It is the fate of those who take an active part in public affairs, to be misjudged during their lives, but death softens the asperities of political and religious controversies and tempers the judgment of those who survive.
Boutwell discusses the challenges of public service and how perceptions change after death.
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On no man in public life in this generation were there more frequent charges and insinuations of wrong-doing, and in this generation there has been no man in public life who was freer from all occasion for such insinuations and charges.
My active radicalism had alienated the conservative Republicans.
I would respect the rights of all nations, demanding equal respect for our own.
But our cause being almost lost something decisive and great must be done.
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