. Some successful Americans . ciety. He had an energy of character thatcarried him through difficulties too formidable for ordinary these advantages he entered on the career of life; his effortswere crowned with success. He had gained the respect of all classesof the community ; his opinians were regarded with peculiar deferenceby the man of science as well as the practical artist. His large andliberal views, his knowledge of the world, the wide range of his obser-vations, his public spirit, and his acts of beneficence had given hima commanding influence in society. There is, it mus
. Some successful Americans . ciety. He had an energy of character thatcarried him through difficulties too formidable for ordinary these advantages he entered on the career of life; his effortswere crowned with success. He had gained the respect of all classesof the community ; his opinians were regarded with peculiar deferenceby the man of science as well as the practical artist. His large andliberal views, his knowledge of the world, the wide range of his obser-vations, his public spirit, and his acts of beneficence had given hima commanding influence in society. There is, it must be said, a debit and a credit side to everyaccount, and even the invention of the cotton gin was notan immediate and unmixed good. Previous to its inventionslavery, as an institution, was dying out in the South becauseit was unprofitable. The enormous increase in cotton cul-ture, however, made slavery very profitable ; so that it iseven possible to consider the cotton gin as one of the causesthat led to the great Civil Henry Clay 154 HENRY CLAY 1777-1852 Henry Clay was a man concerning whom great differ-ence of opinion prevailed. Andrew Jackson, without doubt,thought him the incarnation of all that was evil in publiclife; his intimate friends believed him to be the imper-sonation of nearly all the virtues and talents committedto mankind. Between these two extremes were manydiffering opinions. The study of such a life must be of interest to thosewho care for public affairs. Clays long political career,covering the most exciting period of American history anddealing with the most intricate problems, notably that ofslavery, could have no other effect than to make for himwarm friends and bitter enemies. It was inevitable that anyman under such circumstances would not always be right,would not always act wisely, would not always be consistent. That Clay was patriotic and loved his country intenselycannot be doubted ; that his very love for the Union maysometimes have led to
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