The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-27
A MONUMENT TO JOHN BROWN On
VIRGINIA SOIL.

1t is now very well known that the Sc
res Of delightful letters signed "A
Grandfather" that TIE Times has been
publishing upon the political conditions
OF the country but particularly of Nir-
ginia. for thirty or forty years prior TO
the war; were from the pen of the late
Gen. J. u. Imboden. We know of no
place where so clear and interesting an
account Of the political conditions that
eliminated in the election of Mr.. Lin
coin as President of the United States in
1860 can be found as ia his letter pub
lished in last Sundays Times.
The point in that letter 10 which we
wish TO draw particular attention is his
remarks upon the proposition to erect
monument upon Virginia soil to John
Brown. The people of this State Will
never permit that. OF course persons
desiring to do it Will be allowed to pur-
chase "A piece of land ana TO erect their
monument without Interference. But it
will never be allowed TO stand where IL
is erected. II lightning does not strike
and destroy it, some other seen or un-
seen power viii pull it down. II may be
erected thousand times. but it will be
pulled down often it is put up.
We venture this prediction without any
sort OF sympathy with people who work
III the dark We had much rather see
the thing done openly and in the face
OF ,hc world by affcontel Nirginiaus who
declare that they will never tolerate
sacrioge.such as that, Tut whether done
openly in ia manner that we would Pee
fer. or secretly in the way that it will
probably happen. We predict that no
monument TO John Brown will ev-r be
permitted to stand upon Virginia soil.
Nor should il be. lie was a cold
blooded cut-throat who had murder and
arson in his heart. and he aimed at stir
ring up a servile rebellion amongst our
negroes who were TO be inspired and
set on to ravishing our women. and muir
dcring our women and children. and
burning GU. homes. IL was fool. mad
enterprise that did not have one single
element Of success in it beyond the de-
struction Of a few homes i'm the incipien-
cy Of the movement. but that did not
make the inspiration of the movement
any the less diabolcal
The popular judgment is always right
when II comes TO understand the facts
81 a case and the popular heart always
beats In unison with what is lofty and
high IN morals. and i'm population OF
whatever Is low. cOvardly. or mean The
great body Of cur people perfectly un-
dcrsiand that II was John Browns mis-
sion TO stir up a servile war that involv-
ed the murder OF our women and chill
dren. The popular judgment and the
popular heart rise IN revolt against airy
such cruel. cowardly conduct. and they
will always prompt the people to the
most positive manifestations Of disap-
proval whenever any attempt is made
10 commend such action 10 popular ap-
prevail.
Andre was a gentleman who unluck,ly
allowed himsef to be seduced into per-
forming the part OF spy. Mr.. Cyrus
Fields sympathy for his hard fate caus-
ed him TO erect monument to his MEM
DRY on the Hudson river. but his part
OF spy had fixed itself in the memory
and heart OF the country people around
there. and the monument was torn down.
Mr.. Field erected II again. but in some
mysterious manner IL was torn down
again and II has never been erected since.
according to the information that we
have.
Such will be the fate Of any monument
erected on virginia soil TO the memory
Of John Brown. and such ought to be its
fate. We are bccc mirg Commonwealth
OF Monuments. but our monuments com
memorate the deeds of men who are hon
ored by all the good and the great OF
the worli. and who will forever live IN
history as the brightest ornaments It's
Pages have. We are not going 10 allow
the memory OF these great dead TO be
n suited by having a monument 70 this
sut-throat and assassin crowded In