gatory.

Negro citizenship and suffrage he championed not to save the political
power of his party and section, but as a duty which the republic owes to
the weakest of her children because of their weakness. Equality before the
law is, in fact, the only adequate defense which poverty has against
property in modern civilized society. Well did Mr. Sumner understand this
truth, that wrong has a fatal gift of metamorphosis, its ability to change
its form without losing its identity. It had shed in America, Negro
slavery. It would reappear as Negro serfdom unless placed in the way of
utter extinction. He had the sagacity to perceive that equality before the
law could alone avert a revival under a new name of the old slave power
and system. He toiled therefore in the Senate and on the platform to make
equality before the law the master principle in the social and political
life of America.

As his years increased so increased his passion for justice and equality.
He was never weary of sowing and resowing in the laws of the Nation and in
the mind of the people the grand ideas of the Declaration of Independence.
This entire absorption in one loftly purpose lent to him a 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 chiefly concerned
about the rights of persons, they about the rights of property. Such a
great soul could not be a partisan. Party with him was an instrument to
advance his ideas, and nothing more. As long as it proved efficient,
subservient to right, he gave to it his hearty support.

It was therefore a foregone conclusion that Sumner and his party should
quarrel. The military and personal character of General Grant's first
administration furnished the casus belli. These great men had no
reciprocal appreciation the one for the other. Sumner was honest in the
belief that Grant knew nothing but war, and quite as honest was Grant in
supposing that Sumner had done nothing but talk. The breach, in
consequence, widened between the latter and his party for it naturally
enough espoused the cause of the President.

Sumner's imposing figure grew more distant and companionless. Domestic
unhappiness 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 complication