Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-14
What the Historian, FisiSe, Says
About John Brown.
Houghton, Miflln & CO., Publishers
Rosfou March II 1873

Houghton, Mifiiin & Co, Publishers,
Boston, March IL, 1899.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
We have noticed in one Of your recent
issues a communication signed by j. VIII
liam Jones, relating to the story about
John Browns kissing a negro baby, and
other matters. In concluding his article,
the writer goes out OF his way to make a
fling at Mr.. John Fiske, charging him
with having attempted TO make a martyr
hero OF John Brown. While Mr.. Fiske's
reputation as an historian is too great TO
be affected By anything that Mr.. Jones
can say, IL may be interesting 10 your
readers TO know just what Mr.. Fiske's
real attitude IS in the matter. We publish
all Of Mr.. Fiske's books, with the excep-
ton Of American Political Ideas and his
abridgment Of Irvings Washington. In
only two Of these books has any mention
been made OF John Brown, and In these
the accounts are substantially the same.
The following we take from Mr.. Fiske's
History OF the United States for Schools:
"'rhe next year QS59 something happen
ed that so enraged people at the South
as 10 make them more ready to secede
from the Unionif a Republican President
should be elected. John Brown Was a
Connecticut man by birth. and a religious
fanatic by nature. a curious compound OF
seIf-devotfon and ruthlessness. In 1915 he
had moved from Ohio 10 Kansas,
and In the bloody struggle there had done
his full share OF grim work. In the sum
mer OF 1859 he left Kansas and settled In
the nelghborhood OF Harper's Ferry In
Virginia. one night in October with not
more than twenty followers. he attacked
the arsenal at that place. in the hope iof
md N
wild mountains about there an asylum
where fugitive and rebelliOus slaves might
congregate He was captured, OF course,
and hanged. His attempt found but little
sympathy or approval in the North, where
il was generally regarded as an insane
piece of folly But TO the southern mind
il brought up all the possible horrors OF
negro Instruction. and many per-
sons may have feared that the election OF
a Republican as President would coupte-
nance the repetition OF such lawless and
dangerous proceedings"
In a foot-nOte Mr.. Fiske adds: After
war had broken out, however. John
Browns memory became popular with the
Union soldiers. and figured In the we'll
known war-song-
John Browns body lies mouldering In
the grave;
His soul is marching on"
In regard 20 the statement above that
Browns attempt found little sympathy
or approval in the North, Mr.. flske writes
us in a private letter: "Ine pest people
in the North condemned John Brown at
the time. as l can prove by overwhelming
mass OF newspaper articles, speeches, let
ters" &c.
We leave II TO your readers TO decide
whether there is anything in the above
10 sustain the charge made by Mr.. Jones
that Mr.. Fiske has attempted 10 make
a martyr-hero OF John Brown. and We In
yite Mr.. Jones to say specifically on what
his statement has been based.
one OF the characteristics OF Mr.. Ffskes
writings is that they are based on infor-
nation obtained from original sources.