The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-07-09
EXTRACTS
FROM
THE ANNIVERSARY GRAFTON,
DELIVERED BIZ
GOV. c. v. ESKRIDGE,
LOOKS GROVE, NEAR AMERICUS,
JULY Sd, 1869.
PUBLISHED. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE
COMMITTEE.

rSoTE.-It may not be improper for the com
nIttee to say that at the close Of this excellent
and eloquent address, the assembly gave the
Governor three cheers, and by unanimous vote
requested the address for publication. The
committee would be pleased TO lay it entire
before the public, burat the request of Gov
ernor Eskridge only such portions as bear di-s
rectly upon the interests. history and duties of
Kansas will be submitted. 1t is but just TO
say that the reserved portion Of the address
was most sublime and eloquent tribute TO the
memory of the fathers of our country. Cox.
Eskridge commenced by saying:l
The people of Kansas should be hap
Ply people. But yesterday, SO to speak,
they were pioneers in this new country,
destitute of the comforts and conVen-
fences of life. To-day, by their ener-
gy, industry, public spirit and enter
prise, they are not only surrounded by
the comforts and conviences of life, but
have laid the foundation deep and strong
for higher, nObler, grander career than
ever entered into poets dream or
statesman's calculation. Our mag
nificent system of free schools and in
ternal improvements, our beautiful and
fertile vallies and fruitful prairie swells,
Jul d1o
wealth, our cheap lands and delightful
climate, invite the millions of the earth
to the privileges and blessings of a
Kansas home. Literally, the industri-
Gus tiller of the soil has but to ''tickle
the ground with hoe and it laughs
with harvest" While failures in To-
calities here and there may occasionally
occur il agricultural pursuits in Kansas.
as in other states, still it is no longer to
be questioned that God, through His
agencies, has adapted this beautiful spot
of His vast creation to the great first
calling of man. This being assured, as
the basis of all pursuits, the laborer, the
mechanic, the merchant, the manufac-
turer, the professional man-all classes,
viii find within our borders rich re-
turn for their energy, industry and en-
terprise. Our remarkable and almost
unprecedented prosperity during the
last five years, indicates, with our in
creased advantages and facilities, the
high degree of prosperity which we are
to enjoy, as State, ''henceforth and for
ever" We may, therefore, congratulate
ourselves upon the favorable auspices
under which we have assembled togeth-
er here in the garden spot of the Cen
trail State to celebrate once moro the
anniversary of our national existence.
We hail the return of this joyous day,
consecrated to freedom, with the same
patriotic enthusiasm that greeted its adj
vent in times that Immediately followed
the great struggle for our independence.
The spirit that animated the heroes and
sages of that important period still sur
wives, and will, let US hope, animate
their descendants in all sections of our
Union, forever.
Here followed an eloquent tribute to the
memory OF the fathers, and a presentation OF
the doctrines of the Declaration, referring in.
cidentally to the Kansas troubles and to the
| rebellion, as follows:l
Oppression drove the 'Pilgrim Faith
ers" from their native land to encounter
the privations and hardships of the
wilderness.
This same spirit animated the people
of Kansas in the early days of its set.
tlement in their struggle with the slaye
holders of the south. They determined
that no shackles, no chains, no involun-
tary servitude, except for the punish.
ment of crime, should retard the devel-
opment and blight the future prosperity
of this vast, beautiful region, which, by
sacred compact, had been forever dedi
Gated to freedom compact which, i
was thought, in the language of Mr.
Douglas, ne ruthless hand" would evel
dare disturb. But when, at the instiga
ton of extreme men in the interest OF
slavery, it scas disturbed, the doctrines
of the Declaration of Independence
that "All men are created equal
and endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights, among
which are life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness" once more aroused tho
spirit of freedom, and the people o
Kansas, with alike feelings,