The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1895-06-01
MRS. T II. LYLES
Replies to Miss Kate Field In regard to the
John Brown Monument.

Replies to Mics Kate Field In regard to the
John Brown Monument.
o. May l9ch Miss Kate Field had
letter in the Chicago Times H erald IN
in regard to the property on which the
grave of Jonh Brown is. The letter is
too long to reprodu:e but We givs space
to an open letter in reply from the Pres
ident Of the John Brown Monument az.
ISOLATION from which may. be cleaned
the import of Miss Fields letter. =.
St. Paul, Mlnn., May 3lst, 1895
To the Editor Chicago Times Herald,
Chicago, Ills. @::..-
s1R:-Permit me space in your columns
to reply to some of the remarks of Miss
Kate Field, editor of "Kate Fields
Washington, which appeared in your
paper of Sunday the 18th inst. in refer.
ence to the proposed monument to be
erected by the Afro-Am srican citizeua
of the United States, over the grave OF.
that hero and martyr, John Brown, at
North Eba, n. Y. I have no fault to-
End with the definition which Miss
Field attributes to Sir William Hamil-
ton, that sentiment is applied to the
highest feelings" nor with her own dis.
tinction between sentiment and senti.
mentality.
i wish to say that this is matter Of
duty. which we think We owe to the
memory of that illustrious hero, who was
the forerunner to the emanci patton of
the Afro American race aud am will
ing to let the distinctions, which Miss
Field draws so we'll, rest, as they ap pear
in that article.
What are the facts in the case? What
does Miss Field criticise? What re her
objections to the monument?
The facts in relation to the monument
are these: My attention had been re-
peatedly called to the neglected con-
ditlon ofthe grave of Jonn Brown by
those who, from time to time. had visi-
ted the Adriondacks, and the fpot where
his remains now lie. The last time my
attention was called to this condition of
the grave, was through the "News Mes
senger" of Marshall, Mimi, in which
paper there was an article in reference
to it, ard cut therein, showing the
the grave itself. This article mentioned
the fact that out of four and one-half
m lions OF those for whom he died, not
one had donsa thing to mark his last
resting place. Being familiar with the
history of John Brown. bis character
and noble deeds, I then resolved within
myself to do all that was in nv power to
build monument, if possible. near his
neglected grave, as token of the re-
spect, we, as race, had to his memory.
l consulted with many of my
faiends. among whom was the late Fred
erick Douglass. who encouraged me by
saying to me in the letter I'VE as race
cannot raise too many shafts to the
honor of that grand old hero John
Brown, and all advised me to go ahead
with the work, and promised me all the
assistance in their power. My first
thought was to find out the owners of
that property. Having learned that
! Miss Field was one of the owners, I
adore ssed her letter, setting forth the
object We had in view, to which letter I
! received no reply, nor was it returned
: Through the mail. had encouragement
=: every where, and called Mass Meeting
of the citizsns of this city, and laid the
matter before them. We then organized
an association, which was called the
John Browns Monument Association"
and lad the same duly incorporated
under the laws of the State of Minnesota
We then started in on our wolk havin}
many thousands of circulars printed
setting forth the object of the association
and sent them broadcast over thu
country, and in answer to these we hav'
received many encouraging responses.
Receiving no answer to any of m,
; letters 10 Miss Field, we interested Mrf
Vic. oria Matthews, No. 8 Murray street
New York City. in our behalf. Sh
arranged an entertainment to be give
for the benefit of our association, an
wrote Miss Kate Field, requesting her
be present and take part in the program
From what we can learn. Miss Field di
not answer the invitation, but wrote q
article in her''Kate Fields Washington
CONTINUED ON gouRTH PAaE)