Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-02-13
Decline end Eall ef "creat mora


II the State of Kansas is not afflicted with the
most mercenary crew of politicians in Christen-
dom 1t certainly must be held, more than any
other equal number of square miles OH the face
of the hahitAhie glOhe, to abound In 'HaFs Of the
first magnitude" We are, perhaps, unneeessari-
ly cautious In giving this alternative form TO our
statement, for When we consider the mOuFnful
exhibition which, on quite another stage, has re-
Gently illustrated the close connection that exists
between public yillAiny and private mendaety,
we are warranted in believing that If Kansas is
rich In types OF the former she is quite likely to
be rich In types of the latter 1t Is to be expected
that soil which breeds corruption shall also reek
with pestlential exhalations and it Is equally to
be presumed of men whose right hands are full
OF bTibes that their thToats will be an open scpul
chre. 1t Is no ground of surprise that common
wealth which 3 prolific in political sportsmen
like Subsidy" PomeFoy and In deeOy ducks like
the treaeherOus YOrke should also be cX1berant
in modern corrivals of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto.
And since these things are so, we are called,
In reviewing the history of Kansas, to cOntem-
plate most melancholy denOuement TO the dra-
ma which our "party Of great moral ideas" has
been enacting on this theatre before the eyes OF
the American people for the last fifteen or egh
teen years. This mediterranean State, as every
body knows, Is the chosen arena ON which the
modern Republican party Joined its battle between
the civilization OF the North aud tho civilization
of the South. here are the lists within which
Senator Seward exultingly accepted the gauntlet
thrown down by the men of the South ior a trial
of strength between contending sections. "Come
on, then," he eXclaimed-we do hnt quote his
parlOus words, as uttered in the Kansas and Ne.
braska debate-"come on, then, gentlemen of the
.tslave States Since there Is no escaping your
''challenge, accept 1t in behalf OF freedom. We
twill engage In competition for The virgin soil OF
"Kansas, aud God give the victory - the side
''that Ia stronger IN numbers as II Is In Tight."
This Is the paradise to save which from the curse
ofsavery three thousand clergymen OF New Eng
land Joined In prayer to Congress while as yet
the Kansas and Nebraska bill was pending. This
is the Holy Land for whose redemption from tho
thraldom Of Missouri "boFder rufiians" these
same cleFgymen LEFT their hocks, and went through
the free States In the spirit and power Of Petei
the Hermit preaching "crusade of freedom."-
This Ia the American Eden TO rescue which from
the polluting touch Of String fellow and his myr
midOns the State of Massachusetts organized thu
'New England Emigration Company"-that be
nevolent association which, with "Gcneral" (ai
forwards 9enatorl s. q. Pomeroy as Its agent, un
dertook, on business principles, to plant school
houses, saw mills, and patent Chrlstanity in tn
heart Of that naseent Territory 1t was IN thi
"FanaeFsof liberty that the loins Of the sainte
John Rrown--that John the Baptist appointed t.
usher in the new dispensation, were girded uI
not with Camel's hair, but with guns and pike:
that his soul mlght at a later day "march on
throughout the land under the banners OF the n
public. Il was "Bleeding Kansas" which gav
their battle cry TO the Republican hosts in tn
Fremont campaign Of 1885,
II was with Kansas craven on their hearts, a
Calais on the heart OF Bloody Mary, that ou
Beechers descended from their pulpits and on
Slllmans came down from their academic chair
to put Sharpe's rides In the hands of the militaT
young saints who were early seat out to posses
the promlsed land Of freedom. And when a
these pFelusive skirmishings had ended In d
keenef iOFs Of civil war-a war for Liberty an
Union. row and forever one and inseparable"-
was still "the gallant State OF Kansas whie
contributed to that "lnsurrectlon OF patriotism
q larger quota OF soldiers 10 proportion to h'
population than any other State ln the Union.
Il win be seen, then, thai 10 every aspect kansi
y the classic land Of modern Radlealism. He
ere its arms and here its chaFiots. II In any Sta
we might expect 10 see the Republican par
shine Tesplendenti in It's coat ofmail and ride for
prospeFcusly, e0nqneripg and to conquer In
moral triumphs, Kansas d that State If Il
blood of the nRaFtyTs Il the seed of the Churcl
what q crop OF virtues might we not exL ect
reap from aoll enriched with the ashes Of hero
who fought, bled, and ran away under the lead
General Jim Lane ?
But, alas how ID the ine gold hacOme dim, al
how are the mighty fallenl The war against " /
slayeholdeFs' rebellion" had lasted less than "
before the flowers of Kansas chiyalry went to 60
in the persons Of the "Jay-haw wkeFs that pret
tory gang Of eutthEoats who surpassed the Thu
In their muEderons brutality. So rapid was
degeneration Of military honor In KaEsaa a
towards the close OF the mar General Ewing y
reduced 30 the aad necessity of suppEesaAg by
army order the martial aeeivssy Of the upatriol
and allbeFaf0Raa wha, as he pithily said, wi
stealing themselves rich In the name Of n
dom. m.n-N.Y,Wovld