Year: 1874

warm admirer OF England. He annoyed some Of his
friends by supporting the claims for indirect dam
ages" in the Alabama case but have 70 be-


ieve that the conduct Of Government in the pro-
ceedings which led up TO the arbitration went far to
bring Mr.. Sumner back his former appreciation Of
| England and Engshmen.


All the more pleasant because the controlling in
huence In The Examiner is now in the hands of one
of the men have referred to as faithful friends to
| us during the Rebellion. and then losing patience
and waxing wroth during the arbitration business.
Among these latter we must reckon The Spectator az
one whose good temper has not yet back to it.
Ii is mortfying and painful to find The Spectator
writing of Mr.. Sumner a man of soured temper,
inordnate vanity and Of late years bitter dislike to
England" In a worthieI mood, though with some
inaccuracies it adds:


We prefer TO remember him the gallant politician
who for fifteen years led the Aboonss who stood up
AGAINST rdcule insult, and at last personal violence
being nearly beaten TO death IN the Senate Chamber by
| Mr. Preston Brooks-for oppressed race and who
contributed more than any except John Brown,
the overthrow OF Slavery His very oibles served him
In the cause for he face any thing dare any con-
sequences, and wait with implacable patience for the
triumph which he fortunately lived to The amend
men to the Constitution giving the vote avenged
| him on Mr. Brooks and justified his
The notion that great career in behalf of an op-
pressed race and against national crime needed to





the last degree. suppose the Sermon on the Mount
is justified by the existence of an Archbishop of
| Canterbury.


Among all the articles have in English
papers there is comparable for careful study Of
Mr. Summers character and acts. and wise estimate
| of them that In The AngIo-American Times; q
| journal, / should add, edited by Englishmen and
written by Englishmen, and which other English
men would do well to study for its teaching and ex
| ample. 1t says:


Perhaps of all Americans Charles Sumner stood fore
| most in the esteem Of his country He was elo
quent, he cultured pure character, lofty in asp
| ration, patriotic and unselhsh In his aims Few men
have been tried by the perversy OF human nature
yet he lost faith In It, In all the broad Union
there ardent lover Of freedom, any man
with stronger faith in the institutions Of the Republic
he loved well and worked for long and faithfully
| Indeed, he may be called @ martyr 10 his devotion to
human rights for his death IL traceabe to the assault
Mr.. Brooks made upon him the Senate Chamber. He
tall, handsome, strongly built but the inlu
res nc then received laid him bed OF sickness for
years, causing him intense suffering ultimately send
ing MIN to his grave age when period Of useful
might still be looked for. But Charles Sumner
| too earnest to witness unnoved the Administration
sinking into corruption; aud be worked 80 assduousy
The current that he helped towards the accom-
pishment OF the assassins design TIL his medical ad
almost forced him. In the midst Of the last Presi
dental campaign to Europe, efectuaDy TO
shut from his sight papers, books, and business.
| 1t continues boldly and truthfully:
In England the character OF Charles Sumner is not
understood and the held nnd IN the
article OF The Times announcing his death His cele
brated speech the Alabama Convention negotiated
by the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, was accepted in Great
Britain as proof bitter hostility towards this King
dom Instead OF hating he had profound yeneraon for
England the land OF his Orefahers and the c0un


try whose laws and literature had BEEN for 80 long his
study But, he held that great injury had been done
to the Union an injury had entered deeply into the
American mind, which for the wellbeine OF both coun
tries would be wise fully ana fairly to adjust Such
was the platform whereon he stood when he delivered
that speech maintaining t to he as much for the good
Of the Kingdom OF the Republic that such should be
the adjustment. The first point in this consdera-
ton would be to state what the grievance was;
aud in this he gave expression 10 the opinion he'd
almost unanimously by the entire Northern people,
though its strength when thus put took England by
surprise assuming to her mind an eIaggeraton enter
ing far into the regions Of injustice.


II points out to The lines that Mr.. Sumner after
the war did his best to heal wounds TO reunite the
Union, while guarding the rights of the slaves, and
declares with emphasis that his policy has been
consistent, and dictated by the highest motives but
it is misunderstood in England, aud in consequence
an injury is done to the reputation of man who
will stand as the equal of Washington IN purity of
intention"


This Won will observe, is the judgment of paper
which at the time, was the side of President
Grant. 1t is clearly and forcby stated in the con
cludng paragraph of this admirable article, as fol-
| lows:


It'll alleged Of the Senator that he did not escape the
| Influences that beset popular favorites that he
yain captious with vindctive element in his nature
and his pnippic against President Grant has been
crbed TO the Jealous feeling aroused within him the
lessenng influence exercised public affairs. We
now know as do all who study American politics. that
Senator Sumner was in the right; admission truth
compes US to make, although, at the time we shared
that feeling. 1t is because now more fully compre
bend the magnitude OF the contest and the difficulties Of
the position IN the Of the statesman against
the politicians" that able TO appreciate the
force OF what the Senator then said and add,
that deplore the loss OF the great leader In the
OF reform The Senator has passed away at the climax,
leaving the conduct OF the to other. though,
fear hands, but not till the great uty of
his life had been impaired through his failing health.
| He leaves, however, a record, not only example
70 the Young but TO inspire those bent carrying
the war against the political system which has bred
such corruption to successful issue Of reputation
blemished In an atmosphere ~ intrigue WHARF
,o,tt,cai purity Is rare; surrounded by strong
temptatons welding, did, power greater than
has perhaps yet welded the continent OF North
| America.


| With that close. rejoicing that in the country
| which Mr. Sumner loved and the opinion of which
| he valued so highly at least one tribute not un-
worthy of him has appeared. l should add that in
the leading provincial journals, the articles have
| seen are on the whole, more just than those OF
| London. G. W. :.