The opening chapter of this work was prepared during the recent presidential campaign. It was the idea of the author that it should appear in one of the leading newspapers or magazines before the election, but maturer reflection brought about a change of purpose. He realized that its publication at that time, might, not altogether unreasonably¹, be looked upon as a political move having as its object the election or defeat of a particular candidate for office, whereas he had no desire to play the partisan². His sole aim was to vindicate³ the character of a portion of the citizens of this country—some living, some dead—whom he had always believed to be most deserving of popular esteem⁴, from what he considered the unmerited aspersions of a man who has since come into a position so conspicuous⁵ and so influential⁶ that his condemnation⁷ necessarily carries with it a damaging effect.

Having gone so far as the preparation of the initial chapter, he concluded that proofs of his assumptions and assertions might at certain points be thought desirable, if not necessary, and that he should so prolong his work as to provide them. His first idea at this point, as his years went back beyond the beginning of the Abolitionist movement in this country, and as he had been from early boyhood identified with this movement, was to contribute such information as his recollection of events would supply. In other words, he decided⁸ to write a narrative⁹, the matter of which would be reminiscent, with here and there a little history woven in among the strands10

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1 unreasonably
adv. 不合理地
参考例句：
He was also petty, unreasonably querulous, and mean. 他还是个气量狭窄，无事生非，平庸刻薄的人。 Food in that restaurant is unreasonably priced. 那家饭店价格不公道。

2 partisan
adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒
参考例句：
In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。 The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

3 vindicate
v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确
参考例句：
He tried hard to vindicate his honor.他拼命维护自己的名誉。 How can you vindicate your behavior to the teacher?你怎样才能向老师证明你的行为是对的呢？

4 esteem
n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作
参考例句：
I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。 The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。

5 conspicuous
adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的
参考例句：
It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。 Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。

6 influential
adj.有影响的，有权势的
参考例句：
He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。 He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

7 condemnation
n.谴责; 定罪
参考例句：
There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。 The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

8 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 narrative
n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的
参考例句：
He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。 Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

10 strands
n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
Twist a length of rope from strands of hemp. 用几股麻搓成了一段绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》 She laced strands into a braid. 她把几股线编织成一根穗带。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 warp
vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见
参考例句：
The damp wood began to warp.这块潮湿的木材有些翘曲了。 A steel girder may warp in a fire.钢梁遇火会变弯。

12 simile
n.直喻，明喻
参考例句：
I believe this simile largely speaks the truth.我相信这种比拟在很大程度上道出了真实。 It is a trite simile to compare her teeth to pearls.把她的牙齿比做珍珠是陈腐的比喻。

13 gems
growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长
参考例句：
a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠 The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

14 abounding
adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Ahead lay the scalloped ocean and the abounding blessed isles. 再往前是水波荡漾的海洋和星罗棋布的宝岛。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比 The metallic curve of his sheep-crook shone silver-bright in the same abounding rays. 他那弯柄牧羊杖上的金属曲线也在这一片炽盛的火光下闪着银亮的光。 来自辞典例句

15 affected
adj.不自然的，假装的
参考例句：
She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。 His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

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