White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-08-13

SlOuu Oh lLc AiSbOuIl 4ANcE. II ID
sheet of q respectable size, and presents a
very good appearance; but whilst we can
commend it for its size and mechani-
cal execution, we cannot for the spirit ci
non-committalism pervading its columns.
From perusal of it we have found it
difficult to decide whether the sympathies
of its editor are with the Free State or
Pro-Slavery party. We hope to see it
assume a more definite position in regard
to Kansas politics, as we think it has the
elements Of an influential journal, and
should not fritter away its inAence BY a
lukewarm course.-Quinddro Chindordn.
It was our desire, at the start, to pur-
sue such course, that no one could de-
eide what our politics was-that is, we
wanted to have nothing at all to do with
politics. But we found ourself, on sew
eral occasions, indulging in it, in small
degree and We perceive that, even the
Chindowau, and number of other pa
pers which, like it, could not decide as to
where our sympsthies lay, have nsverthe-
less managed to make a pretty good
guess at it. Personally, when it comes
to a proper test, the editor of the Chin
dowan will find us as firm in the cause
as he himself is but we find that we are
rather q queer sort Of Free State man
one who does not come up to the stand
ard established by those who consider
themselves the especial guardians of the
freedom Of Kansas. We can have deal
ings and associate with shareholders,
and treat them as gentlemen, so long as
they conduct themselves as such-and we
have found very many of that kind
many more than we were led, while in
in the East, for few years past, to be-
lieve really existed. And, what is still
more strange, we believe that Free State
men can commit some very foolish acts
TO say nothing of wrong. We be-
lieve. among other things, that the cleo
ton, on the Sd inst, was an utterly use
less piece Of business that the Free
State Government is an unwarrantsd and
inconsistent institution; and that per-
son may get to Heaven without the To-
peka Constitution in his pocket. While
we have our hand in, we wish to pro-
pound few inquiries, and make sundry
observ atoms.
In the first place-of what possible use
was the late election? Do you reply-it
was to ascertain the strength of the Free
State party, and to fill the vacancies in
some of the State offices ? What was
the object of certain part of the late
census taking, if not tosascertain the
strength of the Free State party? And
in that way, it could be ascertained eff
fectually ; as every man in the Territory
was visited, his name registered, and his
politics noted. By this, not only, the
Free State strength was ascertained, but
it was found out precisely how it stands
compared to the strength of the Pro-
Slavery party. On the other hand, there
were no doubt thousands Of Free State
men who did not vote, and consequently,
the election will give an erroneous idea Of
the extent Of the strength of the party.
We next arrive at the plea for filling
the vacancies in the State Offices. And
why should they be filed? Is the Free
State Government. e legal institution ;
and is there any necessity for keeping up
an illegality? Why, one part of the
programme fatty contradicts another
part. One part of the ticket contains
the names of candidates for State officers,
and another part expresses whether or
not the voter desires the Territory to be
admitted as a State, at a future time,
with a certain Constitution-thus di-
rectly admitting that Kansas is not a
State, and therefore not entitled to q
State Government but at the same time
voting for men to carry on the the State
Government Surely, there can be
nothing more inconsistent If we talk
about Border Rufianism, Bogus Laws,
and all that sort of thing, we should at
least attempt to keep our own skirts
clear.
OF the Topeka Constitution we have
heretofore spoken. We cannot agree,
with many, that this Constitution was
ever a matter of necessity. 1t is well
known that gross frauds and outrages
were committed upon the citizens Of
Kansas but at that time, Kansas was
not legally entitled to State COnstitu-
ton, under the laws Of the United States
she had not one-fourth the requisite
population-and there was no necessity
for Constitution to which she was not
entitled. As to the Constitution itself,
it is very good one, UNDERSTANDABLE ex-
cept in several features of little moment (;
but considering the manner in which it
was gotten up, we are opposed to max
ing it a test Of the soundness of Free
State men, and. to abusing those who do
not desire to force it again before Con-