The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-18
GEORGE L. STEARxS

Among the benefactors Of Kansas In the
time Of greatest trouble was George l.
Steans, Of Medford, Massachusetts,. He
has now been dead eleven years. and
his widow. Mrs. Mary E. Stearns. a
woman whose services too to Kansas
were scarcely less effective than were
those Of her husband. is now engaged in
the preparation Of his biography. The
book will be Kansas book. for. during
the most active period Of the life Of its
subject, Kansas. and Affairs u history per-
tanning thereto. engaged all his labors.
with most untiring and effective zeal At
the burial Of Stearns, April II, lss., .
vast throng Of noble men 1pd women
gathered at his grave to weep at his kss,
and tn pay a tribute 10 his worth. At the
present time. when memories III those who
served Kansas in her hour of trial are he
ing revived with 80 much interest. the fol-
lowing, from the remarks made by Ralph
Waldo Emerson at the grave 81 Stcarns.
will be read by Kansas people with Just
appreciation. especially as the passage
presents fine example VI the felicitous
style In which the gifted author presents
his thoughts:
We do not know how Ia prize good
men until they depart. High virtue has
such an air If nature and necessity that Ia
thank its Isossessor would be tn praise the
water for flowing. or the flre for warming
US. But, On the instant ii their death. We
wonder at our past insensibility. when We
sec how impossible it Ii Ia replace them.
There will be- other good men. but not
these again. And the painful surprise
which the last week brought US. In the u
dings Of the death Of Mr.. Stcarns, opened
all ewes Ia the Just consideration IL the
singular merits II the citizen. the neigh
Dor, the friend. the father and the hus-
band, whom this assembly mourns. We
recall the all but exclusive devotion u this
excellent man during the last twelve
years 10 public and patriotic interests.
known until that time In no very wide cir
Gle as man u skill and perseverance in
his business: Of pure life; III retiring anal
adectionate habits; happy in his domestic
relationships extreme interest In the ma
tional politics. then growing more anxious
year by year, engaged him Ia sean the
fortunes ~ freedom with keener attention.
He was an early laborer In the resistanc.
Ia slavery. This brought him into SYM
patty with the people Of Kansas. As
early as 1853 the Emigrant Aid Society
was formed: and in ls56 he organized the
Massachusetts State Kansas Committee.
bv means Of which large amount
~ money was obtained for the
Free State men. at times Of the greatest
need He was the more engaged to this
cause by making. in ls57. the acquaintance
II Capt John Brown, who was not only
an extraordinary man. but one who hai n
rape magnetism for men Of character. and
attached some II the best and noblest Ia
him, on very short acquaintance. bv lasting
ties. Mr.. Stesuns made himself at once
necessary To Capt. Brown as one who
respected his inspirations, and had the
magnanimity Ia trust him entirely. and TAI
arm his hands with all needed help.
For the relief VI Kansas. In ls56-5s. his
oSp contributions vere the largest and the
first He never asked any one To give ~
much as he himself gave, and his interest
was 81 manifestly pure and sincere that he
| easily obtained eager offerings in quarters
where other petitioners failed. He did not
hesitate Ia become the banker II his ell
ents. and Ia furnish them money and arms
| in advance IL the subscriptions which he
obtained. His first donations were only
entering wedges of his later: and. unlike
-
| Ia excuse his entire prcoccupaiion la his
own pursuits. but as an earnest 81 III.
dedication ~ his heart and hand Ia the
| interests 81 the sufferers, a pledge kept
until the success he wrought and prayed
| for was contaminated. In lse2, On IN.
| Presidents first or preliminary Proclama-
ton IL Emancipation, he took the first
steps for organizing the Freedmans Bu-
reau,-a department which has since
grown tn great proportions In lss3 he
began Ia recruit colored soldiers In Buffalo:
then nj Philadelphia and Nashville. But
these were only parts of his work. He
passed his time In incessant consultations
with all men whom he could reach. to
suggest and urge the measures needed Tor
the hour. And there are few men 81 real
or supposed influence, North OF south.
Win "honi nv ma h"' .. ro.ne unir o"'',-
muiiicaH- hc
measure ~ 'h's IesH', h"s ""'' "'s Ss"lAs-
my anu -, many nv nAs ~" u'' P''ii'''
mover. He k"Ne " 49, M ot sap
| Po,,, "u' .''v "Pp
Puon' IoI n a.. -, ~
assen no '.~u, y" 'u M, u"
only W 90 uhe hAs" SA- ms u-lA-
r"ht ninRiehess ~ P"I.n' hs ,'"'"'
rom All py-ehds, hi- Isanh sn nse'
eourhe", h"''f','.", ans MS ."u ~, t'"-
en's''s nisa'niei nr' :" 'asa "'
srs. hls e.A'h l., p''. u', .n''s'
STATS senate .oh'"i,i''s ga ','e nahPf
fsHs INVASION; IN January, 'e"', ~ r-
pDHt1a ~ 'hs p'lo'l ., a.'uh''''s. - shAP-
sr ~sn worm 'e~iht. a. y .nhn's eAl'n-
pr "a us insn'rI ~ ms" .u.
p'tWr al s'Aee- AZ" 1919 "a Ar. =
tnctah' """'AR" h""' "'" "'''''S' NJ
1