Year: 1871

bate in that body. The newspapers also
have generally commented upon the mat
Ter, and 10 many cases have adopted the
views urged by the minority of the Repub-
licans of the Senate, that Mr.. Sumner was
removed solely t, make way for the ad-
mission of San Domingo. And this state
ment is intended to show that an opponent
is prosecuted on account of opinion, and
to damage the San Domingo movement,
by showing that it was afraid to rest its
case in the hands of committee organ
ICED before IFS announcement that its
friends must pack committe ss, and resort
to mean tricks to get the measure through.
Now, we think there never was in all the
world clearer case of misapprehension
of the true Issues involved, and it is a
serious one. If it were true that Senator
Howe, of Wisconsin, who moved the
resolution aud led the debate, and the gen.
tlemen associated with him in the majority,
were governed by such motive, we might
well distrust the Republican majority in
the Senate as unworthy and unsafe legis-
tors.


We can see no Justification for the bad
temper displayed by the minority in this
case. Certainly there were Senators no
less able, devoted, pure and patriotic, who
thought Mr.. Summers removal from the
craftsmanship of the foreign committee a
wise measure of public policy, than those
who took the opposite view. The public
cannot know the facts in detail as known
to members of the Senate and, meantime,
the character of the men on both sides
should quiet any suspicious of unfair
dealing. We know that Timothy O.


Howe, of Wisconsin, would never lend his
aid to any measure that he did not believe
to be right.


For thirty years we have been intimately
familiar with his public acts, and we speak
the common sentiment of the whole


Northwest, when we say that he is as cer-
| tain to follow his convictions of duty as


the magnetic needle is to point to the pole.


His judgment, too, is not to be lightly


treated. A sound heart, with pure ju-


dical Judgment like his, is not often


far astray; and it is much to know that


its conclusions are reached by path


straight as line of light, refracted by no


prejudices or sel6shness. We have seen


him firm when assailed by great majorities.


We have seen him spurn great offices


which a single falsehood would have pur-


chased. We have seen him stand alone upon
| his own manhood when the masses of his


party led away by the delusive cry of


Estate Rights" deserted him for late con-


verts to the Republican faith. But we


saw the masses como back again, won by


his rectitude, from their error, and bear


MIN to the highest place in their gift.


His life of purity and devotion to free


dom his great powers, so modestly borne;


his tolerance, sagacity, Independence and


courage, are a guarantee that he would


forward no measure which bis conscience


did not approve. We think the minority


too hesty in their assumption. Those Of


us who are at all familiar with the Senate


are aware that Mr.. Sumner has for seve-


raj years become personally unpopular


with many members Of his own party.


The trouble, as we gather it, is that he


exhibits too much impatience and intoler-


auce of oppc ,ition. A man like him,


rising grandly above the mediocrity, il


very apt in time to acquire an imperious
and aggressive manner which renders con.
sultation unpleasant where opposing views


are to be reconciled.


Mr.. Sumner looks at things, as every
man ought, from the stand point of equity
, What the law of eternal right enjoins, tha
he would have the nation do; what tha
, law forbids, he would have tbs nation re-
I frain from doing. But while all good mer
$ agree in this fundamental axiom o
. legislation, it SO happens that they can
r not see alike the precise mode of ap
S plying it in specific cases while principle
{ are eternal, measures are temporary ex
, pedients for applying them to the busines
. of life, and the best of men will difle
: honestly, and ought to differ fraternally.
Q 1t seems to us that Mr.. Sumner ha
8 failed to exhibit 10 all cases that toleranc


of dissent, which, if not one of the highes
4 qualities of statesman, greatly appre
ciates and adorns all others. And thi
failure, we are sure, lies at the bottom 9
f this difficulty. Worn and battle-scarre
a as he is, often the target OF tiippant con
4 ceit and small jealousy in the Senate, th
: credit of his own great services, often give
> to others, his character maligned and me
n tiyes misrepresented, it is not strange ths


his noble character is little marred b


personal bitterness. While we admire an
A revere the mao, we will not be blind to an
a fault, or foible, which impairs his usefu
81 ness for any purpose.


The questions now before the High Con
i mission, including the Alabama claim
must be submitted to the COMMITTEES o