The National tribune., 1900-07-05

nothing can be more Impressive than mercy
when il encircles "the horrid front OF war.
At this stage of the development OF nu-
manity the demands of outraged Justice
make war necessity. III we must Saet ~. :,
fee the right and honor, humanity ana iIe
welfare OF a Nation or resort TO war. then
let war come. A people should draw tne 4i
sword rather than submit TO Sfedtei
calamity. The true end OF war, uieii, men,
should be the establishment OF Ilght, Will !
authority and power 10 MAINTAIN II, allo
nothing is added TO the glory OF success
by the in1iction of pain as an end and
The border strife which prevailed between
Missouri and Kansas from "a to 90 rem
6ered it difficult if not impossible Tor either
State 10 enter the war OF the repelioIi ia d d
humane spirit. Kansas felt that IL htiq
been wronged deeply and persistentiy; ola
scores were fresh in memory, and an eager
ness to pay them off was fondly cheflsilSd.
During their struggle for a free state tile
people had felt the unjust and mhumah
bower Of the General Government using tle
Erinv against them, and supporting the
champions of slavery extension. Inc con-
Viction had become part of their nature
that the grossest injustice had been in
fiicted upon them, and that the case could
not be leveled up and they gain their own
seIf-respect except by revenge. The tables
were now tJIrned-power had come to Their
side in the election of Lincoln, conflict had
become inevitable, and the opportunity
they craved had come TO them.
\ On the Missouri side OF the line the feel
ings of the kansans were quite fully re-
fciprocated by a ma jority of the people.
1t was in this spirit that the Sd, 4th and
9Th Kan. took the field as the ARMY of the
Border" so designated by President Lin
coin. The 5th was commanded by Col.
,Jennison, a man who, become desperate as
fhe result of wounds and other injuries he
1. r-aJ Sr,f fba hnr1pr ctrifa oaro1 far
less for National affairs than he did for
shifting the men who, in 1854, had invaded
Kansas. This regiment was known as
"Jayhawkers,' name that signifies any
thing and everything that is Of bad report.
1t was thought, as the best means of pre-
venting the invasion of the State, that the
Kansas troops should boldly pitch their
tents on Missouri soil. This was done,
and as they crossed the line they were
largely actuated by recollection OF the
dark and bloody year of '56, and foremost
among them was Jim Lane, Col. James
Montgomery ard Col. Jennison; also, "the
soul of John Brown was marching on"
Ii was not long before squads and in
dividuals practically raised the black flag,
and the work of military murder COM
meneed. Which side began the bloody
work, am unable to say. In some cases
Union men fed to Kansas, they said, to
save their lives.
As an illustration of the fact that good
men under severe proYocation may become
demons for the moment / will with great
reluctance state an undsputed fact: A
Kansas Colonel captured four MlSSourianS
with arms in their hands, took them short
distance to the prairie, compelled each to
getinto his grave, gave them a few moments
In which 10 say PRAYER, then shot them
dead and covered them up. For years
afterwards this act haunted him as Meme
sis. Not much was said in camp Of these
killings, and probably as much was done ON
the one side as the other. Many in the
command knew nothing of this business.
The Chaplain of one of the regiments
heard a little and thought much. He had
faith in these men. They had been raised
in the old States, were educated and highly
respectable. He believed there was a
foundation of character to work upon, and
he determined there should be radical
change or he would leave the service. He
so EXPRESSED himself to his Colonel and to
q number of officers, hoping his words
would be reported TO the General in COM
mand. Before night he received from him
a request to call Immediately at his Head
quarters. He was delighted; he under
stood the General, and knew he wished to
put himself in the lead of movement that
Should and would take place.
As the Chaplain entered his tent he re-
ceiveG the following saiutation.
Chaplain, you must be aware that thsre
Is much going on in this command that is
tlnsoldisrly and highly improper, and
am surprised that you take no steps to put
an end to 1t.
General, you have kept us on the march
for some days, and have been waiting for
q few hours rest and for an opportunity to
speak % you Of this matter"
We'll, what can be done%
If you will mass the brigade on the pub
lie square at 1:3o Will tell every man in il
what should, what can, and what must be
done
AAll right. Adjutant, issue the order"
1t was soon known throughout the camp
Mat something serious was in the wind
Some murmuTing was heard and the Chap
lain was often referred TO in no compli-
tnentary terms. He was regarded as an
fneumbrance, an obstruction, if not a
nuisance.
At the appointed hnnlr the ARMY of the
Border" fully armed and equipped, formed
great assembly on the public square of
West Port, No. The Chajiain mounted an
old workbench that stood convenient, and
talked 40 minutes as only man can talk
N a great emergency. He insisted that
government. law, humanity and Chris
Eanlty We're as essential to the soldier in
his camp and in the field as 10 the citizen in
civil life. he set forth the fact that the
soldier was under far more rigid rcstric-
tons than the citizen, and that the good
Soldier was obedient TO law as well as TO
orders.
Including the BIissourians. who were
equally guilty, ne then referred to the ter
r1ble crimes Of murder and retaliation
which had characterized army operations
since the Kansas troops crossed the line.
In the name Of justice, humanity, honor
and deeency, he demanded that the bar
barities cease.
Whilst speaking he realized the in
spiratlon of having thousand eyes look
daggers at him, and that under other cir
cuinstances probably he would have been
riddled with bullets
During this speech Senator Lane sat
nearby on block. leaning against fence
As the Chaplain closed he quickly mounted
the bench and shouted:
+tSoldiersI"
There was silence absolute. The men
felt that their champion was on deck, and
that the Chaplain was about to be ami
Inflated.
The Senator was thoroughly aroused
and at his best. He first detailed his mill
tary experience in Mexico, then struck into
the Chaplain's track, passed over the same
ground, and with the force of a cyclone
reached the same conclusion. / doubt if
America ever produced a man who in an
hour OF turmoil could stir or calm and con-
troll the passions Of men as could Senator
Lane. In description, invectiye, sarcasm.
ridicdie and denunciatiOn he was simply
Irresistible. But Notwithstanding The
great popularity Of Gen. lane among the
Kansas troops, there were bitter murrnur-
ings, but a conscious impoteucy kept the
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