Cole Younger has fascinated me for nearly 25 years. In fact, in my first book, The Younger Days, he plays a prominent role in my fictitious historical world in post-Civil War Missouri. He was smart, brash, tactical, a tremendous leader, and loyal as hell. He would often say his goal in life as a young man was to study for the ministry but blames the derailment of that dream on border ruffians from Kansas. If you want to learn about a complex, historical figure and a quarter-century of brutality, chaos, and revenge on the western border of Missouri, I highly recommended Cole Younger as an entry point to your research.
The highlighted quote below comes from a lecture Cole prepared upon his parole from prison in 1901. He and his brothers, Jim and Bob, served life sentences for their involvement in the James-Younger gang’s infamous Minnesota raid on the First Bank of Northfield. It’s a reflection of his life, his mistakes, and the philosophical musings that occur when you place a smart and complex mind in prison for 25 years.
I could probably write a dissertation about the many facets of character found in this one man. He’s a fascinating man who lived in a fascinating time. This excerpt hit me recently as relatable to the current divide in America. I especially like the line of how “…in times of peace selfish interests take the greater hold of us, and retard us in our duty to country.” And how about the always wise advice of, “The political star which guides us should be love for our country and our country’s laws.”
All in all, not bad advice from a soldier/bushwhacker/outlaw/convict.
From What My Life Has Taught Me by Thomas Coleman “Cole” Younger, 1903
“There are times when I think the American people are not patriotic enough. Some think patriotism is necessary only in time of war, but I say to you it is more necessary in time of peace.
When the safety of the country is threatened, and the flag insulted, we are urged on by national pride to repel the enemy, but in time of peace selfish interests take the greater hold of us, and retard us in our duty to country.
Nowhere is patriotism needed more than at the ballot-box. There the two great contestants are country and self, and unless the spirit of patriotism guides the vote our country is sure to lose. To be faithful citizens we must be honest in our politics. The political star which guides us should be love for our country and our country’s laws.”
