The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-30

that proper satisfaction which nation loving
justice cannot hesitate to offer. It 10 note
worthy that the subsequent Treaty OF WASH
inRton was modelled with reference to Sum-
ners speech. closely folowinR Its points and
meeting his objections.
Mr. Pierce naturally devotes much space to
Summers opposition to the annexation OF San
Domingo and the ensuing quarrel with Presi-
dent Grant which eventually resulted In Sum-
ner's removal from the Craftsmanship OF the
| Committee on Foreign Relations. The bioR-
rapher thinks It may DO said with confidence
that, up to the time OF Motley's removal from
the post OF Minister to the Court OF ST. Jamess.
Sumner had said nothing OF President Grant
In speech or writing which was wanting In
respect for his character aud services, but had
treated him throughout with perfect Difference
and courtesy He had kent strictly within his
right and duty as q Senator In resisting the
| San Domingo scheme: clearly. he had as much
right to resist the scheme as the President had
to further It Gen. Grant might BIO disap-
pointed at the rejection OF his favorite measure
but the Senator. by tho testimony OF his asso-
ciates. was blameless. The removal OF
| Motley was the first act which gave per-
| sonal direction to public question. Summer
| regarded 1t as an attempt TO punish Senator
| for the Just exercise OF his right and the hon
est performance OF his duty and his indigna-
ton was natural and human. He, however.
| kept his feelings from the public. not referring
to them in any speech or open letter. express
| ing them chiefly to Senators and friends having
a special connection with Motley. but repress-
ing Thorn In his reneral correspondence.
Nevertheless, a second blow was struck at
| Sumner In March. 1871 when majority OF
the Republican caucus decided to remove him
from the Chairmanship Of the Committee on
| Foreign Relations. Wilson and other Senators
| expressed the popular belief in saying that
the San Domingo contest was at the bottom OF
the purpose to dsplace the Senator from the
| post which he had long held to the satisfaction
Of his associates and the country. and in which.
| by established usage. he would. but for that
| contest have been continued 1t was also COM
monty believed that tho hand OF President
| Grant. as we'll as that OF Secretary Fish, was in
| the scheme. Mr.. Pierce considers It immaterial
| that other Senators who voted as Sumner
voted were not subjected to like discipline.
He was the antagonist who had kept up the
spirit OF the opposition: his was the lender
ship which had secured the rejection Of the
treaty. and his humiliation was felt TO be ade-
quate revenge. Nevertheless. the partisans Of
the removal in the Senate maintained reserve
as to the real reason for the step. and put
forth a succession Of pretexts which are exam
ined by the biographer and dismissed as un-
worthy Of serious attention 1t Ia indeed GER
tain that mono OF these pretexts would have
been held sufficient to justify the indignity
put upon the Senator but for his opposition to
the San Domingo treaty.
It Is we'll known that Sumner alienated
many OF the old Republican friends that had
adhered to him throughout the San Domingo
affair by his support OF the Liberal Republican
m ant in 1870 IN Ma ~ hat bo
delivered in the Senate a speech against the
reelection Of President Grant which. with
determination seldom conjoined to lively sym
pathy. the biographer admits to have been
pitched In too high key. 1t was philippe OF
the classic type such as had been pronounced
against Antony and Nerres and Hastings Mr..
Pierce acknowledges that modern life fur
nishes few occasions for such efforts. I'm
Questionably President Grant had foibles.
and had in notable Instances disregarded
the limitations and localities Of his office.
He had given relatives places In the
public service-among them a brother-in-
law. made Minister to Denmark. besides
a dozen or more Of other kinsmep. whose
appointments were mostly OF humble grade.
Undoubtedly these were conventional impro.
prietieB which Washington and Jefferson
would have avoided. Moreover. Grant had &C.
copied large gifts which circumspect states
men are accustomed to refuse. but which.
after the civil war; other officers. military and
naval. accepted from grateful people: and he
had committed the indis cretion Of naming two
OF the donors for his Cabinet though they had
no special fitness for the places offered them
He was less careful than he should have been
in appointments to important Offices: but, in
this respect. he had among Presidents exam
pies before as he has had imitators since. He
was unfortunate in bringing to the White
House staff officers. the military ring" as IL
was called. who had been his familiars in
camp. but whose influence was from the first
and continuously injurious. In the biogra-
piers opinion. the acts OF President Grant
most deserving censure were the use Of
the navy in the waters of Hayti and
San Domingo. his methods adopted or
proposed for ef1ecting the annexation. |
and his interposition for the dsplace-
ment OF Senator Sumner from the Foreign
Relations Committee. Mr.. Pierce neyerthe- |
less insists that, with due allowance for his |
limitations and shortcomings. Grant was not |
what Sumner said he was Boreia, a Far |
nese. or Barberini. founding q family by |
offices and endowments: least OF all was he |
Cesar plotting against the peace and life |
OF the republic. Schurz's description is re- |
garded as coming nearer the TRUTH wher he |
said In an address that he did not find in the
President ono who was pondering on the de-
struction OF the State, but rather one who did |
not ponder at oil or sufficiently on his duties.
1t Is further recognized by tho bographer
that Summers speech lost by certain oms.
sions that. namely. of any tribute to Grants
services in tho civil war, and that OF approval
OF his decisions on financial questions.
Sumner died on Wednesday, March 10, 1874
BY an interesting coincidence 1t was on the
previous day. while he was in his seat in
the Senate. that Mr.. Boutwell, presented the
resolution OF the Massachusetts, Legislature
resembling the vote OF censure which had been
passed on Summers opposition to the reelec-
ton OF Gen. Grant. The news OF his death was
a shock to the whole country. From every
quarter came testimony to his kindness In per.
soral intercourse. to his freedom from per-
sonnl hatred and revenge. to his scrupulous
observance OF the rules and courtesies Of the
Senate. to his fidelity and courage, the rectt-
tude, the elevation OF his PURPOSES. and the
absolute purity OF his priyats and nuhlIc ,ifa |