If
any doubts still linger in the minds of thoughtful men as to
the real character and aims of John Brown, or as to the best
way of dealing with his crime, they must surely be resolved
on the reading of his brief speech, made before sentence was
passed upon him by the Court . . . .
Brown's
speech classifies him at once, and in a class of one. He is
a fanatic: sui generis. He shows neither the sophistical grasp
of mind nor the malignant unfairness of temper which would be
necessary to rank Him with agitators of theoretical Abolitionism
like Wendell Phillips; not the astute coquetry with explosive
passions which alone could affiliate him with Republican Party
leaders. He is simply John Brown, of Knsas; a man logical after
the narrow fashion of the Puritan individualism; a law unto
himself, and a believer with all his might in theological abstractions
as applied to human society and politics. He hates Slavery,
and thinks all slaves ought to be free. That anybody should
think it wrong for him, so hating Slavery and so thinking, to
attempt to set free the greatest possible number of slaves in
the shortest possible time; or that any organization which may
appear to him necessary for carrying out this object should
be regarded as treasonable, John Brown cannot understand now
that he is to be hung. for it, any more than we believe he understood
it when he made up his mind to set about' the work, and others
flocked after him, who now, less brave than he, endeavor to
throw their own more rational guilt upon his shoulders. We own
ourselves at a loss to see in what way the execution of such
a man can be so brought about that it may not be converted to
the inflammatory purposes of sectional partisans with whom John
Brown has plainly nothing in common; and who will be as eager
to make him a profitable martyr when dead, as they are to repudiate
him while he still lives.