Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-29
JOHN BROWN.
The Effort 90 Make Political Capital
out of the Old WOuId.be Murderer
Proves = Wretehed Failure.


more wretched dissertation of what
Americans should look upon as an hon
Ored name has ever been perpetrated.
The idea of John Brown Monumental
Association originated in the brain of a
colored person named Washington, who
has initials more numerous than ought
to be here set forth, but which
in nowise indicate the character
of the man who wears them. If
they were translated to suit those who
know the man they would not insult, the
Father of Our Country, but would prop.
erly characterize the individual who at
Yesterdays demonstration brought a
blush to the cheek of every man who
had the slightest respect for the wife of
the man who by his courageous act
brought about the freedom of the colored
people. When the person who in the
most offensive way styles himself Dr.
W. J. w. W. Washington, Jr., proposed
the organization of John Brown Monu-
mental Association, no notice was taken
of the matter, as he was regarded then
as now as utterly without standing
among his own or other people. But
when he, with an assurance that would
have worked wonders in better cause,
allied himself with Caucasian
named Kessler, and after making him
self President elected Kessler Secretary
of the association, and, without warrant
of any sort, chose a number of prominent
citizens to fill the unimportant offices,
the press took some notice of the move
ment. This was the unfortunate feature
of the case, for it led to the farce of yes
terday at Ogden's Grove, which will re-
ceive the censure of every honest man.
The name of John Brown will he revered
by all lovers of freedom as long as time
endures, and if it be not better to sink it
in oblivion along with the man who bears
if. the name of the Washington who Of
ficiated at yesterdays demonstration,
should be subject to no end of exercra-
ton. Evidence in favor OF a lack
of good faith on the part of this
man accumulated as the work of
preparation went forward, and yesterday
the climax was reached. The fellows
purpose was to rush the thing through
on his own hook with a "hurrah" such
as is sometimes seen at a ward caucus,
and the efforts of a few men who were
disguised with Washington's
barely saved the occasion
from utter failure. Without consulting
anyone Washington and his white ally,
Kessler, elected themselves to the best
positions in the association and gave the
honorary places to men of prominence.
This done they set about collecting
money to bring the widow of John
Brown here from Santa Clara county.
and advertised such speakers
as Blaine, Logan and Mcclellan, and
guests like Gen. Grant for Yesterdays
demonstration. 1t seems that the money
was raised, but, according to common re-
port, Allan Pinkerton secured transporta-
ton for the widow, and what became
of the money is not stated. The adver-
tised speakers and guests were also
for their absence at the
demonstration, and the widow of the
grand old hero of Harpers Ferry was
subjected to an indignity that should
never have been imposed upon her. The
: grand procession" advertised left the
corner of Jackson and Clark streets at
1870 o'clock in the morning, and it con.
sisted of the Marshal, r. M. Mitchell, a
German band, about thirty members of
the Sixteenth Battalion bearing arms,
Brown. At the park very little except
puddles of water were found, and no
arrangements for the lady's entertain
ment had been made. After cast
ing about for some time kind
of meal was prepared for
the lady, and she was placed in the
beer saloon adjoining the park to wait
for it. In the meantime about four hun
dred people, the majority of whom were
had assembled at the grave, and
were devoting their time to the absorp-
ton of beer. Between 3 and o'clock
the man Washington conducted
The lady from the beer saloon to the
park, where she was literally dragged
through mob of people of all cOlors
and stations, most of whom were called
away from the beer stands to shake her
by the hand. Through such a crowd
and innumerable mud puddles she was
taken to the speakers stand, at the
northwest corner of the grove, where
the formal" ceremonies of the day
took place After music by the band, r.
M. Mitchell introduced Mr.. E. r. Bliss,
of the Second ward, who in
a brief speech introduced
the Washington. The latter stepped to
the front and delivered himself of an
Grafton that would have shamed a Sew
enth ward Alderman. He wound up his
awful harangue with an introduction of
Mrs. Brown, which hurt the feelings of
the most iiliterate of his hearers The
lady seemed relieved when he had con-
cluded. Then came Mr.. Kessler, the
other member of the association, who
read the purposes of the organization,
and he said that letters of regret had |
been received from Mrs. Garfield, Presi. |
dent Arthur, Gen. Grant. Robert Inger.
soil, Benjamin F. Butler, Ben Harrison,
Gov. Cullom, Secretary Robert Lincoln, |
John Swinton and Peter Cooper. But |
none of the letters were read.
At the close of the reading Mr.. John |
Lyle King, who had not been asked to |
speak, but who was invited to a place on |
the platform, was pushed to the front |
by Washington and asked to speak in |
place of the orator of thesday, who, af- |
ter learning how the affair was being |
conducted, refused to speak, and left the |
grounds early in the afternoon. Mr..
King explained how he had been impos- |
ed upon, but said that he thought the |
memory of John Brown should ever be |
revered, and he paid a glowing tribute |
to the great martyr. The band played |
''The Star Spangled Banner" after |
which brief addresses were made by |
ONeill, Col. Scribner.
and r. M. Mitchell, all of whom endeav- |
Ored to convey to Mrs. Brown and the |
audience the idea that the small attend |
ance was the result of bad management.
After the speaking Washington dragged |
the widow back to the beer saloon after |
the band. which played John Browns |
Body Lies Wondering in the Grave"
During the exercises Solomon Field, |
a resident of North Elba, N. |
T., where Brown is buried, but now |
living at Galena, Illinois, was introduced |
TO the audience, informing them that |
he had attended Browns funeral. A |
reporter of the Tribune had a talk |
with the old man later in the day, but |
his recollection of events was found to |
be rather misty. He remembered that |
the body was brought to Virgennes, VT,
twenty-five miles from North Elba, |
while he and many others of the neigh. |
were there, and that the casket |
the body was put into sleigh |
and taken to Browns old home, at North |
Elba, where funeral services were held |
and the remains inferred. He did not |
the name of the preacher who |
delivered the funeral Grafton.
The politicians were out In full force, |
but even they were ashamed of the man,
ner IN which the affair was conducted. |