New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-15
1.-THE NATION" ON VE&AClTY.
"a tAe Editor Of The Tribune,

S,p. The writer of the article on John
Rrown In the April number Of The Atlantic Monthly
.avs that in March, 1885, all the held In trust by the
Kansas Relief Committee transferred to Mr. Geo.
L. stearns in payment OF debt; that In the May Ioho"
Ing Senator Wilson, ofthe transfer ana arneu
by the pretended revelations of fellow naineu foi0'
wrote to Dr. s. G. Howe Of Boston, demonstrating against
the application OF these arms to any use foreign ho
that designed by the subscribers to the Kansas iunu
that Dr. Howe replied dlsclaiming vehemently any ln-
tention to permit "such a monstrous perVersion Vi
trust" WHILE for some nconceivabe reasO' couoea"S
the fact that the rifles had been disposed OF 10 oscnse
a debit and that accordingly, the Kansas Committee had
neither power nor responsibility IN connection WIN
them; and that Mr. stearns, at about tho came ume'
sent an order TO Capt Brown directing him TO use tho
rifles for no other purpose than the defense OF Kansas
Imav he said In passing that tins account Of tho mat
ter is In respects open TO question There are In
dubabe facts with which such transfer OF the arms
taking place at that period utterly rreconcabe
The ARantie writer has past doubt, fallen into grave
error in what Immediately follows upon the foregoing;
and much must be explained or unquestionable EVIL
dence adduced before it will be possible to believe that
the arms in question became the pirate properly OF
Mr. stoans in March, 1858. This however by the way.
Proceeding ostensbly upon the above statements me
Nation seeks TO establish against Mr. Stearns ana Dr.
Howe charge of virtual falseood at least OF too
slight respect for truth In pursuance Of this amabe
design It has;ens to display its own delicate ana peeu
liar regard for truth in manner somewhat astonishing
Having saidof course. quite iradvcrtenty-that the
letter Of Senator Wilson TO Dr. Howe was directed to
the Massachusetts, State Kansas Committee, II goes on
as follows
RGassurng replies at once written TO the Repub-
loans aud especially To Senator wilson, by the late MT
George L. SteafnS Of Boston and Dr. B. c. Howe OF the
same City. The last-naned gentleman replied in the
same spirit as that which dictated Dir Stearnss letter.
and assured Mr. Wilson about the dsgraceu breach OF
trust which II would be II the Kansas Committees prop
erty used in Virginia"
Now tnis letter of Mr. Geo. T.. Stearns to Senator VIII
is fiction, for which credit is due to The Nation
alone. 1t is fact aGned into existence to serve
purposethe purpose to feed ancient grudge by de-
flaming good man. now in his grave. Mr. Stcarns, IL
may said with confidence wrote such letter. nor Is
any such attributed him by the writer ia The Atlantic
whose statements The Nation pretends to reproduce
The truth OF Mr. stearns is unstaned; how Is 1t with
that Of The NdtOR To assail sepulchers, and write
liar on the doors OF tombs should be no grateful task to
man Of ordinary sensibity; but when he who, with
eager desire watches his opportunity TO do this himself
shamefuy violates in the act the combination is
certainly unpleasng. +. p SrEARNs.
I'VE accord hearing to Mr.. Stearns on be-
half of his fathers memory, without taking
part in q controversy of the merits whereof
we have no knowledge.-Ed]