time that he stood over the
prostrate body of John Brown. Did John Brown fail? Ask Clement C.
Vallandingham, one other of the inquisitorial party; for he too went
down in the tremendous whirlpool created by the powerful hand of this
bold invader. If John Brown did not end the war that ended slavery, he
did at least begin the war that ended slavery. If we look over the
dates, places and men, for which this honor is claimed, we shall find
that not Carolina, but Virginia--not Fort Sumpter, but Harper's Ferry
and the arsenal--not Col. Anderson, but John Brown, began the war that
ended American slavery and made this a free Republic. Until this blow
was struck, the prospect for freedom was dim, shadowy and uncertain.
The irrepressible conflict was one of words, votes and compromises.
When John Brown stretched forth his arm the sky was cleared. The time
for compromises was gone--the armed hosts of freedom stood face to
face over the chasm of a broken Union--and the clash of arms was at
hand. The South staked all upon getting possession of the Federal
Government, and failing to do that, drew the sword of rebellion and
thus made her own, and not Brown's, the lost cause of the century.

* * * * *

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