PREFACE. F 39 #29 HE whose life is the subject of this book designated its writer, who has endeavored faithfully to do the work assigned by his friend. In the effort to depict truthfully the life and character of Walter Harriman, the biographer has used his own knowledge derived from a somewhat intimate acquaintance, and also that obtained from family friends and from other reliable sources; but he has received guidance, suggestion, and the main body of information from a well-digested collection of brief autobiographic notes and an army diary. Indeed, the diary has been largely incorporated, in direct quotation, with the narrative. The select speeches contained in this volume are, many of them, printed from manuscript copies prepared by the speaker himself; in some cases, however, newspaper reports, as published at the time of delivery, and tolerably accurate, could alone be found and used. Some of the speeches have been placed in the body of the narrative text, and others, with due note reference, at the end of chapters to which they belong, so that they can be conveniently read in their proper connection. The latter disposition has generally been made of the state papers, editorials, and some other interesting matter, so that the continuity of the narrative might not be too much broken. As Governor Harriman was actively engaged in politics for the third of a century, and was among the foremost of political orators in the country, the volume contains much politics. The speeches themselves treat the issues in many Without further preface, the book must go forth with A. H. |