The Smoky Hill And Republican Union

GENERAL LANE,

The political State campaign in Kansas has been conducted on the part of the opponents of General Lane, with the bitterest acrimony, and with the utmost disregard both to truth and propriety. It is the undoubted right and duty of the people to canvass and discuss the character, ability and claims of their public servants; but it does not necessarily or properly involve a violation of all the rules of courtesy and common decency. The press of the bolting-fraud faction, has for the past few weeks spewed out the dirtiest, most disgusting mass of malicious falsehood and bitter contumely against this gentleman, that disappointed ambition, personal and party malice, devilish hate and political revenge could possibly create. All the wrongs, public and private, that are perpetrated in the community; all the misfortunes that have occurred to the State or to individuals, are laid at his door. Even the movements of the public enemy, threatening invasion to our State, are attributed to him. According to their howls he is ubiquitous; and should be held alike responsible for mistakes, blunders, or crimes at New York, Washington or Kansas; indeed the whole campaign capital of the conglomerate, nondescript crowd of noisy, bellowing pretenders, who call themselves "anti-Lane," and who proclaim so loudly their own virtue and purity, ona talismanic word Lane and they ring more changes upon it, than any Swiss Bellringer ever conceived. They say he is "licentious." Nine-tenths of this crowd are continually trembling lest some unlucky denouement shall expose their intrigues; and some of them will carry the marks to their graves, of wounds received in consequence of a wicked invasion into some domestic circle. They say he wants to make money out of the Government. Two-thirds of the money used to defame him has been stolen by them already from poor Uncle Sam. They say he has too much power. Ah, "that is what's the matter." This motley gang, bent after public plunder, cannot carry out their purposes and gratify their thieving propensities, so long as he is in the way to watch them. They cannot palm themselves off upon the people, with all their pretensions, so long as he stands ready to expose them. All of them are anxious to serve the people; some as Governors, some as Senators; these lead the way, followed closely by a drove of smaller, lesser dogs, who will take even the crumbs; all uniting in one yelping chorus against "Jim Lane."

When the General was first elected Senator, the great charge against him was, that he was incompetent; that he could neither command the respect of his peers in the Senate, or the President; now they say, he has "too much power at Washington." Finding they could not compass his destruction in the ranks of the Republican party, they bolt; and form a coalition with Copperheads, and with a humble, supplicating voice, they beg them to come to their aid in their attempts to capture and secure "Jim Lane." After a reasonable season of coquetting, the adulterous intercourse is complete, and their abasement and debauchery fully established; then, with the impudence and slang of the brazen courtezan, they come before the people to expose the "villainies of Jim Lane," and to proclaim their own fitness for power and place.

We do not intend in this article to attempt any defence of General Lane. He is abundantly able to take care of himself, as his enemies have often had sufficient practical demonstration; but to call attention to the means employed, and the character and design of those employing them. His labors in the early history of Kansas were of too much value to her, and to the great party of freedom here, to be ignored; notwithstanding the efforts of his adversaries to misrepresent and depreciate them. His uncompromising hostility to slavery, and his earnest, efficient co-operation with the Government, in the Senate and the field, to suppress an infernal rebellion, have passed into our National history, and defy all the mad attempts of his maligners; many of whom, in the distribution of the Federal patronage in the State, he has raised from bankruptcy and want, both pecuniary and moral, and placed in positions of comparative independence and respectability. If ingratitude were a statutory crime, a large majority of these screechers would be convicted.

During the recent Border campaign, this devilish spirit of personal malice and personal hate, has been displayed. General Lane was one of the first to see our jeopardy, and among the first to hasten to the field; at all times at the front, musket in hand, fighting the enemy, and checking him in his advance towards our State, while his enemies, individually and collectively, were maligning him in the rear, and conspiring together to deprive him of any influence his patriotism and bravery should create. To accomplish this they were willing to give up the State to the public enemy for desolation and plunder; and, in fact, to do or permit any act that should result in the consummation of their purpose. Whether these jackals that subsist upon slander and falsehood, shall be successful in their hellish work or not, the people of Kansas will determine in their own good time, and we shall be satisfied with their judgment; but toward these exceedingly virtuous defamers, we advise them to keep a wakeful eye; for if this hungry crew once get a place, they will be a greater scourge to the land, than was the locust to old Egypt.

-Conservative.