The Washington herald., 1909-04-11


Men who are so militant that they viii
face dissraceful death assthe penalty FOR
zeal for a principle are comparatively
rare in tEe history Of the world. Bot
where one man OF such a character dies
history bears out the assertion that there
usually follows an epoch that stands
forth with singular vividness on the
calendar OF the worlds progress. says
Charles r. Leichlter in the Chicago
Record Herald.
John Brown aboiitonist. who died an
ignomInious death on a Virginia scaffoId
before TIE bOmbardment OF Fort Sumter
that started the long, bloody war between
peoples so closely allied. was such a man.
Indeed. whilc the things he did were but
a link in the long chain that lead finally
10 the civil war. IL cannot be denied that
they We're a large and important link
To every school boy and girl Of the
reunited nation there has come. in the
study OF United States history. a feeling
Of deep interest in the militant invader OF
Harpers Ferry. In riper years most Of us
have felt an increase in this interest IN
man Of modern times who could walk
cheerfully 10 the scaTold and pay the
penalty OF what even enthusiasts are
pr5ae TO believe an excess OF zeal But
In his letters. and in the few words he
spoke al the time he was sentenced. John
Brown made IL plain that he was actu-
ated by a love OF humanity and a feeling
Of God-given responsibility for the
amelioration OF the conditions OF the
slave.
II is said o. Brown that in the stormy
and bloody DAYS OF border STRIFE. in
Missouri and Kansas In which latter
State he helped 10 make the appelIation
bleeding Kansas, one that has lasted
through the half century that has inter
Tened. and where he acquired his so
I briguet OF "OsawatOmie" Brown. he went
into sanguinary encounters with his rife
In one hand and his Bible IN the other.
ChicagO's Book on Brown.
Before the ill-advised attack he made
with twenty-five followers upon Harpers
Ferry. according TO his own statement.
with the object Of freeing and sending
through the underground railway" q
large number Of slaves. he read favorite
texts from Scripture and lead his foI-
lowers in prayer. Before his execution
ne refused the consolation OF Virginia
clergyInen because he did not believe IL
possible Tor them 20 be Christians and
ar the same time supporters OF slavery.
lie was of the type OF Cromwell: zeal
Gus. fanatic. but convinced that he was
I absolutely IN the right
Il has remained FOR Chicsgoan. Elijah
Avey. who lives at J71I Ellis avenue. not
/ only 10 coIlec1 and place az the disposal
of<the public the most complete coIIec-
ton 81 relics and "reminiscences OF John
Brown that ever has been assem-
bled, but also 10 give some new Hght
on This noted patriot in a book entitled
'The Capture and Execution or John
Brown. which he has recently pub
Ished.
Mr- Avey was IS a boy an eyewitness
Of the trial and execution OF Brown
The stirring events of that time. which
forged so important part Of the chain
which started the great war. made an in
effaceable impression upon the mind o.
the youth
Apprenticed 10 a matchmaker IN his
I eighteenth year. he was on his way 10
.
County. Va. az s o'clock OF the morning
/ OF October Il. lS5s His attention was
attracted bv an unusual hustle about the
sleepy village. He saw the sheriff armed
mounting a horse. he saw men gathering.
with their guns. from every section ol
/ the town. Down the street on their
I way 70 the local railway station. were
( two companies OF State militia armed
and accoU-ered.
HarPers Ferry seized.
Brief inquiry brought the information
that Harpers Ferry. six miles distant.
WAS in possession OF n band OF un-
known men" No one knew the nature
OF the invaders who had over night
seized the government post at the juno
ture Of the Potomac and the Shenandoah
rivers. The strife between pro and anti
/ slavery advocates was then so strong.
/ however. that the general impression was
that a band or Yankee invaders" had
committed an overt act
Practically all the able-bodied grown
men Of Charlestown enlisted in the sher-
IFS posse. and with the militia prepared 10
charge upon Harpers Ferry. The local
/ train from Winchester was stopped. and
I its passengers compelled TO disembark
| The miniature army pre-empted the vaca-
ted coaches and the train proceeded with