The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-09
BANCROFT DAVIS'S ATTACK.
WENDELL PHILLTPs REPLYING IN DE-
FENCE or SUMNER.
The Three Great Statesmen Of Massachu-
setts-Choate's Name sinking into Obscuri-
ty-Ths Lesson Of Charles summers Life.


y-Ths Lesson or Charles summers Life.
BosToN, Jan. s.-Music Hall was filled to
its utmost capacity tonight by Bostonians. who
had assembled to hear Wendell Philipss reply
TO j. Bancroft Davlss attack on the life and
character OF Charles Sumner. Mr.. Phillips
said: Il regard Mr. Sumner rs the greatest
man that Massachusetts, has loaned to the ma
tlonal cause for the last fifty years. regard
the elements that go to make up great
ness as these: great purpose in
life. and an entire. unsclilsh conservation
Of the whole ability TO that purpose.
i remember well only two names that anybody
would think Of registering in Charles Summers
ncighborhood. One Is that Of Daniel Webster,
and the other that of John Quincy Adams. But
without any individual comparison. without
analyzing the career and elements Of either Of
these gentlemen. no enlightened critic will ever
undertake 10 say that Judged by the two cle-
mcnts | have mentioned. either Of these
men arc entitled to place near that Of
Charles sumner. Take Sam Dexter. Probably
his was the most mastery intellect OF the first
half Of the present century in Massachusetts.
He IL the man OF whom Webster once said
that his statement was argument and his ar
gument was administration : and yet Dexter
is only name merely living In the traditions
OF the bar, and Choate polished and keen. is
fast sinking to obscurity. Mr. Sumner knew
that in his day there was to be one OF the great
upheavings Of the community. and that in
the sincerity OF his life ho might
link his name with immortality. and 10
down the centuries with undyinG fame There
are three lessons which grow out OF his life.
His life is sermon on the text OF the great
martyrdom and solf.sacrince which any man
shall have who undertakes to servo his age.
The great lesson of Mr.. summers life is the
revelation that IL makes OF how hard II is with
out true self-sacrihcc. of how hard 1t must be.
% quh hh""ha ha fs ,hep YhnpoRaT ss"n but wbS
the " fruits Of that great seif.sacriace 6e
are to be surrendered. Especially now. when
the youth Of to-day arc warned to gr1 their
iifc was deyctsd A i1ook at il. the ei1ort to
conriliaie the South was n total surrender II tho
North. 4 Is marriage when the North and
that one ! fear that tho fate of tho Administra-
tion will be ike that of the boy who had the pct
alligator aud the alligator loved him 90 IN
tcnsely shat II swagwed him. In the present
ner l. Of great value"
After giving nm extended sketch Of Mr.. sum
ner's life. embracing tine scenes OF h's youth
ms election 70 congress ne assault upon him
by Brooks. his return 10 Boston and tho cold.
eonicmltihe reception he received from the
Beacon street ar .slocrat- cNceptng Iongfelow
and Prescott and his career from that date to
the time Of his death. Mr. Phillips again turned
his attention to tho direct subject at issue.
Demosihcncs once said. dare not 20 be-
fore the people without preparation, and bring
ing 10 thcm to the ripcst thought This was
true of the dead Senator. Grant did not under
stand sumner: he lid not fancy him He com
planned that sumner did not attend To the duties
given him. Grant did not know what the
docket meant. and II il quit, doubtful If
cleauod the docket in Congress. andthe records
prove that he did, Grant is not to blame. for il
ding with mattcrs thata soldier did not under
stand Mr Fish. in his charg,s against SUM
ner. shows that he know even less than Grant,
and that Is almost an impossible statement"
Tho accusations mad" against sumner by Fish
c9nsiiIuie a crime % Mt M e,Gua'ied by TIE cr.me
Of Benedict Arnold. out Of the grave in
which We laid Mr.. Fish ,crawls another man
delyered IN Philadelphia | snld Mr. Fish was
the Minister Of aucrhnught. Ihere j. French
phrase that mrnns in English. the spirit Of the
staircase. II j. designed 20 cypress the idea
OF 4 per-.n who w.nId be- witty Il be-
right time. Mr. Fish.in his controvrr-, with Mr.
summon has been continually thinking Of some
case, When this now us-ailani Davis speaks
he dishonors The names of botl! Fish and Grant
said that tho reason Mr.. sumner was re-
moved from the Charmapsnip Of For
tend 10 the publ, business. Mr. DAVIS SAYS
~ sufh thing He did pot DO that. Fish is
What sad. caiiimI t1i Mr. Sumnsr M 'i'Tt n.yer
reported the trclte9. and WAS removed in
con;-equeno". Finally. 'hi- man Davis
had report 4 the treaties he never urged tie
sontc T. takc th.m int, ,consd'rati'n. The
those treaties to the attention. of th" committee
ana Davis knows thi. perfectly well. II" has rot-
year. ant understands 10, Mr.. Davis knows we'll
enough that at the close uf a session. when
bills are crowding in upon both Houses. It rs
mattors a. a treaty; thHt such things nre
usually dlsp9srd Of at an executive session,