The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-12-10
PROPHECIES
HERALD OF FREEDOM.

summer Of 1885. when it was suspended because
Of the turbulence Of the times. and the impris-
onment Of its editor. II has now reached nearly
the middle Of its fifth volume. Numberless
jOunalshaye been established in Kansas. fitted
their brief existence. hurled their anathemas at
the HERALD OF FREEDOM, and passed away since
Its first appearance, yet our paper Lives on"
and it's independent and truthful position is ad-
mitted by every true lover Of the cause it was
established to advance.
The HERALD OF FREEDOM is no ephemeral
affair. and its politics have never been equivo-
cal. Though partiSans have labored to place it
in false position, and charged it with being
morcenary and subsidized, yet it has al ways been
the firm, unfolding friend of freedom, and too
devoted TO the prosperity of that cause to resort
TO subterfuge. calumny, or vituperation in its
defense. Its circulation. although somewhat
abridged in consequence of the stringency Of the
times. is far larger than any other published in
the Territory, and is now rapidly increasing.
We purpose at an early day to give it new
dress. to materially improve its form and general
appearance. add q literary department, and
makeit all its most jealous friends can desire.
without Abridging, however, one particle Of its
fruf4fulHess or fearless independence.
The HERALD OF FREEDOM has been violently
opposed because its motives were not fully under
stood. The people Of Kansas robbed Of their
Liberties by IN invasion Of their franchises in
the autumn Of 1854, and for a long time stripped
OF every political right, it was but natural that
tney should DO extremely sensitive ofevery move
ment which they did not fully comprehend, and
particularly jealous Of the guardisns Of public
interests who had control Of the press, We
cheerfully excuse them for whatever hard things
they have said Of US.
We were first denounced for sustaining the ad-
ministration of Gov. GEARY. When he abandon
cd the Territory every Free State man among us
regretted his leaving. and now say "he was the
best Governor we ever had" Letters from val
liable Republican friends in Pennsylvania, who
wrote that they had "known JonS W. GEARY
long and Well," and who assured us that "his
heart was in the right place." prompted US to
sustain him. We feel proud that we did so.
When Secretary STANTON came here We ex-
tended to him the hand of friendship, and the
HERALD OF FREEDOM, instead of abusing him,
did what itcOuld to set him right in regard to
our history. Mr. STANTON is now laboring in the
Republican ranks, and we trust that our infu-
ence will never drive him elsewhere.
Goy. WALKER came to Kansas long con-
hdential conversation with him on the second
orthird day after his arrival, and renewed fire.
quently, gave us a high opinion of his honorable
Intentions towards the people Of Kansas. We
sustained him as far as we thought him RIGHT;
and endcayored to CORRECT, not abuse him, when
tcroH0. Look back upon the history of that peri
cd when every Republican paper in the nation
was pouring gall upon us. and who is there now
who does not approve of our course with Gov.
WALKER2
We advocated the getting possession of the
Territorial government by competing with the
Pro-Slavery men for the Offices. When we pro-
posed this on the 4th of July, 1857. we were
threatened with annihilation, but the policy
prevailed, and the Territorial government is now
welded almost wholly BY Republicans as a con-
sequence Of thatline Of policy.
Tho Pro-slavery party had laid a tran for our
perpetual sn'lavsment, in the guise of the Le-
compton Constitution. Theysurroundedit II with
s'ist foat~rss tb-t they Thought Free state men
would keep wholly aloof from it. With strong
backing from the federal administration and
their friends at the south. they saw that if they
could only get possession Of the Offices under
1t, their struggle for years would be accomplished
and Kansas would be slave State in earnest.
We saw and felt this and as early as July of 81,
advised the election of all the Offices under that
Constitution, in case IN opportunity was denied
us to vote 1t down. In opposition tohundreds of
personal friends, and in direct conflict with the
action OF the Free State Convention of the 29d
and 23i of December of that year. we advocated
the measure. 1t triumphed, and to-day Kansas
whereas b. different line Of policy Kansas
would have been a slave State long since and the
institution would have received such strength
from the movement that the scourge would have
been fastened upon all the Territory west of us
as well as upon Nebraska.
Oneo the first to become identified with the
Free State organization, we were un willing to
surrender tfor any other party until Kansas wa:
State in the Union. We fought as long as We
could to perpetuate that party. and only surren.
dered when completely borne down by over
Whelming numbers. Though violently opposed
for trying to keep up that organisation, yet ",
feel proud that We were not the one to sell out
nor desert the party while corporals guard re
mainsd to defend its blood stained banner
Throughout our entire connection with Kansa
affairs we have sought only for peace Instea
of laboring TO embroil Kansas with the people @
AAAsSOAiAs sWOOPpOScu 9blIOLu tue uTtty ana aQVlSe
the practice of the Christian virtues toward
them. Whom they invaded the Territory, wreste
from us our franchises, and sought the an
Inhalation Of every Free State settler, we oppose
them, and resolved to resist them to the death
need be. We always talked about acting on III
DRFENsIYE-never on the do0ressfre. As 500
as they withdrew their armies, and invaders, W
were ready to resume amicable relations wit
them. and had no notion of holding all Mi,
soui responsible for the murders and villain
Of some Of the basest Of her population who at
tempted to harass our people on the southeast
ern border; neither were we in favor of gettin
up civil broil, or . servile insurrection merel
togratify the caprice Of Old John Brown, job
L. Cook. Richard ReAlf, ]. Il. KaEi an
their endorsers, aiders and abettors. who a,
still so numerous in Kansas, and who acted an
sympathised with these men while here,
whom We miRhtmention large number were v
disposed.
five have opposed men for office whom othel
supported it was because We feltt best inte
ests Of the country and Of Kansas demanded
WehaVe sought nothing for ourself; have ente
cd into no combinations By which we have el
changed the support of our friends. (of which "
have always had soFAsJ for the support Of other
WehaVe labored to keep wholly independent
all parties and oliques, because we felt that OF
influence in behalf of the cause which brougl
ushere would be advanced by it.
NoWisthetime Of all others to subscribe for d
HERALD OF FREKEoA. Winter, with its lor
evenings, is at hand, and the news, both fro
KAnsasan abroad, will possess unusual intere
during the next six months. Congress and OF
Territorial Legislature are about to convene.
The former will be called to act upon our p
tition for admission as State into the Unio
upon Land Grants to Kansas, and payment
our Claim debt. Our Territorial Legislatu
win have large amount Of business to trsnsa
Of absorbing interest. The HERALD OF FRE
DOM will keep an eye upon those bodies, and gi
whatever Of interest transpires in either Of thel
Through its columns the most important Law
As passed. will probably first be given to the pu