White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-12-13
On the Aid Question.

On tho AID 0uoeuon.
They srs obtaining Kansas aid At Ger
mantown, Ohio; and We learn, through
the Independent. that some persons refuse
to contribute. under the plea that they do
not believe the reports Of suffering out
here. because they have seen nothing OF
the kind in the Chief. Had We known
that so much depended upon what tho
Chief said. We would have taken especial
pains to copy the numerous reports Of
destitutiou which We found in our Kan
sas exchanges. Besides making mention.
at various times, Of the suffering in pros.
pect, We think Q careful reader Of the
Chief might have discovered sufficient IN
its columns to verify the stories Of suffer-
ing. We frequently. during the Sum
mer, spoke Of tho drouth, and stated that
the crops would prove almost . total
failure. This. in new country. whore
the people had nothing ahead, was sufi-
cient ground for anticipating that suifsr-
ing would be the consequences. Week
after week. during the Fall, We stated that
people were leaving the Territory BY
hundreds, to escape starvation. Was not
this evidence that starvation, was immi-
nent, and that those who remained would
have hard time of it? The reason why
We did not. from The beginning. publish
long details of destitution. was that they
were chiefly confined to localities far dis
tant, and did not come under our person.
al observation. We are no sensationist.
and are rather inclined to wait until the
stern reality presents itself in an unmis-
taxable form. Until within about .
month past, want did not exhibit itself
extensively in this portion Of Kansas.
Many who were in need, concealed it ~
long as possible, from feelings of pride or
delicacy. But when cold weather ap.
preached, they could do so no longer,
and absolute want is showing itself in
every direction.
We now say. distinctly. that thousands
in Kansas are suffering for the nscessaries
Of lifs-nos only provisions, but clothing
as well-snd need oil that can be raised
for them. Some persons who do not
need help, got portion Of the aid, but
they do it through imposition; and every
sensible man will admit that such things
cannot be avoided. and should not ops-
rate against the needy. A. to the stories
about Montgomery carrying on his foray
with the assistance of the relief commit
tees. they are not "false reports" not
''fsbrications." not misrepresentation
but they are downright. naked, villain
ous Hssi Suppose Montgomery had i'm
ported guns and ammunition. under the
guiss of kansas aid PIT could have
been done on his own hook. without the
connivance or knowledge Of the relief
committees. But he did not do it. He
received no munitions Of war from the
East, in any manner whatever. The ear
lier settlers in Southern Kansas brought
each Of them Shapes rife. for self
defence; and it WAS such arms a. these
that were used in the late "scare." If.
indeed, there were any used. They had
no new arms from the East. nor from
any other source. This story, like for.
msr slsnders upon Kansas. is the mschi-
nation Of the same breed Of villains who
in the 6rst place sndsavored to murder
and drive out the hardy settlers Of Kan
sss; then to tyrannize and swindle them
out and now are doing their utmost to
starve them out.
We hope we are understood now. and
that if there is any person seeking for an
excuse for Withholding aid from Kansas.
he will not screen himself behind the
Chief.