New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-01
WHO SAVED KANSAS?
A NEW HISTORY OF THE STRUGGLE.

more or less prominent in the great enterprise
which was the beginning OF the end OF slavery.
There have. however. always been at least two
ways of viewing and presenting the history Of that
exciting period, even among those who were oSoen-
siby engaged in forwarding the same policy and
this difference of view has been the means oil
perpetuating discussions down to the present day
Ex-Governor RObinson'S book is an emphatic ana
uncompromising presentation Of the Kansas con-
fict from the point of view of the Fre-State party
of which he himself was one of the most conspicu-
leaders. 1t is more than this it is an arraign-
mcnt of John Brown. james II. Lane. and others
and their champions and defenders; and it makes
the square issue-whO were the real saviors OF
Kansas in that prolonged and desperate conhictr
1t is perhaps unnecessary to state that Ex-Governor
Robinson must he regarded az ono OF the hrst
authorities upon the whole question lie leu the
Free-State party all through the struggle, and he
was the first Governor Of Kansas, and its War
Governor during the rebellion.
lie first went to Kansas in S54 as the agent OF
the Emigrant Aid Society, and from that time to
the end of the contest he worked in entire harmony
with Eli Thayer, who was the soul OF the move
ment, and with A. A. Lawrence and all the other
clear-headed and sober-minded Ncw-Engand men
who were banded together to check the slave-power
In its insolent aggressions; and who did finally
was supported by the Administration the Federal
Judiciary, Congress and the Army. There can
never come time when the history of this mar
vellous struggle will be other than deeply inter-
csting to American patriots. The victory of Free
dom in Kansas was the death-kncl of the slave
power, as events proved but there were times
when the success of the Ffce-Statc cause was moro
endangered by those who proessed to he its friends
than by the utmost eNertions of its bittercst ana
most open enemies. The most significant feature
Of the policy of that party, and the which cont
n,cnds it most forciby to the study OF all friends
of constitutional government. is it's firm depend
ence upon lawful means. This distinguishes the
Kansas conflict from all others recorded in history
and this it was which secured the victory TO the
right. in spite of difficulties which, when rehear:ed
even at this distance Of time. seem to have been
almost necessarily overwhelming.
The South had made up its mind that Kansas
should be a slave State. and it really looked as
though nothing could be easier than to make it
one. Just across the border were the pro-slavery
masses of Missouri, full OF truculent hatred to
whatever was not openly pro-savery also, and
accustomed TO settle all controversy with the rifle
revolver or bOwie-knife. What could be simpler
than to obtain political control of Kansas Terri
tory by pouring enough Missourians across the
line and taking possession Of the polls at every
important election? This was the Southern pro-
Eramme. When the Emigrant Aid Society.
warned of what had been arranged. began TO send
shipments of Sharps repeating rifles to Kansas for
the defence of the settlers. rational presumption
would have been that trouble was soon TO follow
II the Free-State men began to oppose the MIS-
souri, ruffians with force and arms. Pierces Adj
ministration would moreover at once obtain an
excuse for intcrposing with all the force of the
Federal Government. and should the settlers offer
resistance to that they would put themselves in
the wrong, lose the sympathy and support Of the
North, and be crushed once and for all 1t was
due principally to Charles Robinson that these
banners were avoided. Eli Thayer has testified
to this with bis characteristic candOr and magma
nimity, and the facts of history now known leave
no room for doubt concerning it. But attempts
have been made to give the chief credit to Others
and one Of the objects Of this volume is to prove
that so far from those others being entitled to the
credit sought to he conferred upon them. in truth
they were responsible for the illjudgcd movements
which threatened TO defeat the Prostate party at
the very moment when its position was most
favorable.
The Free-State party in Kansas, under the
advice of Robinson and those who held with him,
lad resolved upon policy of passive resistance
When elections were carried by Missouran in
yaders. the legal voters OF the Territory stayed
away from the polls. They protested, but they
obeyed the laws When by the same open fraud
LEGISLATURE was chosen they maintained the same
attitude. 1t was their purpose to battle the de-
signs of their enemies by constitutional means,
and to effect that purpose it was absolutely
necessary that they should be on the right side of
the law. In vain were traps spread for them
In vain did their foes bring false charges Of re-
sistinp the Federal authority in the case of Mar
xhAl Jones. In vain was Robinson put under
arrest with several other equally innocent men,
CHARGED with treason and held under guard
of United States soldiers. No overt act of re-
sistance was committed by the Free-State men
They endured heroically, but they could not be
drawn from their intreDchments But they were
menaced now from what purported to he their
own side. John Brown, James II. Lane, Mont
gomery and others did not approve the policy
of massive endurance. John Brown yearned to
do something which would precipitate a sectional
conflict. II one is to believe the evidence here
presented, he cared for nothing else What
ever truth there may be in the view
which represents Lane as traitor, coward, a
murderer, tyrant, corrupt trickster and
mischief-maker in every possible way, IL cannot
he denied that the case against him is made up
of exceedingly strong and direct statements.
Perhaps the most significant act Of Lane
was his attempt TO persuade Robinson,
when the latter was @ prisoner at Urea
son Camp" to agree to being rescued from the
Federal authorities. OF course this would have
brought On an armed conflict with the United
States troops, and would have made rebels of the
Free-State men and ruined their cause. Robin
son was the very last man to he bed into such a
snare but lane was very persistent. In the
case Of John Brown. the Osawatome massacre is
the critical point and about this it is necessary
TO say something. Ex-Governor Robinson for
many years held what the general view Of
that deed namely that number Of proslavcry
men had made preparations for massacre Of
Prostate men that the killing at Osawatomie
was directed against these intending murderer;