The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-04-02


minds that may throw up q dome of st.
Peters, or that may astonish the world
with their invention, but also other hearts
which have loved the idea of nation, and
have lived and died, not in the arms of q
friend, but rather in the arms of the coun-
try. Out of the thoughts and love and
specialization of these great ones we
humble children of the State have all
drawn our happiness and freedom, as the
violefs are invited into life by the all
loving sun.
In the week past the grave has opened
suddenly and taken back one of those
souls which seem sent of God to know
nothing else but their country, as Paul
knew nothing else but the Cross. Into
that tomb which grows wider each year,
and which has received away from sight
Washington and the Adamses, and Jeffer-
son. and Clay, and Webster, and Lincoln,
at last has been gathered one more name
wreathed as heavily as ANY with the glo-
rious ideas of our great Republic. Ma
poleon loved not q nation but his own
power. He was not student of justice
but. of crowns-how to destroy other
diadems, and of their jewels fashion one
for himself.
The triumph and the vanity,
The rapture Of the strife,
The earthquake voice Of victory,
To thee the breath Of life.
The eword, the scepter and that sway,
Which man seemed made but to obey,
Wherewith renOwn was rife,
All quell'dl Dark Spirit, what must be
The madness Of thy memory!
But the memory of that life just ended
has no madness in it, but is a remem-
brance of honor, and charity, and peace.
It seems especially fitting the day and
place that we should devote this hour to
thoughts over this fresh tomb, for the
greatness of Mr.. Summers career is
strangely inwoven with some of the no.
blest ideas of Christianity, and this union
is not accidental, but spiritual and intel
lectual, for Mr.. Sumner, in his life de-
voted to humanity, so framed all his argu-
ments, and so based them upon the phi
losophy of Christ that the perpetual
return of the terms Christianity and
Savior show that much of his eloquence
was the Sermon upon the Mount applied
not to the future Of the soul, but to the
true earthly progress of mankind.
If any group of philosophers were to
sit down with the Life of Christ in their
hands, with the desire to elaborate con-
stitution from its pages, among the
many principles they would bring out
we should at once certainly find these:
Peace, justice, and equality. From
Justice would instantly come lib
erty. Now, of that eventful life
whose un'imely ending Grapes this
day with sorrow, these three Christian
ideas, peace, liberty and equality, were
the opening and final strain, the matin
and the vesper. The public career of Mr..
Sumner began by that unrivaled Grafton,
spoken thirty years ago. upon Peace as
the source Of national grandeur, and with
out any deviation, any faltering along the
path, he is found at last, on the border of
death, asking Congress not to paint upon
its flags of the present and future the
names Of battles where brothers fought.
But before ask you to think of those
did great service for the Christianity out
Christlike spirit too, permit me to apollo
eize, as far as it NAV be necessary, for
the marble GOODNESS which has long been
associated with this eminent character.
A public man, writing q private letter
since the death of the Senator, says:
He was cold as . statue He was . child Of
principles and books, and consequently had little
In common with the humanities Of life .
cannot speak Of him generally in this regard,
Mr.. uncoln's table he was . pleasant dinner
companion, and conversed happily and instruct
lively, but such times were only outbreaks Of sun
while fun Of gentle humanity for mankind he
moved among individuals evolving an austere
sense Of superiority.
Against the truth of these statements
from one who had the opportunity and
the discrimination for reading we'll the
qualities of this distinguished man we