Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-12-24
Ole Autt- 9Iaperp Buole.
From the Principal
WASHINGTON IRVING AND JOHN
affI. BROWN

has brought thom into uxta- position by filing the
metropolitan journals simultaneously, with the in
cdents OF the last hours of their decease, and the
public expressions of sentiment and feeling drawn
forth by their exit Says the Tribune:
'The obsequies CT man like Washington Irv-
ing are not only a matter Of the deepest interest
to those who dwell near the legendary shores of
the Hudson and the Sonnd-whose traditions he
SO exquisitely gave to the world-and to every
American, the literature of whose country he so
purified and cnnobled but to every Old or New
World reader of that language to which he added
some of its choicest treasures, and with which his
fame is co-extensive and secure" Aud again.
And there Washington Irving rests-amid the
very scenes he legendzed and oonsecrated for all
time. Fit bural-place for the author and the
man on the banks of his own darling River
the trees he best loved waving over him-his
tomb the shrine of the best literary associations
the future Mecca of many pilgrim who will hon
or and long to emulate his fame"
The picture is not over drawn. The eulogy is
not undeserved.
In contrast with this, the journ als record the
demise of one whom they generally designate as
cold Brown" or "Old john Brown" prisoner
in Virginia, among strangers and enemies, con-
damned to death Of iGnominy, suffering the exc
cption of his sentence, among a populace by
whom his memory will be execrated and their ha-
tired of him transmitted to their children
Washington Irving died of old age anid the
surroundings of elegance, the luxures of wealth.
the attentions of admiring friends. His pall-bear-
ers are among the honorable of the land "Thir-
teen members of the New-York Board of Council
men, gentlemen of the highest literary distinction,
dignifed clergymon of metropolitan churches,
judges, exjudges, librarians, millionares. honor
themselves as friends and associates, by their at
tendance at his burial. By none, perhaps, of all
these, is "Old John Brown" regarded as anything
better than fanatic a criminal, or mad-man
He dies violent death dies in poverty; dies the
death of felon; his former associates apologize
for. their acquaintance with him he commends his
family to the God of the poor, aud the charities
Of the benevolent.
The fame of Washington Irving had filed the
literary world, for half a century. The Govern
ment of his country had sought to honor it, and
itself, BY constituting him their representative at
Foreign Court John Brown had passed his
life in obscurity, except that the "iro lbles in
Kansas" had made him known as the brave but
maligned defender Of the free settlers-anG as,
within few weeks, he had fallen under the pro-
scrption Of the Government, for his having too
resolutely arrayed himself against the nqutous
despotism of which that Government had, ITSELF
become the willing slave.
What q contrast But there is another view of
the picture.
The death of Washington Irving created less
de,p and heartfelt sensation in tho bosoms of his
oountrymen, than did the death of John Brown.
The fact of his demise was less extensively noticed
and recognized Beyond the locality off occur
rehce, the circle of his personal riendG, and the
community of men o: letters and Of leisure, the
sensation produced by his demise was not very
strongly marked. But millions of American
hearts beat with emotion at the death of John
Brown-the hearts Of enemies and of friends.
The sympathizng friends of Washington Irving
were to be counted by scores--possby by hun
dreds. The sympathzing friends of John Brown
must be estimated by millions.
Washington Irving is admired as an amusing
and entertaining author; John Brown as noble
and self-sacri6cng hero. The exit of Irving, his
last hours, his past life, his abors his successes
call forth appropriate reflections, regretful remn
iscences. and literary eulogy and emulation. The
enduring lorttude. the heroic daring, the digni-
fed frmness the unselfsh benevoonce, the self
lmmolating enthusiasm, the tender sympathy, the
sublime faith, the unearthly triumph of John
Brown, in his prison and the scafold have
touched ana stirred tho deepest fountains OF tens
Of thousands Of humane hearts, and lighted up
within them their highest conceptions of manhood,
their most sacred ideas Of human brotherhood, OF
liberty, and of religion. Never, perhaps, since tho
rat sat ant off tha hav
nest prayers ascended to heaven for the preserva-
tion Of the life of single man. for his triumph
ant and peaceful death, as in the case of John
Bown. And never, except in the case of the de-
mise of fWashington--if it be an excepton-has
any death been more deeply deplored. and by
greater number of human beings.
The date of the death of Irving, belongs to the
chronology OF literature. The period of the death
Of John Brown will mark an era-a painful era it
may be, but bright one in the history OF his ma
toD. and of the worlds freedom
Irvngs statue will be by the side Of the statue
OF Walter Scott. Browns with that of Ham pden
'The humble villagers and farmers to whom
Irving was go we'll known, were among the truest
mourners that followed him to the grave" The
objects of his bounty were the destitute around
him.
The slaves whom John Brown sought to deliver,
were personally strangers to him. They were un-
eoncious OF his selfsacriGcing devotion to them.
which cost him, not the contributions of superAu-
our wealth, but his very life. If any of them
learned that he was their friend, they dared not
approach him while living, ror while dying, nor
lament for him, except in secresy. after his death.
The poor, who loved Irving, were those of his own
Immediate vcinitv Tho nonr u hnp, .Jobn Rroun
loved, and for whom he died, were the enslaved
millions Of his nation, for whose release neither