The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-01-14

pied reserved seats In front. Members
Of the academy were seated on the
platform. j .... s...
A notable address was delivered by
Justice Wendell Phillips Stafford, who
has not allowed the narrow atmos-
phere Of Washington to stife the spirit
Of freedom brought by him from New
England. The remarks by Professor
Kelly Miller, a native Of South Caro-
lima, the state which sent Brooks to
congress-, were indeed thrilling, but
the principal address by the president,
Archibald w. Grimke, was fine trib-
ute to a great American. ...
He said In part: .....
Negro citizenship and suffrage he cham
pioned not to save the political power OF
his party and section. but az q duty which
the republic owes to the weakest Of her
children because Of their weakness. Equal
ity before the law is, In fact. the only ad-
eQuate defense that poverty has against
property In modern civilized society. Well
aid Sumner understand this truth. Well
did he understand that wrong has fatal
Gift Of metamorphosis-i O.. the ability to
change It's form without losing Its iden-
tity. 1t had shed In America Negro slav-
cry. It would reappear as Negro serfdom
unless placed In the way Of utter distinc-
ton. He toiled, therefore. In the senate
and on the platform to make equality re-
fore the law the master principle In the
social and political system Of the nation.
As his years increased 30 Increased his
passion for justice and equality. He was
never weary Of sowing and resolving the
laws Of the nation and the mind Of the
people with the grand ideas Of the Decla-
ration Of Independence His entire alb
sorption In one lofty purpose lent to him
Q singular aloofness and isolation in the
politics Of the times. He was not like
other political leaders. He laid stress on
the ethical side Of statesmanship. They
emphasized the economical. He was chief
ly concerned about the rights OF persons;
they about the rights Of property. Such
q great soul could not be partisan.
Party with him was an instrument to
advance his ideas and nothing more. Az
long as II proved efficient, subservient to
right. he gave It his hearty support. Il
was therefore a foregone conclusion that
Sumner and his party should quarrel. The
military and pe.sonal character Of GEN.
eral Grants first administration furnished
the casus belli These two great men had
no reciprocal appreciation the one for the
other. Sumner was honest In his belief
that Grant knew nothing but war, and
quite as honest was Grant that Sumner
had done nothing but talk. The breach
In consequence widened between the lat
ter and his party. for II naturally enough
espoused the cause OF the president.
Summers imposing figure grew more
distant and companionless. Domestic un-
happiness. too. was eating into his proud
heart. His health began to decline. The
immedicable injury which his constitution
had sustained from the assault Of Brooks
developed fresh complications and renew
cd all the old bodily sufferings. Alone in
this extremity. he trod the wine press OF
sorrow and suffering. He had no longer
Q party to lean upon nor q state to sup
port him nor any woman's hand TO ad-
minister to him In the crisis Of his need.
He had now nothing but his cause. and
to this he chung with the pathos and the
passion of a grand and solitary spirit
Like as a mother about to die fixes
her eyes on darling child. so were his
| thoughts fxed on the struggling cause of
human brotherhood and equality,