One is enthusiastic, resourceful, with ability to organise victory by filling languishing patriotism with new and noble inspiration--the other simply performs his duty, sometimes respectably, sometimes only perfunctorily.
In this quote, Alexander contrasts the qualities of a war governor with those of a regular governor, illustrating the need for inspiration and enthusiasm in leadership during conflict.
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This Administration cannot now save this Union, if it would.
As he lived, so he died, a strange, lonely, unhappy man, out of tune with the beautiful world in which he was permitted to exist upward of four score years.
This is the spirit in which I have determined for myself to come up to this great question, and to pass through it.
Perhaps, on the whole, nothing in Van Buren's official life showed greater political courage or discernment.
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