I have been occupying a position, since the Presidential election, of silence, of avoiding public speaking, of avoiding public writing. I have been doing so because I thought, upon full consideration, that was the proper course for me to take.

Let it be public, full, and fair. No cliqueism or cheatery about it.

Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.

An election is a moral horror, as bad as a battle except for the blood; a mud bath for every soul concerned in it.

What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.

What is our present condition? We have just carried an election on principles fairly stated to the people. Now we are told in advance, the government shall be broken up, unless we surrender to those we have beaten, before we take the offices.