Excerpt from A Souvenir of Massachusetts Legislators, 1893, Vol. 2

N the fall of 1892, Republicans and. Democrats all over the State nominated repre sentative men as candidates for members of the General Court. There is no doubt that they were men representing the best elements of both parties, as a whole. The voters of either party are not foolish enough to put up their weakest men for these important offices. Men are nominated because it is hoped they will have the best chance of election. All these men, now members, were fairly and honestly elected. They are the chosen half of the men offered by the two great parties; and undoubtedly they are the better half. No less undoubtedly do they honestly and fairly represent their constituents; and they have done as their constitu ents would have done. They came to the business of making laws with a good equip ment of intelligence and honesty. They were unfamiliar, of course, with the details of legislation. As in duty bound, they have investigated for themselves; and their decisions have been honestly reached. They may not have always agreed with those of their critics. But they have certainly been reached only after as careful, thorough, intelligent, and honest inquiry as has been made by those who flippantly criticise them. The legislators doing their work are the same intelligent and honest men who were so universally extolled when they were candidates. The man who was elected was, presum ably, better qualified than he who was defeated. But the latter was still the choice of a large proportion of his fellow - citizens, and was their choice as a representative. Therefore give the legislators of 1893 the credit they deserve after their work is done that you gave to their intention when they were candidates. The men are the same. They have done their duty as they found it, not as others may have selfishly wanted them to find it. In this Souvenir you will find the personality of these legislators: their portraits, their history, their autographs. As legislators their work is done; and every receding year will make more clear that they wrought honestly and well.

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