dignify this effort by calling it a theory of biography, for I
have no theory of biography. But I have been anxious in
writing this book to get at the essence of Parker's character
and thought and to explain it. I have tried to know and to
feel what Parker and his friends knew and felt, to accept
the limitations of their minds and, perhaps, of their charac-
ters. I have tried to see men and measures with Parker's eyes,
to react to the events of the time as he did, or as I think
that he did. I have permitted Parker to act as he chose to
act, to render such judgment as he wished to make, to love
those friends whom he did love, and to disparage those
persons whom he disliked, whether he was wise in all this,
or unwise. Where he was vain I have not sought to rebuke
his vanity, where he was inconsistent I have not thought it
necessary to remark his inconsistency, where he was ungen-
erous I have not taken him to task, where he was violent I
have not tried to abate his violence, where he was mistaken
I have not attempted to set him right: all of these things he
confessed in his own words and actions and they appear with-
out my intervention. It would be easy enough, and dangerous,
too, to say, Here history has proved him right, here wrong,
here his judgment has been vindicated, here impeached. It is
better that the reader should have the satisfaction of doing
this for himself. Perhaps it should not be necessary for
me to add that my own interpretation of transcendental-
ism, of the reform movement, of slavery and abolition, does
not always coincide with that of Parker; I have thought it my
business to present Parker's, however, and have not thought
it necessary to indicate where I differ with him. Where
Parker has misrepresented Webster, I have permitted him
to do so and have not thought it essential to Webster's repu-
tation that I hasten to his defense; where Parker has mis-
judged the South and misunderstood slavery, I have allowed
him to have his say, and have not felt any compulsion to
speak in extenuation of slavery or in defense of the South.
I cannot conceive that my opinion on any of these persons
or institutions is a matter of importance, but I do think that

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