Political Quotes

On the record
Stephens had maintained his original devotion to the National idea, a noble course lay before him; but when he drifted from his moorings of loyalty to the Union he surrendered the position that could have given him fame.
Said by
James Blaine
Republican · Maine

Editor's note · Context

Blaine reflects on the lost potential of a political figure who strayed from loyalty to the Union.

Share

More from James Blaine

In all the revolted states, upon the testimony of your ablest generals, there is no safety to the property or lives of loyal men.

gutenberg.org

An attempt to guarantee and protect a revived State government constructed in whole or in preponderating part from the very element against whose hostility and violence it is to be protected is simply absurd.

gutenberg.org

Emboldened by the support of the National Administration, the Southern leaders believed that they could carry their designs through, and, instead of being restrained by the protest or the advice of Republicans, they chose with apparent…

gutenberg.org

These divergent practices had been allowed to develop for seventy-seven years of the nation's life, when, admonished by the Stockton case of the latitudinary results to which loose methods might lead, Congress took jurisdiction of the…

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation