Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-04-19
A Border Poiiiician--Jim Lane Of Kan-
sas.

The emigrant- from tie north were iim't
without exception from civil life, laborers,
farmers, mechanics aud artisans, young men
of the middle class, reared in toll and in
ured to poverty, unused to arms and un-
schooed in war Tney were intelligent, de-
vout and patriotic. They came tn plough
and plant. to open farms, erect mills, 10
saw lumber and grind corn, To trade, teach
schools. build towns aud construct irr-
State But one of them James Henry
Lane-hai any military experience He
had been a colone. in the Mexican war of
an Indiana regiment. and was afterwards Il
Democratic lieutenant governor aud mem
Der of Congress from that State. He hal
An extraordinary assemblage OF mental,
moral and physical traits and with even a
rudimentary perception OF the value OF per-
sonaI character IA an element of success in
public affairs would have been good lead.
er with an enduring fame. But in arms he
was a captain Bobadi, and in politics a
Rittmeter Dugald Dalgeity He proposed
to settle the vexed question and save Kan
sas from further outrage by battle between
one hundred shareholders. including Sena
tor Atchison, and one hundred Free State
men, including himself. to be fought in
the presence Of twelve United States Sena-
tors and twelve members of the House of
Representatives as umpires.
He was the object Of inexplicable idola-
try and unspeakable execration. With his
pAr:isan~ the superlativrs of adnlatior were
f eble and meagrr. With his To-. the lrxi
con of infamy contained no epi'hels ~ufli
cienily lurid u express their abhorrence
and deteslaton. They ,'leged that he nrv-
er paid debt nor told the truth. save by
accident or on compulson, aud that t. reach
the goal of his ambition he had no convic
tions he would not sell, made no promise he
would not break, and had no friend he would
not betray.
A lean, hazard and sinewy figure with n
mephistophelian leer upon his shaven Wis
age. his movements were alert aud li~lless
like one at bay and apprehensive Of detec
ton. Protesting religion he has been nc
cused of hypocrisy, for his followers knew
that he partook of the sacrament rs polit-
ical device to secure the support of the
church and with the same nonchalant
alacriy, had he been running for office in
Hindostan. he would have thrown his off
spring To the crocodles of the GInges or
bowed among the PAr-eeS at the shrine of
the sun His energy WIS tireless and hi-
activity indefatigable. No night was too
dark. no storm too wild, no heat or cold too
excessive, no distance ton great to delay hi@
meteoric pilgrimages, with dilapidared garb
and equipage across the trackIess prairies
from convention to conventions. His ora
tory was voluhIe and incessant, without
logic, learning or grace, but the mutitudes
to whom he perpetually appealed hung up
on his hoarse and harsh harangues with the
rapture of devotees upon the oracuIar rhap-
sodies of a prophet, and responded to his
apostrophes with frenzied enthusiasm.
DE gained the prize which he sought with
such fevered ambition, but after many
stormy and tempesiuOus years Nemesis, IN
evitable in such careers. demanded reiribu-
tion. He presumed too far upon the tolera-
ton of constituency which had honored
him so long and forgiven him so much
He transcribed the limitations which the
greatest cannot pass. He apostatzed once
too often, and in his second term in the
Senate, to avoid impending exposure. after
tragic interval of despair, he died by his
own hanf, surviving ten days after the hui
let had passed through his brain.--Er Sen
ator IngaHs in HdTper's