The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-05-22
KANSAS STATESMEN.
REX BOwLUS.

REX BOwLUS.
The history of great common
wealth like Kansas, cannot help but
develope some great statesmen. Dur
ing the struggle to make her q free
state, when within her borders were
fought the advanced skirmishes of
the Civil war, when MissOurians in
obedience to the sentiment of their
state and of the South scattered dev-
astation through all eastern Kansas,
then did men of power appear whose
names were forever to stand as those
of Kansas Statesmen The men
playing the most important parts
during these times were Charles Rob-
insOn, James H. Lane and Preston b.
Plumb.
Charles Robinson was born in Mas
sachusetts in the year 1918. His
early educational advantages were
such as the schools in the vicinity of
his home afforded. In 1S49 he set out
with party of emigrants for the gold
fields of California. On this journey
he first saw the fertile valley of the
Kaw, and encamped near the present
site of Lawrence. He remained in
California about two years He then
came to Kansas and became one of
the first heralds OF free state emigra-
tiOn. He made his home on Mount
Dread, Lawrence. Here he organized
and became leader of the free state
movement, stood through evil and
good repute as the bulwark against
which the assaults of foes from with
out and within beat with unavaiIing
force until the final victory was won.
He was the first governor of Kansas
chosen under the Topeka constitution.
His administration of the executive
Office set q high standard of devotion
to duty and carried the state to the
plane of realizing a stable and pro-
gressive government. AS the years
pass, Kansas people more and more
realize that Charles Robinson was
the statesman above all others who
brought our commonwealth to it's
highest effectiveness in its internal
administration and development.
James II. Lane was born in Law
renceburg, Indiana, June %, 1914.
He came to Kansas in 1855. After
full consideration he decided TO cast
his lot with the free state movement.
He soon became the acknowledged
leader of the aggressive, fighting free
state men, who, under his inspection
and the prestige of his name, more
than his deeds, drove the border ruff
fans from the state. The state be-
ing, after the long struggle, admitted
as free state, Lane was elected a
member of the United States Senate
by the first state legislature in 1861.
The rebellion having broken out, he
took an active part in recruiting and
organizing volunteers tor the service.
In 1864 he was reelected a member
of the United States Senate, and on
taking his seat took sides with Presi-
dent Johnson in the open rupture
which occurred between the latter
and the Republicans on the Freed
mans Bureau and Civil Rights Bill.
He thought he saw the popular tide
drifting that way, but for once he
was deceived.
In his Twenty Years in Congress"
James g. Blaine observes: "The de-
fectiOn of Gen. Lane, of Kansas, from
the ranks of the most radical Repub-
licans caused great surprise in the
country. He had been so closely
identified with all the tragic events
in the struggle to keep slavery out of
Kansas that he was considered to be
an irreconcilable foe to the party that
tolerated or in any way apolOgized
for its existence. The position he had
taken fretted and worried him, He
keenly felt his separation from the
sympathy of such men as Charles
Sumner, Chandler and Wade. and
the old party who had early fought
the battle of Kansas in the halls of
congress. He felt still more keenly
the general and somewhat indignant
disapproval of his actions, freely ex-
pressed by the great mass of his con-
stituents. One of his intimate friends
said that the very day of his vote he
received a telegram warning him
that if he voted against the bill it
would be the mistake of his life. The
telegram reached him after the roll
had been called. He said excitedly:
The mistake has been made. would
give all 1 possess if it were undone.'"
In June, 1866, he procured leave of
absence and came back to Kansas,
but only to be received in silence and
cOolness by most of his old friends
and followers. His proud spirit
could not stand failure. Death by
his own hand occurred July IL, 1865.
AS Ewing Herbert has said: "The
lion heart had been pierced by
wounds more cruel than could be
dealt by assassins. Greater men
have been killed, but they were
struck down in the stern old Roman
fashion, while they were in full pos
session of their glory and power. The
savage thrust of pens dipped in gall
and stepped in bitter poison robbed
James Henry Lane of reason and
sent him hence doubling and hating
all men,"
Whatever Lane may have done or
left undone, he left the impress of his
character upon our state for all time;
furthermore, he was to the world an
embodiment Of that Kansas spirit
which will not be suppressed, and
which to-day makes our state .