The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-09-24
The Game of Blood.

mandcd victims in Kansas. To continue
the excitement here, blood must be shed
there. Accordingly, when outrages in
Kansas seemed to be dying out, under the
wholesome efforts of the federal govern
ment to preserve the peace, the Republi-
can leaders adopted measures to raise
100000 month for wariike operations,
and sent Gen. LANE TO Kansas with an
army and he renewed the war. Except
for this, Kansas would have continued
quiet, under the protection afforded by the
U. S. troops.
This movement of LANES under the
direction OF the Republican leaders, had
the intended effect. II again filled the
country with exc ltement. 1t mattered
little that blood was shed, that lives were
sacrificed, if the fever could only he con-
tinued, which was expected to elevate
these spectators i'll philanthrophy and in
"Kansas outraees " to power and to bring
them within the reach of plumber. News
of the murder of all the Free State men
ia the Territory by violence, provoked 10y
LANES invasion, would be sweet music to
their ears, so long as it ministered to their
political success.
The baseness and cowardice of the
leaders in this game Of blood, is ilustra-
ted by an editorial in yesterdays Tribune.
That paper, after having aided and abet-
ted LANES movement for renewing the
war, is now frightened at the probable
consequences of its own folly. 1t fears,
not only that the Free State forces will
be sacrificed, but that discriminating
public will justly hold it and its friends
responsible for the slaughter. Hence, with
the cowardice which is usually linked with
baseness, it makes the following PROPOSE
ton:
Thus hemmed in between Missouri and her
hostile regiments on the east, another body of
them pretending to be.Kansas Militia on the
north, and the foodless, inhospitable wilder
ness on the south and west, with not food
enough, even including green corn, to subsist
them a month, not half arms enough to supply
every one with musket or rifle, and less
ammunition than days fighting would consume,
it were madness to suppose, or even to hope
that they can stand their ground. With food
and munitions, we believe them full match
for twice their number of the Rufians; but to
lead them into conflict with their brutal OPP
pressors against the enormous odds now pre-
sented, is simply to give prctext to butchery
and an excuse to murder.
If, then our roice could reach our people in
Kansas, ,re ,oould earnestly implore them to seek
out Gen. p +. Smith and surrender to him
unconditionaHy.
Then let there be no wanton, useless bloodshed,
even in the holiest of causes; but let the Free
State men capitulate at once. and so afford no
pretext for the barbarties and outrages which
will otherwise be inflicted--will probably at
any rate be intlicted--on defenseless women
and children.
Thus it will be seen, that after having
reopcned the war which the U. S. troops
had closed, after having called back by
LANES invasion the "border ruffians"
which Col. Sumner had driven out, these
Republican leaders, through their organ,
the Tribune, have the pusilanimity to ap
peal for protection to the very military
authority whose efforts to preserve the
peace they have hitherto thwarted and
detied, and 'to seek out Gen p. T. Smith
and surrender TO him Wpconditionally."
Here is a precious confession that the
Free State men in Kansas are in truth
Gow indebted for protection to the federal
army which the Republican leaders have
so roundly abused, and which their rep
resentatives in Congress iabored so s,ren-
uously TO dishand Had their cffurts been
successful, taking the 7fibuse's account of
the necessities of Lanes army, what
would have been its fate?
The Free State men will be protected
by the Federal Government. even against
the consequences of their own folly. The
army will continue to be employed to keep
the peace in Kansas-whetler the at
tempt to disturb it prcc .eds from "bor-
der rut1ians," or from armed invaders
coming in the name of philanthropy and
freedom. Violence will be suppressed,
and those who rush to its commission will
be punished. albany Aryus.
Tom Corwin on Fremont.
If the people want man to run over
the country TO catch snakes, chase down
nd prulnc fbnv bnd