safety; when, under the lead of the
United States District Attorney, one of the most successful
managers of a political meeting who ever existed in Massachusetts,
an attempt was made to defeat a resolution of confidence in
him, in the Republican State Convention (when the whole of
the House of Representatives, or of the Caucus, or of the
Convention, was on one side and Richard H. Dana was on the
other, it was about an even chance which came out ahead),
Thayer stood by Mr. Sumner in that memorable State Convention,
and helped save his great career to the country and to liberty.

He was a devoted supporter of John A. Andrew. Andrew had
been Governor the traditional three years, and there were
men eager to supplant him. When Adin heard of a formidable
meeting called for that purpose, he exclaimed--I remember
very well the indignation with which he said it--"They shall
not lay their hands on the Lord's Anointed." He sent a message
to the meeting that he would fight their candidate in every
school district in Massachusetts. The scheme was abandoned.

He was largely responsible for the defeat of the scheme for
substituting biennial for annual election, and biennial sessions
of the Legislature for yearly sessions in Massachusetts,
although it did not receive its deathblow at the hands of
the people until after his death.

But his chief service, after all, was in keeping the government
of Massachusetts clean and incorruptible, at the time of the
great raid which was made upon the Republican Party in the
years between 1871 and 1883. And yet, in all these services
and contests he never appealed to a base passion or to a low
ambition in any man. He summoned the nobility in men, and
it answered to his call. He loved with the whole intensity
of his nature, his country, his Commonwealth, and the city
which was his home. He loved the great cause of human freedom
and equality with the passionate devotion which a lover feels
for his mistress. He was the most disinterested man I ever
knew in public life. He was not devoid of ambition. He believed
that the holding of public office was the best method of accomplishing
public results. But, as I have already said, when the time
came, he always subordinated his own desire to what he deemed
the welfare of the public.

He had, I think, one favorite poem. He was fond of all good
literature, especially the Bible, and was never without its
resources to illustrate or make empha