowledged at HON
but across the Atlantic ocean--yea, arour
the globe. There is not country, not
q government truly civilized but VIII
a mourns his death. Sumner is no NOR
4 He sleeps beneath the cl6ds of the vale,
4 his monument already erected in the pc
"a sons of five millions of free men, womt
i and children. His thirst for liberty cou
N not be quenched by the waves of prejudic
20 Great in wisdom, such was his mast
1ee mind he took upon himself the respon
Id biity Of the most gigantic struggle Il
world has ever witnessed between t
forces of freedom and slavery. Yet wi
,r unwavering hand through all the DANCE
al Of the conflict, he was confident that |
nt country could be made among the free
h; ts of nations and placed high, yea, sa
wv Then none dare longer question
nv strength and majesty Of her freedom.
ed With firm faith in his God and
a country, and his principles of freedom
no all men, whatever their color or conditit
es' he has stood for thirty years unmoy
amid the shock of armies and the clam
et OF faction. He quailed not when his II
on seemed to triumph. He boosted not
m. victory. nor sought to arrogate to hims
re. the honors of the great deeds which hi
M resounded through the world, but ger
ar and modest, as he was great and good,
all took the chaplet from his own brow
place it on the lowly graves Of the sold
whose blood had been so literally pou
ute forth to consecrate the soil of America
vi. freedom. He dies and makes no 81
sure but the impress of his noble character
I Is aims will be borne by us while time
and dures. He dies but his country Ii
Freedom has triumphcd. The bro
chains at the feet of the slt
r. are the mute witnesses Of his
the tory. Truly. he was great. Wise
hich was his pathway, his guide, his
no: tress. Such was his scholastic attainme
III it yea, his craftsmanship, that in the 7
anne critical period of our country's history
cure. was placed at the head of the committe
ut it foreign relations, task that called /
nted the best mind of the nation. Requl
ming the highest ability to cope with. the miI
49,. Il ..nI.N N