The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-24

H.. sa
JOHN BRowS.
there. John Brown went there for the
sole purpose of fighting, if need were,
for Liberty. He left his family behind
him, for he had no intention of making
Kansas his home. He was 70 politician.
in the current acceptation of the term,
having taken little or no interest in
party contests for many years. His in
innate follower and admiring biogra-
pher, Redpath, says of him:
+" 1t has been asserted that he was
member of the Republican party. 1t is
false. He despised the Republican
party 1t is true that, like every Abo-
litionist, he was opposed to the extern
sion of slavery; and, like the majority
of anti-slavery men, in favor, also, of
organized political action against it.
But he was too earnest man, and too
devout Christian, to rest satisfied with
the only action against slavery consist
ent with ones duty as a citizen, ac
cording to the usual Republican inter
pretaton of the Federal Constitution" l."
x K K
JOHN BROWN IN CAMP IN KANSAS.
OF course, he was not pleased with
what he found and saw in Kansas
There were too much policy, too much
politics, and too general regard for
personal safety and comfort. He would
have preferred good deal less riding
about, especially at night, with more
solid fighting. Redpath, who visited
him in his camp near Prairie City, not
long before the battle of Black Jack,
says:
I" shall not soon forget the scene that
there opened to my view. Near the edge
of the creek dozen horses were tied. all
ready saddied for ride for life, or
hunt after Southern invaders. A dozen
rifles and sabers were stacked around
the trees. In an open space, amid the
shady and lofty woods, there was a great
blazing lire with a pot on it woman,
bareheaded, with an honest, sun-burnt
face, was picking black berries from the
bushes; three or foux armed men were
lying on red and blue blankets on the
grass, alrd two finelooking youths were
standing, leaning on their arms, on
guard near by. One Of them was the
youngest son of old Brown, and the
other was Charley the brave Hun
garian, who was subsequently murdered
/ at O-awatomie.
"Old- Brown himself stood near the
fire, with his shirt-seeves rolled up, and
q large piece of pork in his hand. He
was cooking pig. lie was poorly clad,
and his toes protruded from his boots.
The old man received me with great
cordiaity, and the little band gathered
about me. But it was for moment
only, for the Captain ordered them to
renew their work.
He res ectfully but firmly forbade
conversation on the Pottawatomie, and
said that, if | desired any information
from the company in relation to their
conduct or intentions, he, as their Cap
l.
was proper to communicate.
In this camp no manner Of profane
language was permitted; no manner Of
immoral character was allowed to stay,
except as prisoner of war. He made
| PRAYERS, in which all the company
united, every morning and evening, and
no food was ever tasted by his men until
the Divine blessing had been asked on
it. Alter every meal thanks were re-
turned to the Boupllul Glver
Gotten, was told, the old man would
retire to the densest solituies to wrestle
with his God in secret prayer. One Of
his company subsequently informed me
that after these retlrlngs he would say
that the Lord had directed him in visions
what to do; that, for himself, he did not
love warfare, but peace-only acting in
obedience to the will Of the Lord, and
fighting Gods battles for His childrens'
sake.
1t was at this time that the old man
said to me: | would rather have the
smallpox, yellow fever, and cholera, all
together in my camp, than man with
out principles. It's mistake, SIR he
continued, that our people make, when
they think that bullies are the best
fighters, or that they are the men fit to
oppose these Southerners. Give me men
OF good principles es-God-fearing men,
men who respect themselves-and, with
dozen of them, will oppose any
hundred such men as these Buford ruff
fans