New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-21

by the inherent merit Of principles when
they had nothing else to rec0mDend them,
at once eepoused them. now that they had
become the tenets of great and growing
organization, marching on to victory ct the
polls. It is thus that God in His providence
secures His results among men. He allies
principles to human seltshness and main
tains and brings to triumph pure and un-
selfish doctrines by bringing to their sup
port the baser passions. What the pr1ncl'
ples of the early Abolitionists lost by tins
alliance in disinterestedness, they gained IN
coarser but effective force. The religious
creed, or, perhaps better, the humanitarian
principles of those who supported birney;
thereby conspicuously finding pohtlcal
Ostraciem, had become the platform upon
which unnumbered candidates expected TO
be elected to honorable and lucrative posi-
TONS And so the campaign of 1861 was
made by the Republican party throughout
the North, by some who fought against
slavery for rights sake, by others from :,
sort of local patriotism, and by others still
for the loaves and fishes of office, mus
constituted, it was successful. Surely sucn
Q party needed some quiekenlpg I., some ;s
transformation, some baptism before IL
could be truly qualified for any great work
for the nation or humanity.
This capacitating and ennObling force
came, and came unexpectedly, from ter
rible civil war. For slavery, unwisely Tor
itself, had determined to risk all upon the
arbitrament of the sword. The opening OF
actual hostiliuies struck the Northern mind
like sudden blow. 1t produced consterna-
ton. Then followed the perception that
the States divided would be States degener-
ate, petty principalities, as easy prey to
their own jealOusies or to foreign am itlon.
As the proportions of the contest enlarged,
came the stimulus which ever attends
gigantic undertaking. There was, too, the
absorbing interest which fathers, brothers
and sons. fallen or fighting in cause, could
alone create. Soon the enormous expendi.
ture made success growing necessity. All
this gave to moral ideas q supremacy which
ordinarily they do not possess in national
affairs. and, added to the influence OF those
who watched events chiefly to see how the
grea: interests of humanity were advanced
or retarded, opened up an opportunity tor
the acqulttance by the nation of what had
been really the nations sin. Thus, partly
from selfish motives, partly from much
higher ones, was brought about the abOll.
ton Of slavery throughout the United
States. In this memorable contest, what
part did Charles Sumner take? When you
contemplate his lifelong principles you can
tell in advance what measures he urged,
and with what spirit he urged them.
A civil war is terrible ordeal, not only
for the State but for individuals. Not only
is the destiny of the nation made to hang
upon the result of q battle or campaign;
not only are the bands of civil society lOos-
ened and the ordinary restraints upon the
ages in the cabinet and the field have
pressed upon them duties which test to the
utmost their intellectual and moral caiibre,
for they are compelled to solve questions
and settle upon movements and lines OF
policy Of EOmentOus consequence to the
community. with little opportunity for de-
liberation and none for aid Outside their
own genius and spirit. This was peculiarly
true in our civil war on the part OF the
North, for there was demanded not only
military skill of high order. not only ad.
illustrative ability capable Of providing
the means of vast and continued military
movements. but the spirit of the people had
to be kept up to the point which allowed of
immense personal sacrifices tor the common
good, and also the question OF slavery mad
to be dealt with wisely and boldly. Mr..
matters purely military. He was excelled
by many in matters of dministration. But
as man whom the people trusted for high
and sustaining impulse he was unsurpassed
His zeal glowed and radiated, like the light,
throughout the whole north. The earnest
ness Of his convictions, then above all times,
wrought conviction in others. His prophe.
cies rekindled the hopes of the Responding
and impaired courage to those who were
ready to take counsel by their fears. His
enthusiasm became intenser as the emer-
gencies became more alarming, until, by
virtue of his never finching advocacy OF
the right in the midst of no matter what
dangers, ne had accorded to him, both
among the people and in the nations coun-
sells, prominence which mere Intellectual
greatness could not have attained. From
the beginning to the enc Of the war he rep.
resented in his words and acts disinterest-
edness of motive and holiness of devotion
to country which aided much in securing
ultimate success.
On the subject of slavery he never
wavered. He was an early and incessant
advocate of emancipation. He pressed it as
a measure of the clearest right and, there
fore, as in the highest and most enduring
sense, expedient. He also urged it as
means OF national defense, founded upon
reasons which evidenced it's practical wis
dom when tested by the doctrine of imme-
date material consequences. Many men
contributed to this measure, and the official
responsibility of the act of emancipation
finally rested upon President whose aus
tere simplicity and integrity of life, together
with his martyrdOm, has given him an i'm
mediate and nigh position IN the worlds
estimation; but of all the men who con-
tributed to bring it about, 20 one brought
to bear an enthusiasm more truly sacred or
a faith more implicit, or a a force which in
the aggregate was more valuable when
judged by the rare combination Of high
qualities from which it was derived, or the
effectiveness with which it was exerted.
When the storm which darkened the ma
TONS sky was thickest, his sole fear was
lest an opportunity for stupendous good
might be unimprOved and pass never to re-
turn. Thus the war with it's terrors and
horrors afforded an opportunity for &C.
conplishing for humanity that which ar-
gument and eloquence and learning
had only helped to render possible.
So when one sums up his labors during
the war, it should be said, that he
stands forth as, even now, a historic char
acter remarkable for the lofty tone which
he impaired to discussion, and for the ele-
waited aim which he helped to give to meas
ures and as being one of the few who, with
union of States, assailed to the very
verge of disruption, and, when it was felt
that mistake would have been calamity,
not alone to our government, but to free
institutions every where, never for one mo-
meDt cOuntenanced compromise of what
he deemed right, who was sleepless in his
vigilance for the interests of humanity, and
as one who advocated ana helped to carry
through the emancipation Of slavery be-
cause it was justice to the slave, and was
right in the sight of God. He was great
cd, Of fv,1o