JOHN BROWN IN OHIO
An Interview with Charles S. S.
Griffing
edited by Louis FILLER
Assistant Professor of American
Civilization, Antioch College
John Brown's Ohio years merit continued
study. In view of
the fact that a serious shadow has been
cast over his intentions and
activities in Kansas by a formidable
historian,1 it is evident that the
Ohio period may be crucial in any
ultimate evaluation of Brown's
role and personality. Mary Land's
article, "John Brown's Ohio
Environment," in the January 1948
issue of this Quarterly consti-
tutes a supplement to Charles B.
Galbreath's work in the field, which,
however, she does not appear to have
used.2 Unfortunately, John
Brown's precise relationship to the
undoubtedly strong antislavery
forces in Ohio, and his reputation, if
any, with his antislavery
neighbors independent of his exploits
in Kansas and at Harper's
Ferry, still remain largely circumstantial and have yet to be
firmly
established.
There is need for a clearer
understanding than some students
seem to manifest of the seriousness of
the charges against Brown.
It is often granted that Brown was
guilty of "cold-blooded murder"
at Potawatomie; but the edge of this
accusation is as often blunted
by emphasis upon Brown as a
"fanatic"-that is, as one over-
whelmed by the urgency of his crusade.
The sense of both the
Warren and Malin analyses is to impugn
Brown's sincerity and
thereby the integrity of his actions.3
1 James C. Malin, John Brown and the
Legend of Fifty-six (Philadelphia, 1942).
See also Robert P. Warren, John
Brown; the Making of a Martyr (New York, 1930),
in which the psychological approach is
maintained to Brown's detriment.
2 Charles B. Galbreath "John
Brown" and "Anti-slavery Movement in Columbi-
ana County," Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XXX (1921), 184-289;
355-396. A variety of other material
connecting John Brown to antislavery in Ohio
makes this volume of particular value;
the reference to it made further on in the
present writing does not exhaust its
pertinent contents. Miss Land's article, though
involving original research, is not
always careful with respect to details. Thus, she
repeats the story that Missouri offered
a reward of $3,000 for Brown's capture, a
story which seems to have been
decisively refuted by Floyd C. Shoemaker. See his
"John Brown's Missouri Raid," Missouri
Historical Review, XXVI (1931-32) 78-82.
3 The Malin analysis is particularly
long and exhaustive, and there is reason to
fear that not all students who are
presumed to have an acquaintance with it have
trudged its weary road to the end. A
brief summary of its method and conclusions with
respect to Brown may be found in Malin, Essays
on Historiography (Lawrence, Kans.,
1946), 153 et seq.
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