New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-03
I0uN RKOWn DEAD.

Slavery has killed John Brown. We state
the fact as fact simply, and not by way of COM
plant. We have discouraged all appeals by
Others than yirgnians to the cemency of the Slave
Power in the premises. Slavery and John Brown
were foes to the death; Slavery for the moment is
victor, and the law of the exigency is very old
one, Va riotis-Wo to the conquered John Brown
knew no limitations in his warfare on Slavery
why should Slavery be lenient to John Brown de
feated and a captiyel War has its necessities, and
they are sometimes terrible. We have not seen
bow Slavery could spare the life of John Brown
without virtually confessing the iniquity OF lite own
existence We believe Brown himself has uni
formly taken this view of the matter, and discoun-
tenaDced all appeals in his behalf for pardon or COM
mutation, as well as everything savoring of irrita
ton or menace. There are eras in which death
is not merely heroic but benefcent and fruitful.
Who shall say that this was not John Browns bit
time to die
We are not of those who say " If Slavery is
wrong, then John Brown was wholly right"
There are ct and unfit modes of combating great
evil; we think Brown at Harper's Ferry pursued
the latter. We dislike POpery; yet we did not
therefore feel justified when we saw the Pope pass
in ostentatious procession, in palsnquin born on
the shoulders of men, surrounded by On armed
legion and reverenced US demi-god, 10 shy stone
OF his head, much less point pistol at his breast.
We have never felt at liberty while in Slave
State TO do any act inconsistent with the laws and
fixed polity Of that State. If any STAKEHOLDER in
PRODUCES tho topic, we respond to his suggestions;
but we never begin the discussion. And, while we
heartily wish every slave in the world would run
away from his master tomorrow, and never be re-
taken We should not feel justified in entering
Slave State to incte them to do So even if We we're
sure to succeed in the enterprise. Of course, we
regard Browns raid as utterly mistaken and In its
direct consequences, pernicious.
But his are the errors of fanatic, not the crimes
of felon. 1t were absurd to apply to him oppro-
brous epithets or Wholesale denunciations. The
essence of crime is tho pursuit OF selfish gratica-
ton in disregard of others good and that is the
precise opposite of Old Browns impulse and deed.
He periled and sacrificed not merely his own life
that were, perhaps, Q moderate stake-but the
lives of his beloved sons the earthly happiness Of
hls fonl1y ana lncirs, 10 Ocnens uesPlsoo Shu
down-trodden rsce-to deliver from bitter bondage
and degradation those whom be had never seen.
Unwise, the world viii pronounce him-reekless Of
artificial yet pslpable obligations be certainly was
but his very errors were heroic-the faults of
brave, impulsye, truthful nature inpatient OF wrong
and ONLY too conscious that Resistance to trants
sis obedience to God" Let whoever would first cast
stone ask himself whether his own noblest act
was equal in grandeur and nobility to that fer
which John Brown pays the penalty Of death on
the gaIlows.
And that death viii serve to purge bis memory Of