The Kansas Herald Of Freedom

Pottawatomie Creek, near Emporia, July 26, 1857.

G. W. Brown, Esq.,-Dear Sir:-

A word of sympathy from this quarter of Kansas may not come unwelcome to you in the hour of the present crisis.

I am a young man, I have had no large measure of experience in the uncertain and vacillating ways of the world, I freely acknowledge, and perhaps I have not been yet sufficiently schooled in politics to perceive and judge of the motives and designs of politicians, and to discern and appreciate a political character, whether for morality, integrity and fidelity-or, for deceit, sycophancy, fraud and perfidy, but having been allowed somewhat of a liberal education, and having watched with interest and close attention the diverse movements made in the political arena during the last few years, I feel able to solve and decide those matters for myself, to my own satisfaction.

I came to Kansas early in the spring of 1857. I have felt, sympathized and acted with the Free-State party throughout; have conformed in word and deed to the requisitions of the leaders of the party, and have been zealous to serve them and proud to move at their direction, sincerely believing them to be the self-sacrificing souls they so loudly feigned they were, and earnestly and wholly devoted to the attainment of the one great object, which was simply to make "Kansas a Free State."

But times have changed. Whatever the Free State leaders may have been in the past, I now see and believe them to be, to my fullest satisfaction--a band of artful and designing demagogues-an association of political speculators and fortune gamblers, who are ambitious for their own emolument--for honors and distinction to gain which, they are striving laboriously, and with the ardor of fanaticism, to hoodwink-to humbug-and to bamboozle the people into the belief that they are the only true, wise and patriotic men of the times, while those of all other schools are corrupt as the devil, and all their promises and pledges infernal lies, and all their measures outrageous swindles and brimful of iniquity. Such they are, and such is their mode of procedure. They glory in their movements being revolutionary, and sing songs of praise, and pronounce lofty encomiums upon successful revolutionists of former times, doubtless fancying for themselves an equal fame. But in the name of the God of Truth, Liberty and Justice, let all good people join-stand shoulder to shoulder-in solid phalanx-in opposition to these reckless, restless, desperate demagogues, who are gambling for their own promotion on the peace, prosperity, and happiness of the country. Drive them to utter shame, and sink them deep beneath the angry waves of eternal infamy.

But suffice it to say for the present, that I like your position in the present state of our Territory. And if the eyes of the people were but opened, were they but allowed to see things as they really are, your reputation would be high as the highest, and the Herald would be the true organ of the people. I write this as a private letter, but you may use any portion that you think may help the cause. I send you $2 for the Herald, and I want you to keep me posted in the particulars of this struggle which you are having with your enemies, and in whatever I can I will assist you--with my pen or with my tongue--if I can get time from the active duties of a squatter, who has to work all day and write only at occasional spare moments.

Believe me to be, your humble friend,

C. U. Eskridge