New-York tribune., 1874-03-17
MR. SUNNER'S SUCCESSOR.

The honors which the State of Massachu-
setts is paying to her illustrous dead are alto
gether fitting They are moro than merely
becoming and decOrous; they are in the high
est degree beneficial az general and univer-
sally-heeded moral lesson. When faulty
great man dies, one whose life has been Illus
trated by eminent abilities and deformod 10y
notorious faihngs, there is danger in the pub
lie honors which surround his burial, in the
praise with which his merits are celebrated,
and the reserve by which his sins are cOndoned.
But there need be no fear of the effect OF the
fullest expression which the fellow citizens OF
the dead Senator are now giving to their loving
and reyerent sorrow. There need be no quail
fication to the eulOgies from forum and pulpit,
for there is no danger that any ambitious
youth can come to harm by any study, how
ever close, or any imitation, however faithful,
of that lofty and spotless life. The pursuit of
noble ends by equally noble means, is the con-
else history of that Incompatible career which
Massachusetts is now contemplating with pride
and affection. There is nothing but edification
IN this.
But we do not agree with those who say
that it is disrespectful to the memory of
Charles Sumner to think of his successor.
The first and most solemn duty which his State
owes to him is to see that no unworthy person
takes the place in the Senate to which he has
given such exacting dignity. If the emotion
with which the State is now filed from the
Berkshire hills to the sea is not to run its
barren course in mere words and phrases, the
best use to which it can be put is to induce
the Legislature of Massachusetts to elect a
successor to the dead statesman, of his own
kind and caliber. The degrading influences
which are so powerful everywhere in political
life are especially active in Massachusetts,, and
have a formidable support in the President,
who will be ready to transfer to the spirit and
cause which Mr.. Sumner represented the unre-
lenting enmity he cherished to his person.
No effort will be spared to have the wrong
sort of man elected. The people who
believe in Sumner and approve the selection
of men of elevated and unsullied character
for high public functions, should therefore not
delay in coming to an understanding about
the use to be made of the vacancy in the
Senate, for which they are responsible before
history and before the country. For the last
few days the voice of the caucus has been
dumb. Men have realized that there is some
thing better and nobler in life than mere
partisanship. While this mood lasts there is
chance of choosing a Senator in Massachu
setts whose name shall commend itself to all
as that of the best man in the State for the
place, and we think this rare opportunity
should be improved. The man who should be
chosen is Charles Francis Adams.
There is no lack of men of the highest
character and ability in Massachusetts. There
have been several gentlemen already named
for the vacant Senatorship who would do the
State credit in that position and present a
sufficiently sharp contrast to the average of
their colleagues from other States To men
ton only one name, Mr.. 4. X. Hoar would
worthily replace Mr.. Samner 50 far as regards
p,n;ty, ipdnalcy and cGplcity, But the State