Henry Wilson, senator and Vice President, declared that he would give ten years of his life if he could blot out his membership in the Know-Nothing party, since it associated him throughout his long and attractive public career with proscriptive principles of which he was ashamed.
This quote reflects Henry Wilson's regret about his past association with the Know-Nothing party, emphasizing the moral dilemmas faced by politicians of the time.
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In his text he explains the controversy so that the plain man may understand it, while in the notes he adduces the evidence that the specialist requires....
Referring to the fraudulent practices, he said: "No one claims, no one believes, that I had lot or part therein, or previous hint or suspicion thereof.
An exceedingly readable volume, especially valuable in its analyses of conditions, causes, situations and results; and against his main conclusions no sane person can contend."--Boston Transcript.
Indeed, his administration admittedly ranked with the best that had adorned the State for a century, and his friends, including Independents and many Stalwarts, rallied with energy to his support.
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