Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-25
Lessons from Charles Sumner.

The careers of public men are public
property. We should step softly, and be
ravcrent at their gravesides; but their
deaths are not appointed for emotion only
neither are their lives to he admired only
We NAV and should be instructed how to
make our lives wiser and better.
Mr.. Sumner was a son of Massachusetts
lint he WAS more than a representative OF
Massachusetts, He was very emlnently Il
United States Senator--yea, more, al
American Senator Very few in that high
Office have so honored and magnlfled the
office No American Sen ltOr for many
wears. if ever, has been so universally an"
tcnderlv mourned. He was tittingly calico
The Great Senator"
His career shows lis the possibility o.
purity in our national councils. In these
corrupt times, with suspicion pointing to-
ward all high places it is refreshing and
reaSs,Irinc to faith in republican govern
mont to know one man-and he the oldest
!, continuous senatorial service--who
lived and legislated and died incorrupt a.
an oflice-bearer in the highest places OF
the nation. 1t were too much to have eX-
pacted SANDER and all emnity to let him
live so long and in such times with no
attempt to strike him down. 1t were too
much to have expected him always to
sneak and vote in sympathy with the pas
sions and preiudiccs Of the hour. The
men who make history and mould man
kind Will often be questioned and some
times he doubted But Charles sumner
illustrates to 4 world the possibility Of
.,oino in and out among bribers for quar-
fer of century without the faint of cor
ruption-
His career shows us the safety and GER
tain victory Of those who dare to espouse
a right and contend with Il giant wrong.
The ultimate destruction of slavery WAS "A
foreoOne conclusion in the mind of Charles
Sumner long before he was named for the
scnatorship. Whether he counted the re
moyal of the curse so near, or reckoned
the fearful cost Of emancipation at the
first. we know not but no vision of an
cient prophet was clearer than that of this
man in forecasting the success of the rlgh'.
The murderous blows that so long vacated
his Senatorial chair, and so nearly ended
his life, were blows for freedom. As God
makes the wrath of man to praise Him, sc
this foul crime, unpunished of men, has
tened on the end Charles Sumner walked
over the bloody, beaten path of martyr
dom, but his cause, the cause OF man. the
cause of God, moved on. 1t is safe to be
cOnsecrated in the defense of right-to be
armored for life against wrong. Let nc
man fllter and be dismayed In emnity
to any widespread evil. Are there other
vices prevailing, are there giant evils still
abroad. there is room for martyrs, and
their crowns are certain. Let no man
dread the thckest of the fight. Where
martyrs blood flows most freely, there
will arise the nOblest monuments to the
memory of the true.
His career shows, again, that man may
not expect to close up all his life plans
Few men die with so few unfinished pro
iccts. Few can say death were a welcome
guest if these two things were done. But
death was memorable, and the Great Sena
tor must surrender his care over the
Civil Rights Bill" and leave to Other
hands what remains in the final revision
of his published works. How emphatic
the duty of working - while it is called
day. " and how important that life's rea
work be so done that any such interruption
of earthly projects shall only further tn
plan of life which embraces IN eternity,