Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-01

w me lIlC echo Vi ItpTOdtllcS cast on
wcll-knOWn names at our national capital
and elsewhere in our country because of
their completely in unrighteouS schemes
for gaining wealth has not yet died away,
and while the newspapers are bringing
before the people almost daily fresh dis
covcrie~ and discussions of political trick
cry and audacious fraud, planned for the
ultimate purpose of getting rich, the news
- reads rapidly over the country, CHARLES
SUMNER IS dead! Everybody knows that
name, and with it are coupled such SEN
timcuts as these which | quote from Il
variety Of sources, representing various
. parties.
Never since the death Of President
Lincoln has the whole community been so
grirved assat the sad tidings which came
from the national capital yesterday after
noon. announcing the death of the great
~tatc~man. Charles summer" - Mr.. sum
ncr was gentleman of great refinement
and culture: rare scholar. fully fur
ui~hed with ancient and modern lore; 1t
student of art in all its departments; an
orator of equal vigor and gracetuness; Il
lawyer Of no little distinctions; and he
might have achieved sue, ess IN many
walks Of intellectual tXertiun, but his az
dent. profound irrepressible moral inn
pulses prevailed over all his other trndcn-
ric-. and made him what we have already
called him. the great champion of right
and freedom on the floor OF the Senate.
1t WA, there he encountered his dangers; :;
there that he won his triumphs, and there
tiut he may almost be said to have died.
Hi, name i woven with the same I'M
mortal wreath which binds the brow of
the redeemed and regcncrated Republic" ="
scholarship his personal integrity. his love
of freedom. his interest in progress and
reform. and for the Sutfcrings and sacri-
Iice- he has endured as their representa-
tive" His country will not soon forget
the brave words he has so often and 50
t,:irle,-lv uttered. when he was always
true to human rights. even when those
with whom he acted could not follow him
IN extreme measures. =. Not only in this
country. but abroad, Will men stop in their
most active pursuits. rs they lealn that
Charles Sumner i no more. There is not
% negro hut in the South that will not put
on mourning for their dead defender and
friend. a. was the case when Lincoln was
as,a>sinatcI lie has died at his post
aftrr - service of twenty-five years in the
cause Of freedom and the country. and he
will be mourned by all classes of his coun-
trymen. without distinction of party or
t1cc.
His personal character was above the
reach of calumnv. His name is indelibly
impressed upon the age in which he acted
such conspicuous part. and his memory
viii be one Of the nation's cherished treas
ures '' The purity of Mr.. Sumner 5
character would alone cause him to he
remembered gratefully by his country.
No breath of suspicion ever touched him.
In an ace when corruption too often enters
into public life. Mr.. Sumner preserved his
character free from reproach. He was
never found involved in any discreditable
-chenc lie had nothing to fear from
disclosures or investigations. He never
betrayed Il principle OF avoided the express
sion Of cOnviction.'
Had Mr. Sumner been most intent upon
the pursuit Of riches; had he bent his su-
ucrior energies chiefly and successfully
toward, his pecuniary aggrandizemcnt, no
such culOries Is these would have been
pronounced upon his name; 10 such tes-
timOuies 10 his worth would have been
handed over to history. Strict devotion to
moncy-gettng does not produce men of
his stamp. We do not hear Il widespread
Etmcutltion when mere man of wealth
.lEt--es away. His vast accumulatiOnS. his
methods of accommodating, and his DISPOSE
tion of property, are about all the topics
mentioned in connection with his name.
His circle of real mOurners is quite small
1t seems. therefore, Il proper time for
Ills to consider and emphasize the thought
contained in the text. \ good illustration
have We before Us of the value of Il 90 d
uaIne ana we have no intimation that the
name was attained through, or through
any desire for. riches.
In contemplating the theme that Il good
name is to be preferred to great riches.
We have to observe:
l. \ good name IS the combined result
OF 4 number OF excellent qualities. One
eXcellcncv alone does not secure it, though
due credit may be allowed for that excel
lcncy in the general summing up of char
acter. y man may love his family and
his neighbor. ana do much for domestic
and social ;tpI,ne~s about him, but else
where be cursed for his avarice and dis
honesty. 1t i not the single seen virtues.
nor Il very few virtues, if there are other
prominent traits of an opposite kind, that
make Il person widely known, and revcred
as yrtuou-. On the other hand, one NAV
have some minor qualities, dIsagreeabIe
i'm themselves to many. which, however.
will not materially affect public reputa-
ton that l. well established But for this
public reputation there must be Il ground
work OF clear, strong, and approved attri-
hutc~ Of mind and heart That which is
worthy must seem to transcend exceed
inglv that which i unworthy; the admira-
pir must 80 shine rs to divert attention
from the faulty. the unlOvable Studying
the example OF Il good name we have be
fore IL, and indeed the numerous oher
example that lie in our memory OF within
our reach. we see that one attribute that
--0eS mo the foundation of that name is
an u5tsejfsh dt rOti0H to the Interests Of
otbcrS. This is not necessarily an entire
devotion, but u devotion in some marked
particulars, accompanied by Il general de
meanor that i not opposed TO the we'll
being of others. Men love men who love
them, and manifest the love bv suitable
acts. Love acted, makes responsive love
active i'll those for whom a benefit is done
lhe heart Is called hard that feels no g,ati-
tude for obvious faYors shown its owner
IN incident in point here is recorded by
ihe Evangelist Luke. \ certain centurion
I'' :; beloved servant very sick; ready to
lie. Hearing Of Jesus he sent Jewish
'IdeIs 10 nm 10 brseech him to come and
neal ihe servant. They, in pursuance of
'ler commission, said to Jesus that the
centurion WIS worthy for whom he should
40 tins and to attest this fact they added
For he loveth our nation, and he hath
built Us a synagogue"
lhis officer had not only professed his
I2ve, but had also shown visible signs of it.
lie had reared Il perpetual monument of
his regard for the people In return he
was highly regarded. So are thev apt to
ne who give OF their abilities and acquisi-
lions for the wise advancement of others
interests; especially for needy commu-
nifty, or a degraded people, or an abused
lace.
Another attribute commended is an uz,-
-H1hehtng zeal Jor principles rather than for
personal position to establish, advance.