White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1869-08-19
The Land Troubles.


Clarke. the member from that State. in
dcste that he proposes tc attempt Iii
vision OF the Republican party. We
do not put much confidence in tie accu-
rscy of these reports. We know how
intense and bitter Is the personal warfare
in X snsas. and how reckless some pee
pie are in their statements when ve:7
much excited. But two assertions. from
two different quarters. deserve especial
notice. The press dispatch from Leav-
enworth. which ought not to be biased
or distorted by either faction, says that
at the meeting held on the neutral lands
resniu,ions were passed unanimously de-
uouncing Mr.. Joy. the Sen. ate. and par
ticulsrly Ross and Pomeroy. asking them
to resign. appointing "a new aud indie
pendent State Central Committee" and
'.cutting loose from the Republican par
IT," A letter to the Lawrence Journal
asserts that Mr.. Clarke. in the course OF
a speech at Iowa City to soms lssgusrs,
said:
81 do not advise violence to be used
to prevent the construction of the Mis-
souri, River, Fort Scott and Gnlf rail-
road through the lands occupied by the
settlers; but l do advise you to stand
firm and united to a MAN, and no road
can ever be built without yonr consent
Why? Because IL a weary trsvller should
come along, and. wishing to rest, sits
down upon pile of railroad tiss, and.
while smoking his pipe. spark shonld
happen to fail apd burn mp the ties. could
any one blame you for it. and say that
you were using violence to prevent the
construction OF The road? ! reckon not.
Or. suppose the prairie grass should. by
so me such accident as the burning Of the
ties. take fire and burn up the wagons.
tents. and the instruments of the engi
neers. conld that be charged to you? i
think not. Now, whoever heard of the
railroad cars rnnning through a country
(when the inhabitants did not want them
without rails or ties? never did. Yet
/ don't advise force to prevent this IN ost
damnable railroad swindle. bnt | know
that these accidents do and will happen
in tho best regulated com muuties. Now.
gentlemen, if any such thing should hap
pen to this swindling road. you must all
be in bed and osfeep when it happens. or
as soon alter as possible"
The same letter says that at the. close
OF Mr. Clarke's speech. motion was
carried nominating him for the next
United States Senator from Kansas
Now the term Of Mr.. Ross expires in
1871. and that of Mr.. Pomsroy in 1878
1t is very proper to ask whether these
statements are true or mot. They come
from responsible sources, but wa are no,
disposed. without the most convincing
proof. to believe that Mr.. Clarke wonld
use such atrocious language as il here
attributed to him. Nor do we wish to
believe that. 10 the bope Of ousting some
body else end reaching the Senate. he
has PERMITTED friends who nominate him
for that position. at a meeting where he
was present. to adopt resolutions "cut-
ting loose from the Republican party"
without eDy protest on his part. Either
these ststemen.s.srs entirely nntrne. or
Mr.. Clarke has himself cut loose from
The only class Of men who can ever sue
cess'ully support anybody in X Ksnsas-
the sober. honest, law abiding Republi-
cans. There are enongh of them to
swamp any party Of RAILROAD burners or
law defers at any election. There are
enough in them to teach any whom i,
may concern that Mr.. Pomeroy does own
the Republican party Of Kansas. and that
Mr.. Clarke cannot break it up. 1t is
high time for uneasy politicians to re-
member that the people care not button
for their selfish wranglas. and value men
only when they suppose them to be faith
fnl representatives OF great and jns, prin-
ciples.
We have spoken frequently and frank-
" Of the corruption of the generation OF
Kspsas politicians who followed in the
footsteps Of Lsne. Those men seem to
think that it is the height Of folly to waste
anything like good faith. sincerity, or
honesty. in political struggle; ths, prin-
ciples are merely The painted csrds with
which the game is played; that the good
people are made to be cheated; that
government is an institution devised for
cheating them. and that he is the greatest
statesman who can cheat them most
thoroughly. Until Kansas shuffl's that
sort Of men under ground. politically. it
will continue to bf a political Botany
Bay. That Mr.. Pomeroy has served
himself rsiher than the people of X ansos.
they ought by this time to know; if they
do not. nothing that we can say would
enlighten them. Charges OF a serious
character have also been made sgsinst
Mr.. Clarke. hit in regard to the Usage
treaty we recently gave his own account
and denial. We do not wish to think
that he is the man to spesk as he is rep
resented to have spoken to the Leasuers
As we have often said. we think the Joy
tresty swindle. and hope Mr.. Clarke.
with the evidence gathered from The In
disns. will be able to induce the Govern
ment to set the matter right. But be-
cause the tresfy was wrong. il does not
follow that it is right to resort to violence.
outrage. and defiance of law to prevent
the bnilaing of Q railroad. snd we hope
Mr.. Clarke has not been counseling .
people already reckless and lswless
enough. to any such course. It is the
misfortune OF Ksnsss that no such qnes-
tion en- there be considered. ss it might
be elsewhere. calmly. tempersiely. snd
with regard for order snd law. bat 1t
must always be seized upon BY dems-
goguea and hungry politicians to make
political capital for themselves. In op-
posing the cnsfom Of selling Indisn lands
by tresty ratified bv the Senate only in |
secret session, Mr.. Clarke has done right /