The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-04-30
KANSAS.

KANSAS.
The rapidity with which this State is
filling up is one of the marvels of West
ern civilization. A constant tide flows
in upon its rich prairies, and its towns
and cities grow so fast that one can
scarcely believe what he sees. Leav-
enw orth, Lawrence, Topeka, Fort Scott
and hundred other places, are attain
ing greatness with astonishing rapidity.
The reasons for this rapid growth are :
l. Kansas a soil of great productive
ness. 1t is all good land from north to
south, from east to west. 1t has fine
water, enough wood, abundance of coal,
and excellent building stone.
2. 1t is as healthy a country as there
is in the United States. ANY congre-
CATION will prove this. The Conference
of Methodist preachers we saw there
| lately demonstrates it. People sicken
and die anywhere. Kansas does not
agree with everybody. Constitutions
already diseased may not recover there,
but the people are. generally well and
we never heard of any prevailing cpl
demic there.
3. Land is cheap. AS fine land as
was ever cultivated can be bought at
| $1.25 to SO per acre. Agricultural
college lands can be bought near rail-
road for $3.50 an acre.
4. The climate is excellent generally,
and in the southern part of the State it
| is very mild. High winds often pre-
vail, but people get used to them, and
they bring no disease. Millions of acres
of the very best lands in such a climate
must attract very soon large pOpula-
ton.
5. The State is making most liberal
provisions for education. 1t has State
A orr lnPafn6 at hat
tan, a State University at Lawrence,
and everywhere good public schools.
In all the larger towns graded schools
exist, giving the best opportunities to all
| to. acquire an education. The school
fund is rapidly increasing, and we be-
| lieve has not been stolen and squan-
dered as in Missouri and some other
| States. The system of public schools
is upheld by vigorous public senti-
/ The very highest ground in favor of
/ education has always been taken by the
/ people of Kansas.
| 8. The various Christian Churches are
represented in Kansas by very active
! branches. The Presbyterians, Baptists,
MethOdists, Congregationalists and
! Episcopalians are vigorously working ;
and the Catholics are of course doing
! their best, but they can never do much
Z
agricultural, and great and corrupt pop
ulations will not aggregate as in States
engaged i'll commerce and manufactures.
! The Romanists, by the very nature of
their religion, cannot become very
strong in farming communities. 1t is
very difficult to make fanatics and mere
tools of the people who are scattered as
| American farmers are. The Catholic
! priests of the United States have never
! Oh ~ Il fI1is
farmers. Kansas is thoroughly Profess
tant and intensely Republican. The
christening of the State with the blood
of martyrs has made an indelible i'm
preston, and the bias of the State
against every form of oppression is ex-
ceedinly strong.
z. Our own Church began her mis-
sion in Kansas with the organization of
the Territory: Her ministers braved
the storm of the war for slavery, and
assisted in the earlier struggles, and
helped TO win the overwhelming victo-
ry. The growth of Methodism has
/ been nearly as rapid as that of the State,
and large, intelligent, active, devoted
| body of men are pushing forward the
victories of the cross. We publish in
this number the statistics of our Church,
and all can see what we are doing.
In education the Methodists have
been pioneers in Kansas. They estab-
lished Baker University in the infancy
of the State, and supported it by hero
ic struggles. 1t has done much good
already, but never has had a sufficient
foundation in money. If it had escaped
all bad management, that would have
been miracle not performed in behalf
of any of our Western colleges. Its
poverty and sufferings may work out
for it great salvation. We hope it
will hereafter live within its resources,
and gradually rise to great prosperity.
1t needs, chiefly, a half million of dol
lars, but to get that must be the work
! OF patience, prudence and great effort.
| Kansas, on the whole, is in a state of
| great prosperity, and deserves it all.
One word to the Methodists of Kan
sas. God has given you a heritage
worth Praying and labOring for. The
zeal, forecast, piety and wisdom of the
apostles is needed to fulfill SO great q
care. God holds US responsible for our
opportunities. What we lose BY idle
ness we cannot recover even by PRAYER.
/ Without envy or vain boasting, we
should work with others to save souls.
We must do our full share in the work
of making the State the Garden of the
| Lord. We gladly publish and call at
tention to the pastoral address Of the
Conference, hoping that it may be
instrumental in leading the Church
/ nearer to Jesus. The conquest for such
a State, for Christ, is high and holy
| work, and if we are wise we will not
delay for anything, but will build up
| Zion, and then we shall always rejoice
in her glory.-C Central CAristS0n -4dro-
cate.