The Topeka state journal., 1902-06-14

days when the advocates Of freedom
were contending for supremacy with the
slave power. He was prominent actor
on the free state side and was arrested
with Governor Robinson and others for
treason.
Or. Brown belongs to. what is known
as the Robinson faction" in cOntradis-
tinctiOn with the Lane-BrOWn faction.
He is d staunch supporter Of Governor
Robinson and an ardent opponent of
John Brown and James H. Lane. The
disciples of the factiona1 leaders have
ever since been in a controversy as to
which side had the most to do with
making Kansas a free state. Naturally
this question will never be settled but
any evidence offered by one Of the men
who really took part in the struggle
can but prove interesting.
DR.. Brown is now SO years old but he
retains all of his vigOr of intellect He
writes we'll and with a force that clear
" indicates that whatever part he took
in the Kansas struggle was by no means
passive in its character. The book Is
called "Reminiscences of Governor r.
J. Walker; with a True Story Of the
Rescue of Kansas From Slavery" The
book is dedicated to Mrs. Sara T. D.
Robinson, widow of Governor Charles
Robinson. In the dedication DR.. Brown
SAYS:
You saw a bald prairie. converted by
well directed toll and genius into the
homes of an Opulent and free people.
slave power, shared in all the hardshipS
and dangers which envir0ned US Your
home was often the council chamber
Of the Free State leaders. That home
with all its valuable contents, was
fired by pro-slavery hands and wholly
consumed May q, 1856. when my own
Herald of Freedom office, with all its
presses. type and fixtures, Miller &
Elliot's Free State Office, the Emigrant
Aid company's hotel, were destroyed.
Following this terrible outrage on
private rights your husband, Charles
Robinson, G. w. Smith, G. W. Deitzler.
Gaius jenkins and myself were indict-
ed, by direction of a partisan court, for
high treason; our only offense was
laboring by peaceful means to make
Kansas free. Held as prisoners for
nearly four months, guarded much Of
the time by a regiment of United States
troops you shared the captivity with
your husband, and wrote while thus
environed, the fullest and most authen
tic history yet published OF those bor-
der troubles and pioneer days
In his preface DR.. Brown says: The
information herein contained could not
be given the public, with propriety, at
the tine of it's occurrence. For the
want Of this information, many pages
of what was designed for truthful his
tory, have been distorted, while actors
in the exciting incidents, have been
nisrepresented and frequently malign-
ed. Even recent writer's have taken
their cue from early press correspon-
dents. ignorant of the truth, or the mo-
tive of the actors, and continue to
falsify and mislead their readers. giving
credit for results tothe belligerent policy
which retarded, and sometimes threat
ened to defeat the grand result of max
ing Kansas a free state Having been
a personal actor throughout that excit-
ing period in history the editor and
publisher of the Herald of Freedom, the
first and leading free state papeH in the
territory from the beginning to the end
of the contest. with intimate relations
with all its men of prominence, and as
our Kansas success was the real incen-
tive Of the south to secession. ultimat-
ing in the extinction Of American slav-
cry. and by reflex action in the principal
kingdoms of the world, SO while others
have placed them selves on record, it
seems just that I, too. shall be heard in
explanation Of many events wherein
myself, and those acting with me have
been misunderstood and bitterly cen
sured / greatly regret I was unable
to give q wider circulation to the truth
before so many of the real heroes in the
strife had passed away. Hear all
sides before deciding, is the substance
of Latin prOverb with an English
rendering
Mine is the other side not hereto
fore so fully told
The period to which Mr.. Browns book
is devoted is that Immediately following
the resignation Of Governor Geary. Sec