Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-07

C8Pt9m IN that regiment. Reference
made to Humboldt Kan Long before the
destruction of that town our thieves were al
work. bringing their plumber from Missouri, as
/ was obliged to know by being ofacially called
upon to restore 1t to Its owners. My interfer-
ence In this matter was probably one reason
why my life was sought. From what I knew al
the time and from all have learned since.
believe that nine-tenths OF the killing and thiev-
ing on the border. including the Quantreu raid
at Lawrence, could have been avoided and
would have been nad General Lane kept to his
seat in the Senate. -
Believing thus, II called upon to say any thing
upon the subject shall say it. and my advice
to all is not to feel badly over it. If they think
otherwise. let them say so. Neither they nor l
can make or unmake history. Facts in the end
| will have more to do with it than assertion
Colonel Phillips seems to think because General
Lane Is dead nothing but good should be said OF
his career. but official acts. public acts ana
crimes are public property. and can not ana
| should not be buried In the grave OF any mon
| or these. and these only, have spoken, ana
have NO more feeling in the matter than had
| the same deeds been performed by the Car OF
Russia With the personal private Affairs OF
men have nothing to do, whether dead or
| alive, in a public add ress or newspaper COM
| municati0n
| promising every man who voted for him an Of
| flee, and had formed an alliance, offensive and
| defensive with Lincoln and Stanton. no man in
| Kansas ever had such following Kansas had
/
| seemed that everybody was after sustenance OF
| some kind and Government pap was the IA
vorite dish. But before that no man In Kansas
ever made so many failures as o leader as Lane.
A few instances may be given. He lost prestige
in Indiana by voting in Congress to open Kan
sas to slavery. On his way to Kansas, 1885, he
led on in the direction OF a slave State and
only failed to purchase slave because his cred-
it was inadequate. Arriving in Kansas after
the fraudulent election OF Legislature which
Free State men repudiateo, he led of to recog-
20 1t as legal by asking to be divorced from
his wife by it. In this he failed. He was
leader In attempting to organize a
Democratic party at Lawrence, but could
get but few followers and failed. He then
proposed to join aud act with the
Free State party II certain citizens, myself
among the number would use their influence to
elect him to the United States Senate under
the contemplated State Constitution. In the
Constitutional convention he led the movement
for black law provision. and in this was sue
cessful At the State convention for the NOM
nation OF State officers he led on for the nom
nation of Governor for himself and failed. At
the Wakarusa war he attempted to lead some
hundred men against the Federal Governors
forces, thus changing our position from defense
to ohense. but failed, as did John Brown who
attempted similar movement later He sent
letter, now in my possession, to the treason
prisoners proposing their rescue IF IN the United
States troops. by force if necessary, the very
thing the Pro-Slavery men desired. but faile ].
When Territorial election was to be held in
1884, with large Free State majority in the Ter
r1tory, he led OH against taking part in that
election till he arrived at the convention,
and found the drift of public sentiment
when he changed front. The same was true of
the election OF State officers under the Lee
compton Constitution He opposed this cleo
ton on the part of the Free State men till q
ticket was put in the field At the State con-
vention under the Wyandotte Constitution he
led off for H. p. johnson for Governor anc was
defeated and he caused to be circulated a ticket
called the Methodist ticket" against the Free
State candidate in favor of the Democratic for
Governor, but failed Later on in the United
States Senate he led OF to defeat the Civil
Tenure of ONCE bill in consideration of having
relative appointed collector at the port OF
New York and failed. both on tho bill and the
appointment. Also, he led of in corrupt prac-
tees in connection with Indian supplies and
the like. and when exposure stared him in the
face he ended his life with his own
hand Here is brief outline OF his
career as leader. and II taken as
awhole there has ever been more conspicuous
failure as leader In Kansas or elsewhere have
failed to learn of it. But this is diversion,
and only referred to that it may be seen how
little some people know OF Kansas men and
measures who think they know it ALL The
truth is he antagonized nearly every movement
of the FREQ State party till he found his opposi-
ton unavailing, when he would acQuiesce ap-
parentiy. Free State men were not wanting
who feared he had contract with the Pro
Slavery party to wreck the Free State cause
1t was this fear that caused a person who knew
nothing of military tactics to be placed over
MIN, Colonel OF the Mexican war, at the
time OF the Wakarusn war. and that put the
same person in as Governor under the Topeka
Constitution. although he did not seek the
position while Lane did.
Colonel Phillips seems to think am not q
proper person to belong to the LOYAL Legion
and write papers for it. as I have not been a
soldier or officer in the army. In this he may
be right. doubtless devoted more hours in
the day to labor and travelled more miles in or
ganizng and protecting the people of Kansas
than any person who went to the front during
the years of 1861 and 1862 from this State but
for this make no claim. In fact, declined
many personal invitations to join the Legion
before finally accepting, and am ready to leave
at any time when my presence is unwelcome.
One thing is certain: while I will not intrude
unwelcome subjects knowingly upon the
Legion, as this would be in bad taste as well as
discourteous can not be muzzled outside IT
called out on proper occasions, il say any
thing, shall speak my mind.
take but little stock in conventional reputa-
tions, Oliver Wendell Holmes says: ST don't
know that there is any thing more noticeable
than what we call conventional regulations
There is a tacit understanding in every COM
munity OF men of letters that they will not dis
turb the popular fall cy respecting this or that
electro-gilded celebrity" This may be very
well in literature, but not in matters of history.
fully reciprocate Colonel Philips kind senti-
ments- have nothing but good will for him
and all actors in the great struggle that elimin-
ated the black curse of slavery from our Nation,
and saved its life during the process. Es-
pecially shall always cherish the great W ork
he did in the Territorial days when his tongue
and pen were worth q whole brigade of Lanes.
Since writing the abov have received the
| following letter from Lanes law partner. Cap
tain James Christian, whose word no Lane
man. nor any other man, who knows him, viii
dispute. trust he will pardon me for giving it
TO the public, as Colonel Phillips letter fully
justifies its publication and it forever settles
| all controversy over the subjects referred to:
ARKANSAS CITY. Kan, Jan 81
| Governor Charles Robinson Lawrence, Kan !:
| Dear Sir: I have read with much In
! terest your paper read before the Loyal
| Legion ut Leavenworth. January g.
1880, and from my standpoint-and few
4 Iuas .>f