The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-28
STANDS BY BROWN
Col. John McEIrOy Comes to De-
Tense of Pioneer Kansans.
He Even Justifies the Pottawat-
Omie Massacre.
BIG REUNION OVER.
1t Closes With the Meeting To-
night.
Senator Curtis Given Ovation by
Veterans.
BIG REUNION OVER.

Col. John McElroy, editor of the Ma
tional Tribune at Washington, D. c.,
came to the defense of John Brown
at the camp fire this afternoon. He
went farther than most people by jus
tifying the so-called Pottawatomie
massacre in 1856, in which five pro-
slavery men were killed at Browns
order.
"Under such leaders as James H.
Lane, John Brown and James Mont
gomery," said Col. McElroy, .the Free
State men of Kansas met the myrmi-
dons of slavery face to face and either
beat them into submission or forced
them to inglorious flight.
Whatever criticism may be made of
John Brown at Harper's Ferry there
are three incidents in his career which
should give him a sure place in kan
sas history These were his heroic
defense of Osawatomie, which gave
strong check to the border ruffians in
vading Kansas at will; the defeat and
capture of Henry Clay Pate at Black
Jack, which put a damper on raising
companies from the southern states for
invasion of Kansas, and the affair at
Dutch Henry's Crossing, which put
stop to the Infamous night riding.
might riding has always flourished
in the south. It was the principal
means by which the Union men were
terrorized into supporting secession.
OF all the devices by which few
men seek to control the many, it is
the most cruel and eowardly.
ITO raid a mans lonely home at
midnight, burn his barns, kill his stock
and bring him from his bed for pun
ishment even unto death, is terrifying
even to the boldest hearts. Men guilty
OF this are necessarily scoundrels of
the lowest type. No punishment can
be too severe for them. Night rid
ing had ragged fearftilly in Kansas
Free state people were terrorized by
- hof OIL
do. Midnight murders, burnings, out
RACES upon women were of continual
occurrence.
ssThe depredators were we'll known,
but beyond the reach of any law. John
Brown picked out four of the worst or
them. called them out of their houses
at night, and literally hewed them in
pieces before the Lord, with old artfl-
lery swords. ground to razor edge. lie
had copied an incident in the Bible,
and it was besides the highest COM
mon sense and Justice. This reveia-
ton that night riding was game that
two could play at it, suddenly made II
quite unfashionable.
"Brown's fiabby New England
friends and biographers have depreci-
ated and mfni1nized this incident,
whereas it is one of John Browns
strongest claims upon our admiration.
1t was an absolute necessity of the
times and saved scores of lives and
ity to see the remedy and the firm
ness of soul to apply it.
.'All countries and states are proud of
their early history" said the speaker
in his Introductory remarks Looking
upon present greatness and prosperity
they naturally glorify the men and
deeds by which a sure foundation was
laid for that greatness and prosperity.
1.-THE ancient Greeks, Romans and
NorseTnen carried this to such an ex-
Il
gods and giants, who fought super
human contests to establish their race.
kansas is now far enough away
from her beginnings that we can get a
true perspective of her state builders
and heroes. The distOrting SpuTne of
contemporary political rancor, hot per-
sonaI hates and antagOnisfns has |
cleared away, to leave men and deeds
standing in clear definite outline. Ro-
nance has not yet begun to make its
confusing, chromaic effects. The sim
pie truth is far more vivid than any
and the simple truth is ac
cessible to US.
kansas has a bead roll of heroes
and achievements not surpassed any
where. She can proudly invite compar- |
ison with any others and point to her |
share in making the history Of a great |
nation.
1T is only 81 years since the first set
tiers, Sharpes deadly rifles in their |
hands, and still more dangerous dyna- |
n1ste in their brains, came to the bank |
of the Kaw to stay. They were filled |
with an exalted mission.
when the tocsin of the colossal civil |
war was sounded by the guns opening
on Fort Sumter none answered with |
more earnest enthusiasm than the peo-
pie of Kansas They sent Y per cent
If their men capable of bearing arms to
he field to support the Union Kan
sas was called on to furnish 1881 men,
and actually sent 2014 or 20 per cent