As to others I have had a part of considerable prominence.

As to all I have had full and intimate knowledge at the time and have been in the intimate counsel of the men who were responsible for the result.
Beside all these things there has been during a large part of my public service, especially the part immediately following the Civil War, a battle to maintain the purity of elections and the purity of administration and government expenditure against corruption.

The attempt to get possession of the forces of the Government for corrupt purposes assumed its most dangerous form and had its most unscrupulous and dangerous leader in Massachusetts.

It was my fortune to have a good deal to do with maintaining the ancient honor of the Commonwealth and defending and vindicating the purity of her political organization.
Upon all these matters I formed my opinions carefully in the beginning.

I have adhered to those opinions, and acted on them throughout.