He was one of the most simple-hearted, affectionate, spotless and lovable of men.

He was the best writer, the best speaker and the best mathematician, the most accomplished person in his knowledge of general literature in the class,--indeed, I suppose, in college,--in his day.

He became one of the most eminent scholars in the country in early English literature and language.

He edited a collection of ballads, Little & Brown's edition of the British Poets, and was a thorough student of Shakespeare and Chaucer.

I suppose some of the best of our American men of letters of late years would have submitted their productions to the criticism of Child as to a master.

I do not believe that anybody ever went through Harvard College who performed four years of such constant and strenuous labor.

He was ready at all times to do battle, in public or in private, when his countrymen were attacked.

In 1893 he wrote to a London magazine: "Although I have lived away from America upwards of forty-six years, I feel to this hour, that in writing English I am writing a foreign language.

But I am inclined to think that the one member of our class whose fame will last to remote posterity, a fame which he will owe to a single poem, is Walter Mitchell.

He records and executes the will of the nominating convention of the party to which he belongs, in which the real power of selection is in fact lodged.

It is remarkable, however, how often the nominating conventions have discarded the candidates who were favored by the holders of executive office or the two Houses of Congress.

In many of the Southern States the Democratic Party consists almost entirely of whites who have possessed themselves of the forces of government by criminal processes, which have been a reproach not only to this country, but to…

The Republicans, however numerous, and although having a majority of lawful voters in most of these States, have been excluded from political power.

While the great majority of the Republicans retained confidence in the personal integrity and patriotism of President Grant, it had become painfully manifest that he was often an easy victim to the influence of unscrupulous and designing…

Wherever there was a contest in any State for political supremacy the least worthy faction frequently got his ear and his confidence.

He never wavered in his attachment to the doctrines of his party-- protection, sound principles of finance and currency, honesty in elections.

But the old political leaders, whom the people most trusted, were more and more strangers to his presence, and ambitious and designing men, adventurers who had gone South to make fortunes by holding office, men interested in jobs and…

I never though that the proper way to put an end to this state of things was to abandon what I deem sound political principles, or to abandon the party that was formed to establish them.

I should as soon have thought of turning Tory because of like complaints in the Revolutionary War, or of asking George III. to take us into favor again because of like scandals which existed during the Administrations of Washington and…

The House of Representatives, by an almost unanimous vote, had adopted the resolution declaring that it was contrary to sound principle to elect a President for a third term.

I believed then, and now believe, that he would have been an admirable President of the United States.

But I did not think it wise to put at the head of a movement for reform and for purity of administration, a man whose supporters must defend him against such charges, and who must admit that he had most unwisely of his own accord put…

I am satisfied, in looking back, that I myself underrated his strength as a candidate.

He was in my judgment one of the wisest, sincerest and most honest and patriotic men who ever held the office.

He has fallen at the very gate of an honorable and eminent career, and a thousand hopes are buried in his grave.