New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-25
LfferurY Nese's and Criticism

be,f-unconscious drift of his whole being
into humanitarian channels we 1ee'
that he must have breathe6 sign OF re-
lief when the years had at last gone pS
and conditions in Kansas invited MIN 10
take I'D. once for all. his predestineo
role He had not sought to hurry the
moment. On the contrary. he was 100
conscientious for that. and one reason
WHY. as we have said. 1t Is we'll 10
traverse his earlier years. Is that theS
bring out his sterling, everyday traits
his sense of duty. his resolute applica-
ton to the task IN hand He was not
fitted to build up competence, but whiie
he WAS working for 1t he played the
game to the best Of his ability.
That he welcomed release we may in
fer from the ardor with which he threw
himself into the fray. Mr.. Willard notes
that the Browns were aggressive when
thew came to Kansas. and he gives u.s.
over and over again. chapter and verse
IN proof OF the point. Nay, when he
reaches the dreadful massacre OF 1885
he does not nince his words, but paints
Brown as going almost in cold blood TO
the killing. Murder on the Potta-
vatomio" he calls his chapter. and easily
tustif1cs ne title. Also In this part OF
his boz no finely 1ustifies himself as an
his+ g., or He has written II with the
utInosi nre after exhaustive researches
and IL the light Of unimpeachable data
DESPITE his high admiration for Brown
he asserts that the crime on the Potta-
watomie e.; act be successfully palliated
or excused sId must ever remain
complete Indictment Of hie judgment ana
wisdom-a dark blot upon his memory
But the authors judgment IS not IN its
turn. shaken. II he tells the truth ABOUT
Brown he tells II also about the boroer
Rufr1ans Piling UP those innumeraple
details to which we referred at the OUT e
set he depicts the monstrous state INTO
which Kansas was plunged by petty
vet murderous warfare. warfare IN
which Browns personality soon takes on
q significance. left. in a sense. undimmed
bv the one dark blot upon his mem
ory."
We need not rehearsP the old and lur'd
story. nor any of the scenes eliminating
at Harper's Ferry In it's main outlines
the drama is moro than familiar. but
Nj Willard gives II now interest not
only through his luminous exposition OF
its movement but through that sure In
stinct for character which We have al
ready noted as indispensable 10 a right
estimate Of his hcro's achievement.
Constantly. though unobtrusively, IN
casual quotations or in brief comments,
he brings home 10 MS Browns singleness
Of aim. his essential nobility, his
strength as of leader solemnly con-
secrated, and the immense importance OF
his life and death to the cause for which
even then tho lines Of final conflict were
being drawn. Irresistihly the argument
Of this book moves toward the ratifica-
ton of Stedman's prophetic words:
But Vircinians. don't do it, for tell you
thai tho 0aCOn. .
Filled with blood OF old Browns off
spring, was first poured by southern
lands.
And each drOp from old Browns llfe-Velns,
like the red gore of the dragon.
Nav spring up q vengeful Fury, nissinS
through YOUR slaVo-Worn lands
And old Brown.
Ossawatomie Brown,
Ma, trouble YOU more than over, when
you've nailed his coffin down
II is rather surprising. by the way that
MIR. Willard has not included that poem
~ his book. for nowhere else has the
story of How Old Brown Took Har-
uer's Ferry been so stirrlnGly toIo'