New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-03-26

would grow and develop themselves, rising
like storm clouds in the far horizon OF
political measures, MIR. Sumner would watch
them as the faithful sentinel the approach
OF the enemy, and i'm the foresight Of his
craftsmanship he would tell of their awful
bursting in tones, of fiery eloqucncc and
by irresistible logic and matchless oratory he
would seek to divert them and plead to
remove the cause-human slavery. His life
and powers were especially given up to the
destruction of human slavery in this country.
lie lived for the glory of his country. He
would have died for its honor among nations.
He called upon it for justice to all men. In
those struggles none ever met greater oppo-
sitlOn. Yet, conscious of the purity Of his
own motives, and the rectitude of his con-
duct, the justice of his cause, he never in the
darkest hour despondcd, and il was n source
of great comfort to him to know that he had
lived down calumny and seen the fruit of his
works. lie saw slavery abolished, the Union
maintained, its honor protected. Mr.. Sum-
ner lived twenty years in advance of the
times around him. His foresight of states
manship would startlc some, bu. ere long,
in calmcr moments, they would see his prli-
dence and his wisdom. He was undoubtedly
one Of the pillars Of our great country. To-
day, sir, i'll every State, in every city, in
every town, in every hamlet, the death of
Mr.. Sumner is bewailed, and every man,
woman, and child in its manner tells of his
virtues, his love of justice, and wceps his
departure believing that his work is not
finished. All who remember the Kansas
Nebraska bill and its kindred, will remember
the thundcr-bolts of 1856 which Mr.. Sumner
hurled at the slave oligarchy. Summon, to
your recollection, his great speech of 1859,
entitled "The Barbarism of Slavery" Can
you imagine anything more fearless, anything
more eXhaustible Of the subject, more crush
ing of its of antagonist? And all this, my
fellow-citiZens, in our behalf to the end that
we may be freemen. 'When shall we see
his like again." for, in paraphrdsc of the
good poet Cowper, dear as freedom is, and
in Mr.. Summers just estimation priced above
all price, he rather himself be the slave
and wear the bonds than fasten them on his
brother.
In later times and since the civil war
which afflicted our country, the end of which
was liberty to the slave, safety to the Union
and more permanent prosperity TO our
country-although at tie fearful cost of
human blood and human lives, the suffering
OF mothers, brothers and friends, Mr.. Sumner
ever Jealous Of his country's honor, the
respect due to her as the peer of any other
nation, demanded OfGreat Britain just rcpara-
ton for her negligence in observing the neu-
trality, which would have protected us in the
hour of peril, instead of leaving us open to
other enemies. by his craftsmanship, SO
tempered with prudence, full of wisdom in
the desire for peace ut any cost, save dis
honor, our losses were reimbursed by the
mother country, and our national honor pre-
served, and our country preserved from war.
If these things were not brought about by
his single efforts, they were yet given birth
to by his prOdigiOus brain. Nor did he love
his country TO a fault.
Believing that whatsoever We would inal
men should do unto you, even so do unto
them," and that this instruction was for
nations as well as individuals he earnestly
sought that his country should do right as
well as demand light. Hence but short
time ago he announced in unmistakabc Ian
guagc, such as shall not soon be forgotten,
- that we should violate no principle OF inter
national law, nor usurp any war powers as 4
nation in the annexation Of SantO Domingo"
He defended the black republic according to
his convictions as only man who loved the
black race could do. He claimed for the
land of Tonssam L'Ocnturc independence aud
respect. Likewise did he seek to know
whether our cup'lity had SO made Oblivious
our gratitude, that we overstcppcd our
bounds of neutrality towards France in the
late Franco-Prussan war. He declared In
his speech on this subject that it was our duty
to be " First pure and then pcaccable." He
said he insisted upon inquiry, whether we had
violated the neutral laws of nations to "the
end that the Government should be saved
from rcproach. In the language of Monies
queen says he the cscutchcon of mon
archy is honor, that of a republic Entire.
There are but few of the records of the life
and character of Senator Charles Sumner of
which history can furnish a parallel. The
world has had its Caesars and NapOlconS in
war, in literature its Burke and Bacon, in
politics its Warwick and Cromwell, but show
me among these the place where we could
not find selfish ambition lurking in a corner.
Not so with our great Senator, his works
possessessed no hidden spring of ambition.
Neither Office nor emolument has accrued
from his deeds of public service.
His aim was national peace, national
honor, national virtue, liberty and equality.
and of his triumphs in these we are to-day
the happy benelicarics. TrMmphs exceed
ing in glory those of bloody war and are such
as cntitle their hero to an impcrishable
name and fame. But must be permitted to
stop little in rccounting his national deeds,
and say word about his great devotion TO
a down trodden race-my race-thc African
race. Beginning III his labors to set them
free from the bonds and letters which en-
chained them, he has never ceased to advo-
cate and seek to perfect the rights of my pco-
pie as men and citizens. L believe he loved
them with an indescribable love of human
affection. His thoughts were constantly
directed to their welfare. Believing in the
brotherhOOn of manhood, he advocated hui
man rights, justice and equality to all. lie
saw the prescription with which we were pro.
scribed-the shell of ostracism which ban
ished us from social enjoyment such as all
members of society are entitled to-he read
the divine word "God hath made ofonc blood
all nations upon the face of the earth ;" and
in veal and woe he strove to place us in the
light of freedom, libery and equality. Hence
the Civil Rights bill now pending in Con
gress, and concerning which he said ''if he
could see it pass he would welcome DEATH
He began the struggle for securing our civil
rights by law of Congress in bill entitled
The Supplementary Civil Rights Bill in 1872
How earnestly, how devetedly, how skill
| fully he has prosecuted his work in this re
spcct need not tell. 1t is too well known
to bear more than mention. 1t is said tina
Queen Mary was so devoted to her posses
sion, the city of Calais, that when she lost i
by the French, she said its name would b.
found inscribed on her heart when she died
So devoted was the great humanitarian
Charles Sumnar, to the welfare of the cOlore'
people, that it formed apparently part of hi
being, so that in his dying moments, as
reading the brightest pages of his heart, h
muttered, "the bill, the bill.' 1t is to b
remembered, that although frequently suffer
ing from disease consequent upon the bruta
| oft p,oCn upop hin, by n ,,ro- oil vary cow