The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-09-13

was the color of our soldiers uniform; and thei
gold from its stars, because they shone on tn,
epaulets of our heroesl
No, Mr.. President, let ms not deceive ourselves
or he deceived. There can be no truce between
right aud wrong. In the conflict of ideas ther,
can be no afhistiee. The gigantic revolution
through which We have passed did not arise mp.
on point Of etiquette, and it cannot be ended
by polite apology. II was = great strugg's
between tive hostile aud enduring forces, which
must continue until one or the other shall be
come displaced and expelled from our system d
Government. 1t must go ON either till the right
of one man, or class by violence or force 70 pre-
scribe the opinions, control the acts and defne
the political relations of others is freely conced'
ed, or until the right ofevery individual, howev.
er humble, to think, act or vote, in accordance
with the suggestions of his own Judgment and
conscience under the law, shall be absolutely nm
Questioned. So long as this right is denied oi
abridged under any prrtext, or in any losality,
North, South, East or West, in the shadow OF
the mountains, in the great valley, or by the
shore OF gulf or sea, so long the copnict must
last: 1t will nevrr end till the unity and sa-
prenacy Of the Nation is undisputed till life is
sscred and liberty secure; tilfffe opportunities
for knowledge universally diffused as the
desire TO know, and the pursuit of happiness as
unlimited as the capacity To enjoy.
In view Of these considerations, our exercises
to-day have n profound Significance. Her teri
torial pupilage educated Kansas to freedom, and
she has not forgotten that bloody tuition. Twen-
ty-one years have elapsed since Garrison and his
associates died that the State might be free.
see before me many who participated with them
in those early contests, and who still stand as
sleepless sentiuels upon the watcht0wers of lib
orty. The siren aud seductive song of peace
will not delude their vigilance nor lul them in
to security. The passions engendered in that
epoch have subsidized, but its lessons remain, and
this monument which We dedicate is not alone
kr af ak
for the present aud the future. 1t announces
that against all the Establishments Of policy,
the temptations of place, or profit, or expedien-
cy, We dedicate ourselves to assert aud defend
those vital principles of justice and rectitnde
which are the foundation not alone of all indi-
viduL welfare, but of trre National grandeur.
There is one further act of commemoration to
complete the full recognition of the debt of graf
itude we owe John Brown. The old Hall of the
House of Representatives in the Capitol at Wash
ington, which is consecrated by the genius, the
wisdom and the patriotism of the statesmen
of the first century of American history, has been
designated by Congress as National gallery Of
statusry, to which each State is invited to con-
tribute two bronze or marble statues of her cit
izens, iiustrious for their historic renown from
distinguished civil and military services. 1t
will be long before this silent congregation is
complete. With tardy footsteps they slowly as
cend their pedestals; voiceless orators whose
stony eloquence will salute and inspire the gen.
efations OF freomep to come; bronze warriors
whose unsheathed swords seem yet to direct the
onset, and whose commands will pass from GEN.
tury to century, inspiring an unbroken line of
heroes TO guard with ceaseless care the heritage
their valOr won.
Kansas is yet in her youth. She has no associ-
stioDs that are venerable by age. All her dead
have been the contemporaries of those who vet
live. The verdict of posterty can only be an
ticipated. But like all communities, we have
had our heroic era and it has closed. 1t termi-
mated with the war which began within our
borders, and IL deserves National commemora-
tiou. believe the concurrng judgment ofman-
kind would designate him as the conspicuous
representative Of this period in our history, and
while his image yet exists in the memories of
his contemporaries, so that accurate pOrtraiture
Is possible, hope the people of Kansas will hon
or themselves by procuring his statue to be plac-
ed in this hall as q gift to the Nation, If the
time has ever been when it would have been in
appropriate, when it might have wounded the
sensibility or moved the indignation of any of
our brethren, it has passed away. We are con-
ciliated and we have forgotten. We have found
<'the sweet oblivious antidote" for all our sor-
rows. II Kansas makes this tardy recognition
of one Of her noblest sons, Virginia can i'll afford
to remember that she hanged as q traitor the
man whose cause the Nation espoussd three
years afterwards, and whose standard she siezed
from the gallows at Charlestown, and bore in
triumph to Appomattox Court House.
Mr.. President, my task is done. I am con.
scions how imperfectly and inadequately have
given expression to the suggestions of this men,
orabls hour, but feel that the communion of
this suspcicus day has not been in vain. We
need to measure ourselves by heroic standards,
lest we become dwarfed by inaction. We re-
quire the tonic and stimulus of great examples,
lest We become enervated by paltry considera-
tions. We shall soon separate to meet no more.
Let us bear away, as we depart, renewed
resolves to devote ourselves to the preser-
walton of the spirit and essence as well as
the form of civil liberty. In brief space We
shall all be dispersed by death, and our homes
our fields our possessions, our dignities, our du-
ties will descend to our posterity. Let us be-
queath to them unimpaired the priceless hsri-
tage which we have received from those who at
tested their faith with their lives. And if in the
distant future the guarantees of constitutional
liberty shall be assailed, and the patriot of an
other age turn for inspiration to this, he will
find no grander example of heroic zeal and lofty
self devotion than "0ld John Brown, of Osa-
watomie."
They never fail who die ......
In great cause. The block may soak their gore;
Their heads may sodden In the sun their limbs
Be strung to city gates and castle walls
But still their spirit walks abroad. Though years
Elapse and others share dark doom,
They bot augment the deep and sweeping thoughts
Which overpower all others, and conduct