The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-08-07
bic spr,ngs Platform.

editor of that journal has done good ser
vice in the past, in the Free State ranks,
but he has no idea of being transferred to
a Republican party at the beck of few
designing politicians, who wish to'ase
him for their aggrandizement. The idea
of organizing that party at this time. is
one of the greatest humbugs of the times.
and is one which must fail from pecessity.
We do not agree with the Statesman in
many positions indicated in the follow
ing article, but we do agree with it in our
determination to abide by the Big Springs
Platform, which was the basis of union
between the multitudinous elements
which now compose the Free State party.
Though there were features in that plat
form which never did nor never will meet
our appreciation. yet as it was the bond
formed between antagonistic elements,
the object of which was to prevent Kan
sas from becoming slave State, so es-
chewing all other questions, and suppress
ing for the time being, our own preferen.
ces, We have labored INCREASINGLY for the
triumph of the Free State cause. Because
we have remained true to that platform, We
have been branded with every opprobi-
Gus epithet intolerant demagouges could
invent. Conscious of final triumph, we
have borne all, and do so still.
When the proper time shall come, the
Statesman and the Herald of Freedom, We
have no doubt, viii be found in different
parties, unless the former shall have
changed some of its positions on the great
question of freedom. The Herald Of
Freedom, under every circumstance, will
be true to its name, true to the past history
ofits editor, and will always be found
struggling for the triumph of "equal and
exact justice to all men, without regard
to the color of his skin, the country from
which he comes, or the religious views he
entertains.''
We recognize all men as brethren, and
hail them as the children of the same
common parent, and destined to the sam Q
great end.
But to the article alluded to from the
Statesman
THE REPUBLICAN ORGANIzAT1oN.-
The subject of an immediate organiza-
ton of the Republican party in Kansas is
being pretty generally discussed through
out the Territory by the Press When
ever we are satisfied that the Free State
party has fulfilled its mission, and that it
| Is no longer for the masses to concentrate
upon the one idea of making Kansas a
Free State, we will be prepared-aud not
until then-to advocate the organization
and building up of Peoples Party, whose
basis shall be FREE LABOR, and something
like National platform can be made to
stand upon.
The stand point taken by the Free State
party of Kansas at the Big Springs Con-
vention-the Topeka Convention which
was called to consider the propriety of
inaugurating a Peoples Government-the
Convention held afterwards at Lawrence
the one during the session of the Topeka
Constitutional Convention"-again- at
Grasshopper Falls; and indeed all the Ter
ritorial conventions there have been; to
remain as an undivided people, co-work
ing with another under the name and style
of Stree State Party of Kansas"
| At the Big Springs Convention, Sep
tember 9Th, 1856, when the Free State
party was first organized, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted /:
"That, setting aside all the minor issues
of partisan politics, it is incumbent upon
us to proffer an organization calculated to
recover our dearest rights, and into which
Democrats and Wings, Native and Natu-
ralized Citizens may freely enter without
any sacrifice Of their respective political
creed, and without forcing them as test,
upon others. And when we shall have
achieved our political freedom, vindicated
our rights of self government, and become
an tndepen dent State an the Uiiion-,gLen
those issues become vitat as they are noI
tonainant-it will be time enough to di-
vide our organization by these tests, the
importance of which we fully recognize
in their appropriate sphere"
At the close of the session of the Con-
stitutional Convention, meeting was had
and resolution passed making the only
test of the party, devotion to the :" Free
State'' principles, and in all our principal
conventions as before stated, similar reso-
lutions have been adopted, and by keep
ing this idea constantly before the masses,
the party-in the language of Lane, has
been kept "unit."
The organization of our party at Big
Springs was in opposition to Negro Equal
ity. With Lane, Reeder, Gov. Smith, w.
7. Roberts, Holiday, Emory, John Hutch
inson, Parrott, johnson and others in
the ore-front, there was determination
to inaugurate policy and organize par
ty which would ultimate in making Kan.
sas Free, White State" A large por-
ton of the people of Kansas, at the
time, had Democratic proclivities, and
would have eschewed many of the dog
mas now promulgated by our brethren OF
the press. To concilitate the majority,
and concentrate our efforts in the achieve
ment of our political freedom, it was nee
essary, as well as right, that all minor is
sues be laid aside.
That class of politicians who are now
and ever will be most obnoxious to the
people, sought through every channel,
lane, and avenue, through pensioned let
ter-writers, and broken down political
hucksters, to give false coloring to every
principle, policy and actof the dominant
party in the States, and thus pave the way
for the future organization among us on
its ruins. That the past, as well as the
present Administration, have no parallel
in infamy and crime, against people first
trampled upon and made to bow to the
behests of tyranny and OPPRESSION, is a
truth too well disseminated to require adj
ditional evidence yet, that sinister mo-