White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-06-10

years ago, these immense prairies wer
the common domain Of the savage an
aboriginal inhabitants, and not a human
habitation met the eye throughout th
whole extent Of its vision. And now, b,
a sudden and beautiful transition, thes
immense plains, as far as the eye can reach
are dotted over with cottages Of the mos
energetic people Of our land and of tn
world. Not content only with upheavint
the soil, and laying the foundation of fu
ture wealth and independence for them
selves and families, but they have made
adequate provisions for the educationa
and religious wants of their children and
posterity, by the. erectioRof churches and
common schools, and by directing theil
attention to the establishment of a Uni.
versity in this place, that, we hope, will
hereafter vie with the most renowned In
situations of our common country. And
all this has been done in few years, as
if by magic. In all the range of our his
torical knowledge, know Of no State or
country, where such vast improvements
have been made in so short time, and
where the literary, and temporal and re-
ligious wants Of the people have been so
well met as here. Even at this very time,
in the very state of its infancy, Highland
and surrounding country are far ahead OF
our States of older growth, in regard to
religious and literary advantages, and in
these respects, do not fall far behind any
State in our Union.
We here have the gospel preached every
Sabbath, in its purity, besides its prayer
meetings and our Sabbath School, once
every week Our Bible Society is send
ing out the blessed word of God among
our people, making them wise unto sal
walton. The means of grace and the or
dinances of Gods house are accessible to
all, and no one need perish from lack Of
knowledge. Here intemperance is ex-
presslv forbidden, and the inhabitants of
Highland and the whole surrounding coun-
try, are remarkable for their industry,
enterprise, temperance, economy, and in
telligence; and in no new country what
ever, are the elements of greatness among
a people so extensive and predominant,
as in this lovely portion of Kansas Terri
tory. And what is more deeply interest
ing still, is the fact that our young men
seem to vie with our best and most re-
spectacle elderly citizens, in their thirst
for knowledge, and in pushing forward
the great measures of temperance, educa-
cation, and religion in our community.
We hail this as the most auspicious omen
in our midst. And we rejoice when we
can say, in truth, that their attendance
upon the means of grace in the house of
God, is more regular, ard their attention
while there, is more deeply fixed, than in
any other section of country with which
l am acquainted. And what adds great
interest to the whole matter, is, they have
formed prayer meeting, where they ad-
dress the throne of grace, in behalf of
themselves, the great family of man, the
Church and Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
They have also Lyceum for the cultiva-
ton Of their minds. know Of no means
so we'll calculated, as the Lyceum is, to
develope their faculties and talent, and to |
give a keener edge and relish to their ge-
MUS, in the investigation of the various
subjects brought up for debate at their
regular meetings, from time to time. We
had the pleasure and privilege of attend
ing one Of their meetings. not long since,
and we were struck with admiration at
the digui6ed and pleasant manner in
which their business was conducted, and
how we'll versed they were in all the rules
of parliamentary. usage. The debate to
which we then listened, and the essays
which were read on that occasion, would
do credit to some of the best Lyceums of
our country. And IN remark which Mr..
johnson made at that time, in substance,
was as true as it was encouraging, viz
THAT he discovered the elements of true
oratory among the speakers there. p
We make these remarks. young gentle
men, not to hatter, but to encourage you
in your laudable undertaking, hoping that
you nay hereafter be bright ornaments in
the Church and Kingdom of Jesus Christ;
and that some Of you, at least, may dis
tinguish yourselves by your wisdom, and
piety and eloquence, in the highest coun-
ellis of our nation, and by your conserva-
tive influence. strengthen the bonds Of
Union in our common country. Rally
around the standard Of your beloved coun-
try, this magnificent Republic, the glory
and excellency of all lands, purchased BY
the blood and treasures Of your noble an
cestors, and never suffer it to be severed
BY civil diseord and rebellion, by the art
full intrigues of ambitious and designing
politicians, but hand it down, unsullied,
to the latest posterity, as bequeathed to
You by your distinguished sires Of Revo-
lutionary fame. Frown upon every at
tempt at the dissolution of our country,
and never let it be said, by the civil and
ecclesiastical despots Of the old world.
that we are incapable, as q people, Of
this Republic to the most de-
sirable results. It cannot be concealed as
a fact, that the destiny Of our beloved
country depends, mainly, for its future
welfare and glory, upon the manner in
which our young men viii hereafter shape
their course. And if this be so, which
none can deny, then it is evident that
their responsibility is infinitely great; for
should they lend their influence in sus-
tanning principles which are destructive
in their very nature, then there viii be
great danger that our Republican Gov
eminent, with all its noble institutions,