For this reason, Republican strategists were outraged and worried by Sumner’s polarizing and vituperative speech. They had urged rhetorical caution, hoping not to lose vital support from hesitant moderates who were voting for an antislavery candidate for the first time. In their view, Sumner had impulsively let loose the radical strain of his party, putting their chances in an uncertain election at risk. Sumner disagreed with these centrists. He thought Republicans should unabashedly stick to principles. He surmised that voters would have greater respect for a political party that had the
...more
