They are undoubtedly to be disapproved, in some cases
severely condemned. But the people always have made and always
will make a distinction between such offences and the final
unpardonable guilt of corruption in office.
James G. Blaine was a man of many faults and many infirmities.
But his life is a part of the history of his country. It
will be better for his reputation that the chapter of that
history which relates to him shall be written by a historian
with a full and clear sense of those faults and infirmities,
concealing nothing, and extenuating nothing. But also let
him set nought down in malice. Mr. Blaine was a brilliant
and able man, lovable, patriotic, far-seeing, kind. He acted
in a great way under great responsibilities. He was wise
and prudent when wisdom and prudence were demanded. If he
had attained to the supreme object of his ambition and reached
the goal of the Presidency, if his life had been spared to
complete his term, it would have been a most honorable period,
in my opinion, in the history of the country. No man has
lived in this country since Daniel Webster died, save McKinley
alone, who had so large a number of devoted friends and admirers
in all parts of the country.
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