The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-25

sideration of the whole matter would
be to lose the key to the situation. He
was an Old Testament enthusiast and
was inspired with the desire TO right
the wrongs OF the oppressed even az
the cost of his own and his opponents
lives. The story of Gideon thrilled him
most of all. and that fact throws much
light on his later career.
The first definite expression Of his
determination to precipitate the con
f1ict was made in September, 1855.
avowed purpose Of doing all he could
to make it antislavery. His sons had
preceded him. and they had already
plunged into the mad competition.
Men who were quite as honest in their
convictions and as resourceful in theiH
methods were giving themselves un-
reservedly up to the business OF OBJ
tanning a proslavery majority. It was
evident that ie would resolve itself in
to question of numbers. There was
a grand influx into the territory, a mad
scramble on both sides to win at the
game of colonization.
John Brown acted as the leader in
the operations of the New England
Enigrant Aid society. which was send
ing hundreds of settlers into Kansas
with the sole object of outnumberina
and outvoting the proslavery element.
Before Brown arrived the free state
advocates had been inclined to be
quiet and law abiding Many of them
were New Englanders, born with such
a wholesome liking for lawful ways Of
doing that they had thus far shown
little inclination to pay back in kind
the numerous and CALLING indignities
which they suffered at the hands Of
the less scrupulous borderers.
It was not John Browns way. His
Old Testament standard of right and
wrong made hesitation a doubtful ex-
pedient An eye for an eye and q
tooth for a tooth seemed to him to be
the only proper remedial treatment.
and he let it be known that such an
Interpretation might be expected from
him with unfailing regularity. In De-
cember, 1855. he put himself at the
head of a band organized to resist
raids and prevent destruction Of prop
erty. From that time the policy OF
dignifed protest was abandoned and
retaliation reigned supreme The kill
ing of the five proslavery leaders and
the battle at Osawatomie marked the
climax of John Browns theories put
into practice.
It was a horrible deed, that massacre
of the five men. and no words can
make it seem logical, but it is the
opinion of the present generation that
it was instrumental in making Kansas
a free state. It nerved the forty-one
free state men who gathered to oppose
the 400 AIissourians who sought to an
initiate them to win the day at Osa-
watomie. In that fierce encounter John
Brown lost his son Frederick, and that
awful bereavement confirmed him in
his resolution to fight to the finish
One of the most interesting features
of the coming celebration viii be con-
tributed by the presence of the few
survivors among those who partici-
pated in the thrilling raids and Skin
mishes along the Kansas border. DR..
Ransom L. Harris, mayor of Audi
bon, Ia, is one of the few living men
who knew John Brown. DR. Harris
was an eyewitness to many thrilling
scenes in the Quantrel raid, and he
still preserves a vivid recollection Of
that noted outlaw. J. E. MKLM.