PUBLISHERS' PREFACE
In publishing the Biographies and Portraits of the leaders of the great political movements of the first half of the McKinley Administration, the Publishers desire to heartily thank the President, the various members of his Cabinet, of the Supreme Court, and of the Congress, for their hearty coöperation and assistance, which has made this work possible. Almost without exception they have given their unqualified support and unstinted praise of our efforts to give to the public and to posterity, in an attractive and durable form, authentic accounts leaders of the movements to be classed with the stirring events which led to the Declaration of Independence and the establishing of the greatest nation and the greatest government in the world.
We regret that it is impossible to issue such works treating of the Congress which declared the Independence of the United States, or of the legislators and officers of the first Administration, or of the leaders of the period of the Civil War. Such works would be of vast value, as, we believe, this book is and will always be. Owing to the lapse of time it cannot be done.
The Publishers' intention at first was to have this entire work autobiographical, but, owing to many members
