National Republican., 1874-04-01
THK sUKNBR NoNuKEYr.
RESTORATION OF D. AUGUSTUS srRA
KER.

RESTORATION OF D. AUGUSTUS sTRA-
KER
TO ths Prssidsnt and Members Of ths Summer Konv-
nest Association:
arsrLkxis: In view Of the fact that our recent
meeting. held March %, 1874 in the basement Of
the Fiftesnth-strset Presbyterian church, met
with incomparabiy discourteous opposition, which
was characterized By conduot disgrsceful and op-
probioqs BY . few Of those persons invited to CO
operate, and believing that such conduct VIII be
| continued, with the dssirs to srule or ruin" BY
those whose sole aim Ls once at all times and
under all circumstances. respectfully tender you
my resignation ~ secretary Of the Sumner Monu-
ment Association Idesply regret the manner Of
opposition engaged IN BY . few citisens towards
our plan Of operation, OF which II was their priv
nege and pleasure iE their Individual collective
capacity to confirm or reject; and allege that II
all they say were true and their opposition tena-
BILE, II is yet highly reprehensible In manner,
membering. rs all should, that We are endeavor-
ing to pay tribute to the honor and memory Of one
(Charies Sumner) whose Life was devoted to our
\ elevation and not degradation.
In these remarks in noHise intend TO reflect
on the conduct OF those who now represent the
I association, and with whom Ihaye eo-operated
with satisfaction and pleasure, and willingly bear
testimony that your chief aim has been to do
nothing which would produce discord and to give
the greatest latitude to all persons desiring to
cooperate, when consistent with order and the
occaslonn. I am grieved that the conduct Of any
one Of those reveIling In opposition and disorder
| at our recent meeting should incur the stigma Of
OF being drunk" and more deeply regret that It
should have been tho misfortune OF our president
to mar tho dignity Of his position and himself by
applying the remark to any one byname, however
provoked he was to do 50.
/. is my hope that every citizen Of color in the
United States will rise above personal feeling in
this sacred duty, remembering that by performing
this duty we shall record our gratitude to our
benefactor, Charles Sumner, In the pages Of the
brightest history. am moved to these remarks
| by my belief that the malcontents make love Of
place and the notoriety of leadership superior to
their reverence, esteem, and gratitude for the
great advocate Of their race. Let angry politi-
clans and qudsf leaders subside and remember
that "letters without virtue are like pearls In
dunghill." I trust you will NIL my place with
satisfaction to the maIcontents and all others.
shall willingly continue my cooperation In pri-
yate capacity. ObcdIently yours,
D. AUGUSTUS srRAKER.
ACARD FROM MR.. DOWNING.
To the Editor Of The National RspuElicaa:
+ SIR: 1t is extremely painful to me that 50
sacred q matter as paying respect to the memory
of Charles Sumner should have been made sub
ject of contention and brof, even to the extent Of
rowdyism. shall have no voluntary participa-
tlon and identity with such conduct. / could with
propriety discuss character, refer to dlsgraceful
conduct, to devlations from that soberness and
temperate bearing that mark gentlemen, but
shall pass all BY and simply coutne the subject of
my communication to plain narration of facts,
that may be justified, which, Of course ycu will
permit me to give, as have boen assailed through
your columns. With this am done.
While was in Boston, attending the funeral Of
Charles Sumner, several gentlemen had q confer
ence to consider the propriety of erecting monu-
ment to tho deceased Senator. They agreed to
organize. Though was absent, and had no inti-
nation Of the intent to hold the meeting, they
elected me their president, and proceeded on the
theory that they had perfect right to organize
| and act to the end.
Secondly, as mass meetings, called even for the
most sacred purposes, almost invariably pa-take
of noisy, boisterous and contentious character,
calculated to detract from the dignity and respect
which should distinguish all assemblages, it was
thought that 1t would not be we'll to submit tho
proposition In question in a crude state to such
test; that, therefore, 1t we'll that few should
first digest the matter, thatthe number should be
enlarged, receiving the Judgment of. such after
wards; that they should subject the same to q
broader criticism by calling In the ministers, pre-
siding officers of the Masons, Odd Fellows and
other benevolent Institutions, with few others,
and obtaining their criticism and approval.
With such obtained, 1t was hoped, through all
| OF these parties, to roach the people en- masss,
and obtain their approval without the usual con-
tention and confusion Of public meetings.
Iregret that am called on to name sn indi-
vldual, but shall do so. DO It to show how lit
tie sincerity there is in the opposition led by that
individual. allude to Sella Martin. He was In
the meetings while I was In Boston. The ones
which he stigmatizes as Questionable he acted
with then, took prominent part in the same, and
was on the committee to draft an act Of corpora
tion.
The objection to the same, which he now presents
was as applicable to him as to those from whom,
for no cause but an imaginary indIgnity cast upon
him, he separates himself If the people would
condemn me for accepting an identity with the
movement styled parlor movement, one ignor-
ing the people, to be consistent should they not
condemn this Martin with equal indignation?
But am done. 1t is determined to rear monu-
ment to Charles Sumner, though q spirit like
unto that which struck him down in tho Senate
years ago should present itself in an sssailing
form before US.
The communications in your papers Of yesterday
falsifed In representing Prof. VIM. ]. Wilson and
other respectable persons to be sntagOnistic to
in this movement. GEO. T, DOWNING.