The Kanzas news., 1858-02-27
The Free State Idea

Different motives have, undoubtedly, ac-
tuated different men in the support of the
Free State party. Some have acted with
that party, because it was the popular side
because there was to be found the intelli-
gence, virtue and numerical strength of the
people. Others have done so, because they
desired KanEas to be a Free State, merely ON
economical grounds-becanse houses, lots
and farms would be worth more in Free
State than in Slave State. Others were
exasperated and disguised with the fraud
and villainy practised by the Pro -Slaveryites
in order to defeat the popular will. Others
have seen, or fancied they saw, in the pre-
dominating power and influence of the Free
State party the sure road to official promo
ton. But, over and beyond all these inf1u
enceS, other and more numerous than all
these classes, the great rank and file of the
Free State party, the bone and sinew of the
organization, has been composed of men who
hate Slavery, and LoUe Liberty; and that ha-
tired and that love is not based upon low, mer-
eenary considerations-upon the value of
town lots and prairie claims, but upon the
inherent wrongfulness of Slavery and the
inherent rightfulness of Liberty. In other
words, the Anti-sla0erg idea has been and is
the great informing idea of the Free State
movement It. is this which has given that
movement such tenaeity-sueh unyielding
obstinacy of purpose-such moral power
such inyincibility. It is this which has en-
abled it to withstand the barbarous outrages
of the Border Ruffians ON the one hand, and
the corrupting and debasing influences of
selfish and hypocritical demagogueism, on
the other. 1t is this which will finally car
ry it triumphant over all opposition, to COM
pIete and glorious success.
A great victory will finally be achieved
here. This will finally be Free State
All the John Calhoun Constitutions in chris
tendon, backed up by all the Lecompton
woodpile returns and Jack Henderson forge
ries that can be made till doomsday, will new
er make Kanzas Slave State. The popu-
lar movement for freedom and free institu
tions may be momentarily checked, but on
" to rush onward again with increased and
overwhelming volume. Conservatism, false
ly so called, and Democracy, more falsely
so called, may each strive to turn aside this
great current of the popular feeling and will.
but it will be in vain. The People of Kan
zas hate and loathe the very name of ode
mocracy." 1t has become to them, and
justly so. the synonym of all that is cruel.
treacherous, hypocritical, debased and damn
able. Every outrage that they have suffer
ed. every wrong that they have endured.
the utter prostration of all their rights, the
cruel mockery of, their sufferings-all has
been in the name and for the sake of De-
naocracyp' Great Heaven The Free State
party to go into the ranks of the Democracy2
1t would have been as reasonable for the vic
torious army of Washington at Yorktown,
to have gone over to the defeated and des-
pissed legions of CORVALLIS, Tarleton and the
Tories. No; in the grand victory which
shall surely be won upon these central plains
and prairies of the continent, you sail be-
hold the triumph, the glorious and complete
triumph, of the one, grand, central idea.
which has loomed up amid the whole con-
test, giving to it immortal energy and cease
less renown-the idea of Liberty-pure,
true. undefled REPUBLICAN, LIBERTY !-Law-
renee Republican,.