The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-16
BY DIR. JOHN A. wYE1m,

Hedlcnl Director of Forests Cavalry
In the Outlook for September 3. 1910
President Roosevelt says:
John Brown stands to US now as
representing the men and the genera
tion who rendered the greatest service
ever rendered this country. He stood Tor
heroic valor. grim energy, fierce fdellty
to high ideals. A great debt is owed
to John Brown because he Is one oil
the most striking hgures In the mighty
struggle whieh was TO keep US Tor
ever free and united nation, which
was to secure the continuance OF the
most tremendous democratic expert
ment ever tried. He did much in hi:
life and more in his death; ne en-
bodied the inspiration OF the men OF
his generation. - John Browns
work was brought 10 completely
by the men who bore aloft the banner
OF the Union during the four terrible
years which interyFed between sum
ter and Appomattox.
Coming from one who has held the
highest Office in the gift OF a great
nation. this astounding enconium de-
Berves more than a passing notice. BY
a great many native Americans in
whom reason is not clouded by sem
tfment, sympathy or prejudice. II VIII
be held that despite the rnseltsh mo-
tive which may be conceded as inc
impelling force of John Browns ia
aaticism. the means employed were such
rs to Justify the doubt of the wisdom
or right OF holding him up as an exam
pie TO this or other generations. They
will hold--and the proof Is positive
that for the last several years of his
rarcer he was not a law-abiding citizen.
that he repeatedly and with premedita-
lion s!nned against the laws of God and
his country: that he took BY violence
and against the law The property
tsleve. wagons. live stock. etc., of
peaceable. law-abiding citizens. and
was part.ceps criminis in the murder
of man who was exercising the FIRST
great duty OF protecting his home and
family, his property and himself: that
on May 1870. 1856, he caused 10 be
taken out OF their beds at the dead
hours OF the night five persons (two
of these lads under age). and in cold
blood directed members OF his own
famil yand Others TO cut them TO death.
which they did; that he was for years
an outlaw and fugitive from justice.
going about under assumed names.
with reward out for his apprehension;
that without any provocation and with
out any declaration of war, he led an
armed invasion of a peaceful commune
~, carrying guns and pixies with which
10 arm a servile race tknowing. as
those who gave him moral material
aid in this expedition knew. OF the
ncplorable Southampton instruction
pnly few years before in the same
community, and murdered or caused
TO be murdered unoftending citizens;
that he was guilty of treason in setz-
Ing and appropriating to his own un-
LAWFUL uses the property OF the united
States:
The truth of the foregoing rests up
on unimpsachable evidence Inc par
lisans of John Brown for long time
denied his participation In the cold-
blooded massacre on the PottaWatorffie,
and his family deliberately lied about
IT. The truth Is now known, and IT
stands out ne ono of the foulest and
most cowardly crimes In the annals
tof that era of murder and crime In
Kansas in which both parties, Pro-
Slavery and Free Soil. dlssraceo amer
lea and civilization.
Salmon Brown, a, son. In letter to
+. B. sanborn, author OF the Life and
Letters OF John Brown" dated Deccm-
Der az, 1859, says:
II was one OF the company at the
time OF the homicide. and was never
away from him (John Brown) one hour
at time after we took up arms IN
Kansas, therefore say positively ina.
lie was not partlcipator IN the deco
and yet Sanborn, than whom none
could be more OF a partisan, says:
CHOSE who accomplished 1t We're
under Browns orders and were direct
ed in all their movements by him"
f"Idfe and Letters of John Brown"
page $3.50 The men who composed
this party were John Brown, his four
sons, Watson, oliver. owen and Fred
erick, his son-in-law. Henry Thomp-
son Mr.. Weiner, ana James IoWns'
ley. Sanborn says
''rhe weapons used We're short cut
lasses, straight and broad, and were
freshly ground for this expedition at
the camp of John Brown. Ir." ("Ltfe
and Letters OF John Brown" page
264.)
The mon murdered We're surprised
ing of May &c, 1856. One of these was
William Sherman. James Harris in his
testimony before the committee OF
Congress swore;
II took Mr.. William Sherman out
of the creek and examined him. Mr..
Whitman was with me. Sherman's
skull was split in two places and
some OF his brains was washed out
by the water. A large hole was cut
in his breast, and his left hand was
cut off except a little piece Of skin on
one slde., SanborH- says:
.When the bodies of the dead were
found there went up a cry that they
had been mutilated: but this was be-
cause ef the weapons used" Ordinar-
lily it would seem that two gashes
through the skull from which the brain
was oozing might suffice without the
extra thrust on the side and the lop-
ping off of a hand. However, the d.
rector was, a man OF high Ideals" and
mutilation was impossible.
Another of the victims was q Mr.
Wilkinson. whotwas the postmaster al
L Ehermanville (now Lane), and also d
member of the Territorial Legislatur
II ofN Kansas. Mrs. Wilkinson In her tes