Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-02-24
A TRIBUTE TO GENERAL JAMES
II, LANE.

From John Speer's address at t.
pcka, January 20:
Till after the election of Abraham
Lincoln, the whole American mind
had been absorbed in the arts of
peace. But in kan-as nearly all the
citizens had been trained in the arts
of war under Gen. Lane, whose large
experience as a leader of two regi-
menis in the Mexican war made his
servI0es invaluable in resistance of the
aggressions of the territorial govern
ment The administration of Lincoln
was ushPred in amidst tumut of
threats and mepaces. Early in the
winter preceding the Inauguration,
Gen. Lane rendered to Lincoln reg
Iment of Kansas men for his
projections; but that just man,
who had injured no being him
self, could see no reason to fear
others. and respectfully declined the
offer; but when he was afterwards
compelled 10 push through Baltimore
in disguise TO avoid assassination, and
met Lane at the White house, he CRATE
fully accepted his aid, and for several
weeks company of about fifty Kan
sas men camped in the celebrated east
room of the presidential mansion I'M
der Gen. Lanes command. Probably
so distinguished an honor was never
before conferred upon any body of
men in halls of king, emperor or pres
idpnt.
Fifty years ago, President Jackson
ordered his secretary to remove the
government deposits; the secretary
refused and he removed him
and selected an office who
obeyed his mandates. "A Uuited
States congress passed resolutions Of
censure. TIE people, always grateful
to their cOuntry's defenders, never
rested until the censurers were out of
power, and then their servants drew
black lines around the resolutions of
censure and wrote across their face in
deep black the word, ..expunged
Why? Not because they approved OF
this act-many of them did not. But
he had stood IN the face OF the British
lion; with a greatly inferior force he
had met Packenham: he had impro-
vised cotton bales ~ breast works: he
had ordered the nabobs of New Or
leans into their country's army: he had
imprisoned judge who had ipterfered
with a writ-paId his fine, bnt kept
the judge in prison, aud he had fought
and won the ensanguinary battle of
New Orleans and sustained American
valor and American rights. Who
knows the judges name or cares for
the deposits. But above sill. when null
LITIGATION, disunion aud rebellon
threatened. he had faced the arch trail
tor in the senate. and told him il he
dared institute rebellion in congress
he would hang him higher than Ha-
man. He had sent General Scott with |
an army to Charleston. and he had |
sworn great oath that BY the eter-
nal the Union must and shall be pre-
ser,edi'
PIgmies. who write censures of dead |
heroes and martyrs, may learn lessons
from experience. The people know
that "io err is is human: 10 forgive is
divine" and will allow the errors of
the past TO lie buried. while the good |
deeds of the dead shall be &c ehrs'ed
and made immortal ksnsas his
placed in tablets upon her legislative
halls such names IS IN ase of John
Brown. Lane and Barber. and have
namtd counties IN their honor. and
will write in everlasting black the
word "expuuged" over the defama-
ions of the men who made Kansas
Tree