Matthew Lyon, the Hampden of Congress, a Biography (Classic Reprint)

American has illustrated more thoroughly than Matthew Lyon the excellence of democratic institutions in affordingto every man of character and talents a fair field for honorable distinction. But so fleeting is political eminence, so evanescent are the highest distinctions of government, that it is doubtful whether the name of Lyon, who in his day and generation filled conspicuous places as soldier, civilian and congressman, and was as well known as any man in A merica, has not been entirely forgotten by ninety-nine out of every hundred American citizens. Such is fame. A century ago he who did not know Matthew Lyon of Vermont might well confess himself unknown. In a century more how few of the great men of to-day, heroes of the passing hour, presidents, governors, senators, congressmen, ambassadors, generals and admirals, alas, how few of them all shall have escaped the fate of Matthew Lyon, and, like him, not be entirely forgotten! The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones. Feeling an aversion for political pamphleteers who pretend to write American history, I resolved many years ago to investigate diligently all accessible sources of information which might throw light upon the events of Matthew Lyon slife, and to gather up the facts of his career into a connected nar rative. It was an immense labor.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text.