New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-04
NEW ORLEANS SUNDAY, JUNE f. 1875.

t -.o, "a a4s eaa NEW u
Especial Correspondence Of tho Republican.l
sss NORTHERN POLITICS.
Charles euu,uer and she Induence Of His
Memory in the Pendiag Presidential
BOSTON, May 26, 1876.
There are many facts connected with Mr..
Summers life, character and works which
possess peculiar and exceptional interest for
est extends beyond the political affairs of
the North American republic. The great
Massachusetts, Abolitionist saw in the rise
and glory Of our republic the "eorner
stone" OF the universal political brother
hood of man, organized into regulated civic
liberty under self-imposed laws, embracing
all races and men of all conditions in life,
Just az the Masonic brotherhood has sunk
its work deep under the thrones of kings as
we'll as under the mud floor Of the peasants
cottage and spread its branches over all the
nations, and covering with its protection
members of all creeds and all races and the
representatives of all conditions in life. If
the Masonic fraternity can thus link in COM
mon sympatby men of all creeds and races
and conditions in life by the ties of reme-
dial benevolence, how much stronger the
bond Of . political brotherhood which makes
the Masonic idea real, a. the governing po-
litical force on earth abolishing poverty
and crime by the influence of universal
education and just laws. Should We then
despair of seeing the dream of Su inner
realiseds If it is granted by Divine power
that the spirits of mankind's benefactors
should revisit the earth to continue to take
part in the battle for right and peace and
life. on which side of the mighty struggle
would the spirit of New England's greatest
statesman be found in the conflict of ideas
which are to make this centennial year of
the declaration of American independence,
the turning point in all the future of the
republic for veal or for woe? Can any one
doubt a. to the answer to be given to this
question:
Having known Mr.. Sumner socially before
the war, when he and I differed on the
negro question II being then pro-sla very,
and having lived to stand by his side as .
oo-laborer for fhe political and civil rights
Of the emancipated race, am in possession
of some facts in regard to the great Repub-
lican leader which are of special interest,
and which have never been made public.
These facts relate TO two phases of Sum-
ner's character, wherein he is least kno wn
OF appreciated by his own immediste per-
eonal friends and admirers. One OF these
phases in the Senator'S life relates to his
policy Of reconciliation a. first foreshad-
owed in his celebrated battle flag resolu-
tlons offered in the American Senate, and
for the offering of which he receiv ed the
censure of the Legislature of Massachusetts,;
the other relates to tho gift of moral
prophecy or spiritual intuition which
Charles Sumner possessed in q rem arksble
degree, making him really prophet in the
political world and o foreseer of coming
events.
II .
in come citing himself with the work Of re-
conciliation and the Liberal Repu blicsn
movement under Horace Greeley. called
on Mr.. Sumner at his hotel in Boston, the
morning of his arrival from Washing ton
after the publication of his letter in the in
terest of Greeley. He received me most
kindly. He was evidently much concerned
in regard to the reception he would meet
with in Massachusetts,. He entered into a
long explanation of the political situa ton,
and stated that the time had arrived for
inaugurating the work of moral reconstruc
ton, and that this work could only be prop
erly inaugurated by the hearty cooperation
Of the Confederates. Either this" was
Mr.. Summers motto, "or the remanding of
the late slave States to territorial
condition, and the government Of those
States by . congressional protectorate." !"
He had no confidence in . middle pol
icy, which simply aroused antagonism
in the South to the government, and
stimulated race conflict. without power
enough at Washington. or in the moral pur-
pose Of the North to overawe resistance to
the national will, or to afford protection to
the colored citizen. In other words, Mr..
Sumner was opposed to continuation of q
policy of ''impotent irritation" aud In
favor of policy which should be thorough
and effective, one way or the other. He was
in favor, consequently, of moral influences,
in the spirit of reconciliation, or of return
to the policy OF territorial reconstruction.
Between these two policies, under all the
circumstances as then existing, he preferred
the policy Of reconciliation. He believed
the time opportune for inaugurating the
work of peace and good will between the
two great races inhsbiting the late slave
States of the Union, and of cordial reunion
between the long estranged sections of our
common country. His best friends differed
with him. The leading men of the race he
had 30 long and faithfully served differed
with him. Events proved that Mr.. Sumner,
like Mr.. Greeley, had been deceived by the
of q clan OF men who have
ever been and are yet the worst enemies of
the South. These enemies are to be found
in the ranks of the Northern Democracy.
The Liberal Republican movement failed
because the Democratic leaders of the North
desired it's failure. The Fernando and Ben
Wnn6a of fha North ma we'll aa TiIdona