The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-23

| nuence on the course OF events Dluipup NJ ~
is. amid the transformation which mas come
from devastating fires. and from the CONVEX
sion. throughout whole districts. OF dwellings
into warehouses. to ind the ancient land
marks: IL ts harder still to ind traces OF the
society which had cast out Wendell Philips,
though OF as good blood as the rest and whien
was to lay its heavy hand on Charles Sumner.
John q. Palfrey. and r. II. Dana-Jr..,
Such Ia Mr. Pierce's outline OF the features
OF Boston life which constituted Summers en-
vronment at the time when he determined 70
take his place among reformers The ENVIRON
ment was peculiarly sympathetic, but ne un-
hesitatingly sacrificed It to his convictions' ~
| III.
| It was Summers quarrel with Robert G. Win
| throp which subjected him In his native city 10
| q species OF social ostracism from whtch ne
| never entirely recovered. The occasion oil the
quarrel was the vote given by MI. Winthrop in
| favor Of the bill approving the war with Mex
| leo. which was passed by the House OF Repre,
sentatives in May. 1886 all the members from
Massachusetts. except Winthrop and one 9TH
or. being recorded in opposition to the measure.
Before tracing. however. the course and conse-
| auencos OF q controversy. which. on the one
| hand, excluded Sumner from society most
| congenal to his tastes, but on the other.
| marked him out for honor at the hands OF the
| Free Soil party. we should mark what his BIZ
| ographer has to say about the unique
position occupied by his opponent 10
| Boston at tho time. Mr.. Winthrop had
been from his youth the pride OF his
native city. Mr.. Pierce does not hesitate to
acknowledge that no citizen Of Boston. In all
its annals. has combined so many qualities
| calculated to command the support OF Its
ruling classes. He belonged. It may be said.
to it's m ost historic family. one which had been
celebrated from tho beginning OF colonial
times, and in Massachusetts, hereditary excel.
lence has always powerfully counted In
favor OF public man. He came very carly
to public life. being Speaker OF tho State
House Of Representatives when less than
thirty. and elected to Congress whom only
thirty. He was courtly and formal In manner.
but his department toward all who came Into
personal or political relations with him was dis
tinguished by good breeding and civility. His
presence commanded attention In any company
and with any audience; his person and mien
befitted one whose ancestors. as well as him.
self. had been exempted from struggle with
adverse fortune. In private life he was deco
rous in habits reverent. punctilious in tho
discharge Of social Offices, undisturbed by i'm
pulses or inspirations which carry men out
side and beyond tho currents Of life about
them. He passed directly from his studies to
public station: naturally. therefore. he was
more sensitive to criticism than II he had
undergone the discipline ana 1riction OF pro-
fession. II not quite so complete In his equip
mont as few OF the foremost OF American
statesmen. he was, nevertheless. diligene
student OF public questions, ana possessed a
rare gift for debate. James g. Pike.
speaking from personal observation In
1850. declared that Winthrops etylo and
manner made him tho peer in de-
bate Of any member Of tho Federal House OF
Representatives. His diction and elocution
were finished. direct and spirited. AS an ora
tor for festive and anniversary occasions MI.
Pierce would rank him next to Everett while
he pronounces him altogether Everetts su-
perior In forensic power. With his early start
and rare accomplishments there was no high
place in the national Government to which he
might not aspire. and mono which he might
not have filed with credit to himself and the
country. He belonged. moreover, to genera
ton and community to which no was emi-
nently adapted. We have scent hat society as
1t then existed In Boston. was conservative.
delighted In refined manners and liberal cul-
ture. shrank from moral reforms. and from
any agitation which was likely to bring
the masses to the 'front.' 1t was. De-
sides. the faithful ally OF the cap-
ital OF the city, which was heavily invested In |
manufacturing enterprises 1t found In Mr.. |
Winthrop public man who fully represented |
its interests and spirit. and 1t remained loyal |
to him from the beginning Of his career until |
1853. when its power over the politics OF the |
State was broken by tho disruption OF the
Wing party. But made as he WAS and fitted
as he was. to represent the ruling class OF Bos-
ton at the time when he entered on public lie. |!
his part was not to be that OF leader In tho |
impending conflict with American slavery.
This was evident when he assured the Abo-
litiOnists- at the time of his first election. that
he SHOULD not regard it as any peculiar part |
Of his duty to agitate the subject Of slavery"
and his subsequent action was in harmony
with this declaration.
The division in the Massachusetts, dolega-
ton upon the Mexican war bill-John Quincy
Adams and four colleagues. as also Senator |
Davis voting against 1t, and Winthrop and |
one colleague voting for it-was for two |
months hardly referred to by the Wing news