John Brown's fame is an unearned increment. It was secured by misrepresentations put forth by himself and members of his family, and by the Disunionists--"Union-splitters"--of his time, who inspired his final actions. Through these agencies he acquired a creditable rating in history; not because of the things which he did; nor because of the things which he sought to do; but because of the things which were said about him; and because of the things which were done to him. His fame is the result of an exploitation, in eloquent phrases, of virtues, purposes, and motives, which were attributed to him. It has thus been overcapitalized. The stock was watered. In respect to the truth of history, his fame is all "water." It was not based upon fact, but upon fancy; upon untenable conclusions concerning his character, and wildly extravagant and irrelevant assumptions concerning his emotions. These are the sole assets to be found in the appraisement of his public estate. Of him Mr. Redpath said, _in part_: He was too large a man to stand on any platform. He planted his feet on the Rock of Ages--the Eternal truth--and was therefore never shaken in his policy or principles. He scouted the idea of rest while he held a commission direct from God Almighty to act against Slavery.... Where the Republicans said, Halt! John Brown shouted, Forward! to the rescue! He was an abolitionist of the Bunker Hill school. It did not concern Mr. Redpath that the "Bunker Hill" school of abolitionists were themselves slave-holders. Mr. Thoreau, who was also a Union-splitter, said: No man in America has ever stood up so persistently for the dignity of human nature, knowing himself for man and the equal of any and all governments. He could not have been tried by his peers, for his peers did not exist.... He did not go to Harvard. He was not fed on the pap that is there furnished, but he went to the University of the West where he studied the science of Liberty, and having taken his degree, he finally commenced the practice of humanity in Kansas. Of Thoreau, Mr. Alcott wrote in his diary, Saturday. November 5, 1859: ... Thoreau talks freely and enthusiastically about Brown, denouncing the Union, the President, the States, and Virginia particularly; wishes to publish his late speech, and has seen Boston publishers, but failed to find any to print it for him.[495] Mr. Sanborn said: