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voraus reader. As an orator, he could rely will always command respect; but the man upon inspiration in the sense of the defini of the South claims more than that as due to tion, " Inspiration is the product of a full the Southern side of the irrepressible conflict. mind." Like Macaulay, he could find relief Two theories — one magnifying the Union, for fag of brain in reading trashy novels. the other magnifying the State, — according to one of which the supreme allegiance of His love of literature was intense; his read ing wide and varied, both in the classics and the citizen was due to the nation, and accord ing to the other, due to the State — emerged the choice books of the English tongue. For the first time since the war, the House at an early period of American history. of Representatives, which assembled in 1872, These contending theories were compro mised in the Constitution, not settled by was Democratic. Lamar was chosen to pre it. In favor of the view embraced at the side over the caucus of his party, and made South, there was as much of history, logic, a speech of great power, outlining the policy , and patriotism, as in favor of the view cham which he thought should be pursued. Dur pioned at the North. Only the arbitrament ing his terms in the House, being re-elected of war could settle a controversy so radical in 1874, and subsequently in the Senate, he in its nature, so tremendous in its import. interested himself in the question of Im To accept with unreserved satisfaction the provements of the Mississippi, and was a decision of the appeal to arms involves no friendly advocate of the Texas and Pacificabatement of the claim, either of the sin Kail road. The eulogist of Sumner, the defender of cerity or reasonableness of the convictions Jefferson Davis, — in these two rôles Lamar which the defeated party maintained in the figured in Congress. Are they capable struggle. This is, in mere outline, the basis of logical reconciliation? Except Robert on which the South asserts in the same Toombs, the grand old Lucifer, who declared, breath her unshamed loyalty to her past, and when urged to apply for a removal of politi her unstinted devotion to the " indestructible cal disabilities, that "he had never pardoned union of indestructible States." It may be the North," it is certainly true that men of doubted whether any person who was ranged on the other side of the contest is capable of the South who were prominent in the agita tion of secession, in the war, and in the that extension of intellectual sympathy which Confederate government, have been equally will enable him fully to appreciate this view; prominent and faithful in the public service but even those who would utterly deny its of the restored Union. Have they been truth must still rejoice that the citizens of enabled to do this merely by finding a work the seceding States have found this mental ing hypothesis; or is there really a ground attitude possible; for it is incontestible that upon which, without any sacrifice of intellect a self-respect ing loyalty to the restored Union ual integrity, a loyalty to the traditions and is a better basis for good citizenship than the convictions of the past may stand unabashed half-hearted and reluctant allegiance of the side by side with hearty acceptance of the repentant rebel and craven apologist. On April 27, iS/4,1 Lamar delivered the obligations and duties of the present? This is too large a question to enter upon here, eulogy on Sumner, — a speech which at once although it lies legitimately within the pur fixed upon him the gaze of the nation. view of any attempt to analyze Lamar's In its result it was the first fulfilment of the character or to understand his public life. famous prophecy with which Lincoln closed The basis of reconciliation is hinted at in his Gettysburg speech. In describing SumLamar's eulogy on Sumner, presently to be ner's relation to the antislavery movement, quoted. Sincerity of conviction, especially Lamar showed that he was capable, not only when held at the cost of life and fortune, ' Cong. Record, Forty-Third Congress, p. 3410.