The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-05-01


were slowing away the provisions the Fifth
Infantry band discoursed the most agreeable
music, and when the company got down on
the bill-of fare to the ''sub-heads" Jelly, T"
"Ice-cream," and "Fruit.," Judge Ids
arose and proposed the following toas,:
/ Oar Guest-the Hon. John ]. Iugalls.
We hail his election as the beginning Of .
new era in Ksnsas politics.
In response to this sentiment the Senator
arose and said:
.M. Pesidens an Fel,ov-C Citizens Of Lsdrsn-
Eorth:
Tn. occasion i. to me one OF unmingled
pleasure and satisfaction. 1t seems aimosi
like q realization OF the political millennium.
The Democratic lion and the Radical lamb
nave lain DOVE together, and Literal Re
publican may lead them.
Leavenvorth and A,chison have lor once
forgotten their traditional feuds, and STRUCK
hand, in good fellowship acfoss the fiesta
board, and were it nov 10 order, would
pause in my rem ,rks long enough to propose
the sentiment ''May their friendship be Pc,
pesaal" for surely our State is large enough
and it, future il broad enough to warrant n
in abandoning senseless jealousies. and going
forward in the race toward the goal Of CON-
| nero Al supremacy, stimulated by generous
| emulation tina. will rejoice At all honestls
ACQUIRED eucce.s, and regret all unmerited
dlscom6ture Tosuch = courre can pledge
myself personally, and / think am war
ranted in committing the community with
which am specially identified, bat which
in nv official ctaracer will ask Of me no
other recognition than that which isaccorded
! 10 eyery other locality in the S.ate-snd thst
is exact and equal justice, without favoritism
or partially.
Recognizing the fact that the people are
the source and fountain of power, l propose
, To abandon the test of personalism in my po-
litical conduct and in all matters affecting
the public welfare to ascertain the desires OF
the people in the localities interested, and
having ascertained them, to accomplish them
regardless Of personal consequences.
For the first time in twelve years, Mr..
President, this experiment can be attempted
With some prospect Of success. For the trst
time during our political existence, Z e eie-
ments are At rest and the di-cordant warfare
of contending factions has ceased. These
are the halcyon days. brooding with un-
troubled wing above the tranquil repose OF
sleeping sea! ,.,.
The political life Of Kansas has exhibited
a complication of disorders and arrangements
whose rapid succession has had no parallel
in history. Begotten in sectional strife and
born in a national convulsion, her infancy
sas a scene of bloodshed and rapine whose
.pimos,ties we're but the herald OF those in
,ernecine ieuds which have thu. far charac-
terized our ex is.epce a. a State.
Conventions and counter conventions, fu-
tile constitutions, innumerable elections, res
oiutions and manifestoes. conflicting execu-
tives, hostile representations in Congress,
impeachments, vindiciiye and violent con-
tests for supremacy n home and abroad,
have successfully inf ,med the temper and
arrested the progress of the people, till ex-
element became their normal condi,i m, and
serene and healthy activity wa, unknown to
the body polite. Any deceitful lull In the
tempest was merely the preparation for
renewal of the contest, or the exhaustion OF
energies which rested only to repeat the
onset. When the element seemed ut peace,
and it appeared as if the ingenuity of de-
mons could invent no occasion for disturb
,uce, the thunder pealed from a cloudles.
sky, and the un expected bolt descended upon
some victim selected for vengeance.
And the worst feature of this melancholy
phase has been that these dissentions and
antagonisms occurred among men OF simi-
lar political faiths. Had stranger familiar
sith the conflicts engendered Ivy hostile
principles in other communities and accus-
toned TO see men OF the same creed allied
for the achievement Of victory, been sudden
" acquainted with the anomalous and be-
silderiny frenzy Of our local contests, had
he witnessed The vulgar recriminations OF
he pres. and the wild fury o. the ro-trum,
ne might well have supposed that our Pso-
ole were divided on questions of national
moment, and that tsJ great parties were
struggling for the supremacy.
dow grea; would have been his surprise to
noS that We were not, and had never been
divided upOa any great question affecting
the integrity Of the nation, and that the
party in power has been in lnsjority 20
great as to be practically unanimous! He
would have vainly sought a solution of the
problem of Kansas politics by reference to
any sscertalned standards of political con-
duct. and been compelled TO differ from Sol
ONION when he declsred that there was no
new thing under the sun.
do not nov propose to attempt soiu-
ion of this eni. ma, though the solution Ii
viient, for this il no, political meeting.
Jul a social, friendly, bu-iress interview,
.ove feast, where We are To exchange comics
sioEs and make promises OF penitence aud
Reformation; and before the evening closes
expect nv brother Goddard. or come Other
reputable and representative Democrat TO
rise in his place and admit that the Democ-
racy are equally cu,pable with the Republic
cans in the Commissions and irregularities and
anomalies of the pact epoch.
Neither have alluded to that period when
all principles having been irrevOcably deter
mi,ed. the issues degenerated and became
petty, narrow and personal, with any intent
or desire of recalling those melancholy con-
tentious, or Of inculpating or exculPsting
any of the actors and participants in those
struggles, when the rancor Of partisanship,
the passion for plare. the greed fer official
gain, vaultiny ambition, the vengeance of
ingratitude, envy and hatred, lettering
through years of real or fancied aggression.
stimulated the combatan,s in the arena and
intensified the horrors Of the fray.
Nv allusion has far different purpose,
which trust will justify itself in the estima.
ton of the thoughtful. and commend itself
to the consideration OF all those who love the
State and have faith in its destiny.
The great masses of the people are now
harmoniou-ly and actively united upon all
questions vital to the prosperity Of Kansas.
From the assurances have personally re-
ceived, from the tone of the press, from the
votes of confidence passed by the Legi--
l.,ure, feel that am not mistaken in
saving that represent the people Of Kan.
sas in their entirety; that Democrats and
Republicans, men of all shades Of opinion
upon previous issues, are united in their ef-
forts and separations for the regeneration of
the State. This crisis has been hastened BE-
growing conviction among the people that
their honor has been stained, their prosperity
retarded, and their liberties endangered by
the abuses which had gro~n too bold from
success TO feel the need Of concealment.
When political vices are arraigned for indie
cent exposure Of the person. the verdict will
Danish the culprit from the society of all de-
cent men.
Thoee Who mould and direct public opin- |
ion have nov golden opportunity TO re-
deem the errors of the past. The present is
free from all possible complications. Hon.
esty il not hereafter to be improbable. Merit |
l. not to be an incumbrance,. nor subserv:-
ency to empty bragyar,s and chsrlatans the
only avenue to preferment and distinction.
/ ehonld be unfaithful to the sentiments to /!
which believe owe my present position,
-. I IN fail ,,uon evcrv DrOnsP occasion 10 1