National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-10-11
{ion who could sway masses suo
legislatures as Lane swayed these

3 NONio sway ILLNESSES ~
Legislatures as Lane swayed these
men OF the prairies. In early days,
without much tondness for lighting
he obtained extravagant military
reputation which extended to the
! remotest cabins of Missouri and Ar
! kansas. Again and again. through
| those inaccessible regions, two hun.
dred miles from railway and tele.
graph, have 1 been asked by settlers
before the evening fire:
"Do you know that man Lane, up
in Kansas | reckon he must be
powerful fighter"
\ seemingly transparent dema-
gogue sooner or later betraying ev-
cry cause and friend, he invariably
claimed to embody some great prin-
clple, and made the sincere, the hon
est, and the earnest his enthusiastic
supporters. In spite of his motor
Gus personal character, he was twice
( cecte to the United States Senate.
For Years he controlled tho politics
Of Kansas, even when penniless,
carrying bis measures against the
influence, labor and money Of his
united enemies. lis personal mag
netism was wonderful, and he man
lpulatcd men like wax.
" Like John Wilkes, he had sin
lister face, plain to ugliness; like
him, too, he could talk away his
face III twenty minutes. Defying
every recognized rule of rhetoric
and oratory at will he made men
roar with laughter, or melt into tears,
or clinch their teeth in passion. In
war times, the Free State soldiers
half starved, ragged and foot sore,
often grew weary of fighting tho
MiSsourians, and the power and the
patronage Of the United States Coy
ernmelt, and declared that they
would go home to their suffering
families and suffering corntieidS, and
leave the great question to settle it
self. Then Lane would mount the
nearest barrel or dry goods box,
make Il ten minutes speech, and con
Cludc amid shower OF cheers for
old Kansas, the Topeka Govern
mcnt, and Jim Lane with his hear.
crs begging him tQlead them against
| the enemy.
" Repeatedly the United States
marshal from Lecompton with an
armed posse at his heels galloped
into Lawrence with a warrant for
Lanes arrest. But the Lawrence
people were miracles Of heroic reUi
ccnce. The first person asked would
perhaps reply that he never heard of
any such man. Another would re
port him gone down South \
third saw him an hour ago, but
thought he was now over upon the
reservation. Then young man
with a revolver at his side would
step up and demand graycly:
- ualloa, Marshall, looking for
Jim Lane ?''
- Yes; where is he ~
"' Just left town. | saw him
start for Iowa ten minutes ago with
q twelve. FOUNDER under his arm
Amid the derisive laughter which
followed, the angry officer and his
posse would ride homeward. Be-
fore they were fairly out of sight
Lane would come strolling leisurely
up Massachusetts, street, wearing
the old black bearsbin Coy ercoat,
which enveloped him winter and
summer, and asking if anybody had
heard IA gentleman from Lecompton
inquiring for him.
He was a mau of rare physical
endurance. Once when the routes
through Missouri to Kansas were
blockaded, lie started from Nebras-
Ia on horseback, accompanied by
twelve men, all anxious to reach
Lawrence at the earliest possible
hour, as their counsel and their II
ileS were alike needed. They rode.
hard day and night, exchanging
their horses for fresh ones with
friendly settlers, and stopping only
for meals. After they entorcd Kan
SaS cold, violen. storm came on
but they did not halt. One by one
they broke down utterly exhausted,
and took shelter until they could re
cruit. Seven miles from Lawrence.
Samuel Walker, Lanes only remain
ing companion and a man of IRON
constitution, reached home SO com.
petely prostrated that lie thought
he could have gone little farther had
his life depended upon it. But Lane
pressed on, reaching city alone,
and after three or four hours rest
was attending to his ordinary bls'
ness