The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-09-12
M-Spent Indignation.


ing degree of indignation over the re-
mark We made last week, that the peo
pie Of Lawrence were TO blame fol
their disaster. We did but repeat the
words of the people Of that city. who
said they could blame none bu
themselves.'
Look at the facts. There we're from
five te eight hundred men in Lawrence
capable of bearing arms; and they had
the arms in their midst. Will the Con.
scrvative dare insult the brave and no
bic dead and equally brave living o.
tha, city by saying that these five hun
dred could not have whipped Quan.
treITs three hundred ? No. it dare no
make such charge. The widows and
orphans Of the valorous dead would re-
sent such an outrage upon the courage
Of the departed. So much. then. for
the ability Of the Lawrence people TO
have prevented the catastrophe.
( We'll, could they not have kept gua'd?
They had done SO, and say themselves
they ought not 10 have discontinued
the practice. Ii they had done nothing
more. they could at leas, have permit
ted the negroes TO keep guard when
they volunteered to do it free Of charge.
But they did no. keep guard nor permi,
the negroes to do il. Hence they were
surprised. Are not these the facts
But the commander Of the District
is to blame, says our contemporary.
We have already shown that no COM
mander can prevent raids under the ex-
isting s,a.e Of things with the number
of men in the District. But let that
pass. How could he or his subOrdi-
mates know whether the rail was in
tended for Lawrence or some other
point a, the first? Quan'ell gave c.::;;
that he was going to Paola. and made
feint in that direction, so that the
troops from Aubrey wen. Of on the
wrong trail at 6rst. And how could il
be known at Kansas City tina. the peo-
pie of Lawrence had no guards out and
had taken no precaution TO avoid sur
prise. We simply make these sugges
tons; and yet We frankly admit tha
there was probably great mistake
made in not sending a courier 10 Law
renee Immediately on the receipt of ,h,
news at Kansas City tha: Quan,rell wa
in Kansas.
But another point. The Conserva
tive says the General in command O
the District should have protected the m
a We do not doubt but he made such
r disposition Of the men under his com
mand as lie thought would best protec
The State. He may have erred in this
We canno: say; the best men do err
and officers Of longer expe,iep.s hav
committed gr at blundO..s. But mere !
q tact. The Conservative had been de
nouncipSs The Genera! FOR weeks. Now
II The people Of Lawrence had the leas
respect for the ju igmeni. opinions o
r veraciiy OF the editor Of that paper, i
!. II not probable that his unceasing de
I nuncia.ions of the General would hay,
alarmed them? Certainly they coul,
have placed no reliance in tie state
menis Of that paper. or they woald no
5 have been so self-secure.
We. therefore, suggest to the edito
Of the Conservative. that instead o
dealing il bitter and malicious invec
tiyes-wLich, after all, hurt nabod,
} but himself-without producing sin
! gle fact or argument to disprove t,,
J position he assails. that he 90 TO work
like a man Of sense, and establish .
reputation for candor and yeiacity
which will enlitlc his opinions and de
clarations to a respectable degree o
confidence on the part Of tho public
Until he does this. he can neither ex.
pect nor hope to receive the favorable
esteem Of men Of sense. who can see
and think for them selves.
AS to "patronags'-whicl, We have
no doubt the Conservative is selfish
enough 10 desire should all be expend.
ed upon that shec,-we are happy 10
say. that on our part it is steadily in
creasing. We are perfectly willing to
trust "thc people Of Kansas" in this
matter; for, after all the Conservative s
teaching, there are plenty Of honest
and true men in Ksnsas-men who.
knowing the right dare maintain it,
and stand by those who are for Loues.
principles 10 prevail in the land.
COurt Of Innnirv