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command； proving what a perfect machine the soldier is； has； properly
enough； been celebrated by a poet laureate； but the steady； and
for the most part successful； charge of this man； for some years；
against the legions of Slavery； in obedience to an infinitely higher
command； is as much more memorable than that； as an intelligent
and conscientious man is superior to a machine。 Do you think that
that will go unsung？
〃Served him right；〃〃A dangerous man；〃〃He is undoubtedly insane。〃
So they proceed to live their sane； and wise； and altogether admirable
lives； reading their Plutarch a little； but chiefly pausing at that
feat of Putnam； who was let down into a wolf's den； and in this
wise they nourish themselves for brave and patriotic deeds some
time or other。 The Tract Society could afford to print that story
of Putnam。 You might open the district schools with the reading of
it； for there is nothing about Slavery or the Church in it； unless
it occurs to the reader that some pastors are wolves in sheep's
clothing。 〃The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions〃
even； might dare to protest against that wolf。 I have heard of
boards； and of American boards； but it chances that I never heard
of this particular lumber till lately。 And yet I hear of Northern
men； and women； and children； by families； buying a 〃life membership〃
in such societies as these。 A life…membership in the grave！ You
can get buried cheaper than that。
Our foes are in our midst and all about us。 There is hardly
a house but is divided against itself； for our foe is the all but
universal woodenness of both head and heart； the want of vitality
in man； which is the effect of our vice； and hence are begotten
fear； superstition； bigotry； persecution； and slavery of all kinds。
We are mere figureheads upon a hulk； with livers in the place of
hearts。 The curse is the worship of idols； which at length changes
the worshipper into a stone image himself； and the New…Englander is
just as much an idolater as the Hindoo。 This man was an exception；
for he did not set up even a political graven image between him
and his God。
A church that can never have done with excommunicating Christ while
it exists！ Away with your broad and flat churches； and your narrow
and tall churches！ Take a step forward； and invent a new style
of out…houses。 Invent a salt that will save you； and defend our
nostrils。
The modern Christian is a man who has consented to say all the
prayers in the liturgy； provided you will let him go straight to
bed and sleep quietly afterward。 All his prayers begin with 〃Now
I lay me down to sleep；〃 and he is forever looking forward to the
time when he shall go to his 〃long rest。〃 He has consented to
perform certain old…established charities； too； after a fashion；
but he does not wish to hear of any new…fangled ones； he doesn't
wish to have any supplementary articles added to the contract； to
fit it to the present time。 He shows the whites of his eyes on the
Sabbath； and the blacks all the rest of the week。 The evil is not
merely a stagnation of blood； but a stagnation of spirit。 Many；
no doubt； are well disposed； but sluggish by constitution and by
habit； and they cannot conceive of a man who is actuated by higher
motives than they are。 Accordingly they pronounce this man insane；
for they know that they could never act as he does； as long as they
are themselves。
We dream of foreign countries； of other times and races of men； placing
them at a distance in history or space； but let some significant
event like the present occur in our midst； and we discover； often；
this distance and this strangeness between us and our nearest
neighbors。 They are our Austrias； and Chinas； and South Sea Islands。
Our crowded society becomes well spaced all at once； clean and
handsome to the eye；a city of magnificent distances。 We discover
why it was that we never got beyond compliments and surfaces with
them before； we become aware of as many versts between us and them
as there are between a wandering Tartar and a Chinese town。 The
thoughtful man becomes a hermit in the thoroughfares of the
market…place。 Impassable seas suddenly find their level between us；
or dumb steppes stretch themselves out there。 It is the difference
of constitution； of intelligence； and faith； and not streams and
mountains； that make the true and impassable boundaries between
individuals and between states。 None but the like…minded can come
plenipotentiary to our court。
I read all the newspapers I could get within a week after this event；
and I do not remember in them a single expression of sympathy for
these men。 I have since seen one noble statement； in a Boston
paper； not editorial。 Some voluminous sheets decided not to print
the full report of Brown's words to the exclusion of other matter。
It was as if a publisher should reject the manuscript of the New
Testament； and print Wilson's last speech。 The same journal which
contained this pregnant news； was chiefly filled； in parallel
columns； with the reports of the political conventions that were
being held。 But the descent to them was too steep。 They should
have been spared this contrast；been printed in an extra； at least。
To turn from the voices and deeds of earnest men to the cackling
of political conventions！ Office…seekers and speech…makers； who
do not so much as lay an honest egg； but wear their breasts bare
upon an egg of chalk！ Their great game is the game of straws；
or rather that universal aboriginal game of the platter； at which
the Indians cried hub； bub！ Exclude the reports of religious and
political conventions； and publish the words of a living man。
But I object not so much to what they have omitted； as to what they
have inserted。 Even the Liberator called it 〃a misguided； wild；
and apparently insaneeffort。〃 As for the herd of newspapers and
magazines； I do not chance to know an editor in the country who
will deliberately print anything which he knows will ultimately
and permanently reduce the number of his subscribers。 They do not
believe that it would be expedient。 How then can they print truth？
If we do not say pleasant things； they argue； nobody will attend
to us。 And so they do like some travelling auctioneers； who sing
an obscene song； in order to draw a crowd around them。 Republican
editors； obliged to get their sentences ready for the morning
edition； and accustomed to look at everything by the twilight of
politics； express no admiration； nor true sorrow even； but call these
men 〃deluded fanatics；〃〃mistaken men；〃〃insane；〃 or 〃crazed。〃
It suggests what a sane set of editors we are blessed with； not
〃mistaken men〃； who know very well on which side their bread is
buttered； at least。
A man does a brave and humane deed； and at once； on all sides； we
hear people and parties declaring； 〃I didn't do it； nor countenance
him to do it； in any conceivable way。 It can't be fairly inferred
from my past career。〃 I； for one； am not interested to hear you
define your position。 I don't know that I ever was； or ever shall
be。 I think it is mere egotism； or impertinent at this time。 Ye
needn't take so much pains to wash your skirts of him。 No intelligent
man will ever be convinced that he was any creature of yours。 He
went and came； as he himself informs us； 〃under the auspices of
John Brown and nobody else。〃 The Republican party does not perceive
how many his failure will make to vote more correctly than they
would have them。 They have counted the votes of Pennsylvania & Co。；
but they have not correctly counted Captain Brown's vote。 He has
taken the wind out of their sails；the little wind they had；and
they may as well lie to and repair。
What though he did not belong to your clique！ Though you may not
approve of his method or his principles； recognize his magnanimity。
Would you not like to claim kindredship with him