The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-03-10

II OVcrr-fliIIlfe
ty, the intelligent courage. and the saving common
sense with which our fathers made the great expert
| ment of selfyovernment
| When they found. after short trial. that the con-
federaey Of States weak 10 meet the neeess
ties of a vigorous and expanding Republic they bold
ly set it aside and in its stead established National
Union, founded directly upon the viii of the people,
endowed with future powers of preservation and
with ample authority for the accomplishment of its
great Objects
The NATIONS GROWTH
Under this Constitution the bosndarirs Of freedom
have been enlarged, the foundations of order and
peace have been strengthened, and the growth in
all the better elements of National life has vndica
ted the wisdom Of the founders, and given new hope
10 their descendants
Under this Consultation our people long ago made
themselves safe against danger from without, and
secured for their mariners and hag equality of rights
| on all the seas.
Under this Constitution twenty-five States have
been added to the Union, with Constitutions and
laws framed and enforced by their own citizens, to
secure the manifold blessings Of local self-sovern
ment
The Jurisdiction of this Constitution now covers an
area fifty times greater than that of the original
thirteen States and population twenty times great
er than that Of l7s0.
The supreme trial of the Constitution at last
under the tremendous pressure of civil war: We
ourselves witnesses that the Union emerged from
the blood and fire of that conflict purified. and made
stronger for all the beneeent purposes Of good
ernment.
| And now. Mt the close Of this first century of
growth, with the inspiration of its history in their
hearts, our people have lately reviewed the eOnd-
ton of the Nation. passed Judgment upon the con-
duct and opinions Of political parties, aud have reg
istered their will concerning the future adminstra-
tion Of the Government To interpret and to execute
that WILL in accordance with the Constitution, is the
paramount duty of the Executive.
| NO sTEPs BACKWARD.
Even from this brief review it manifest that the
Nation is resolutey facing to the front, resolved to
employ its best energies in developing the great pos
| ever has been gained to liberty and good govern
ment during the century our people are determined
to leave behind them all those bitter controversies
| concerning things which have been irrevocaby
| tied and the further discussion of which can only
stir up strife and delay the onward march.
10 y" on~cr rsct ~ ~ oa, anu T., = snoaa
which, for half century, threatened the existence
of the Union, closed, at last, in the high eout
| of war. by decree from which there is appeal.
| that the Constitution, and the laws made in pur-
suanee thereof. are, and shall continne to be- the
preme law of the land binding alike upon the States
and the people. The decree does not disturb the
autonomy of the States, interfere with any Of
their necessary rules of local elfgovernmeut hut il
does tx and establish the permanent supremacy of
the Union.
The will of the Nation, speaking with the voice of
battle, and through the amended Constitution, has
fulfilled the great promise of l716, by proclaiming
Liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants
thereof
| CITIZENSHIP COLORED RACE.
The elevation of the negro from slavery to
the full rights of citizenship, is the important
political change We have known since the adoption
| of the Constitution of l7S. No thoughtful man
fail to appreciate its benicent effect upon nsti
| tutions and people. IL has freed from the per
petual danger of war and dissolution. Ii has added
immensely to the moral and industrial forces of
people. 1t has liberated the master well as the
slave, from relation which wrOnged and enfeebled
| both. Ii has surrendered to their guardian
ship the manhood of more than five millions of peo-
| pie, and has opened to each of them u
/ of freedom and usefulness 1t has given new in
spiration the power of selfhep in both by
making labor more honorable 10 the one, aud more
necessary TO the other The influence of this force
1
/ coming years
No doubt the great change has caused serious dis
turbance to our Southern community. This is to be
| deplOred, though it was unavoidable But those
who resisted the change should remember that un-
| der our institutions there middle ground for
the negro race, between slavery and equal citizen
| ship. There can be permanent disfranchised
| peasantry in the United States. Freedom
yield its fullness of blessings, long the law
its administration places the smallest obstacle in
| the pathway of any yirtuOus citizen. The emanci-
pated race has already made remarkable progress.
With unquestiOning devotion to the Union, with "A
patience and gentleness not born of fear they have
| followed the light God gave them to see the
| light"
They are rapidly laying the material foundations
of selfsupport, widening the circle of intelligence,
| and beginning to enjoy the blessings that gather
around the homes of industrious poor They deserve
the generous encouragement of all good men. So
| far my authority can lawfully extend they shall
enjoy the full and equal protection Of the Constu
| tion and the laws.
a FREE AND PURE BALLOT.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage is still in
question and a frank statement of the issue may aid
| its solution. 1t is alleged that in many eommun
Ties negro c,uLens nre Practlciiy uehleI tne iree
dom OF the ballot: In so far as the truth Of this al
legation Is aamitted, II Is answered tnat IN many
places homes, oc, s"Ter,lent = = iPos.5ie, 5 the
miiSs Vi uhcuucau heEroes nic nio"ea 70 Notc-
These grave allegations So far the latter is
true, Is the only pallaion that can be offered for
opposing the freedom Oh the pai,ot bad local gov
erhment Is certaihS srelt esh' Wheh ought 10 oe
prevented but to violate the freedom and sanctity
OF lne suurase, more ,1an an WI vi ~ Is crime
which Y Perlsteu m VIII destroy the GoSernment
Itself Suicide Is nor remedy. IL IN etner ahds II
he high treason 70 eompass the ueath OF tue Ming
should De counted no less crime mere 10 strangle
our sovereign power anu stie It's Voice. IL has been
said that unsettled questions have no pity for the
repose oi nations IL shond DC slu win the utmost
emphasis, that .is question N ., .ns sunIae VII ~ Pss
er give repose or safety 70 the states or TO the VA
ton, until each within It's own Jurls6ictlon makes
and keeps the nallot Tree anu pure, by the strong
'A"''''n =, a"e n.~. -. ,.,,,.,,, ,,,,.,.,
Rut ia danger which ,rses from ignoronce in tho
voter canpot 6e denied n covers field far wider
than that of pacro snraqe and the nresent condition
81 tLat -acn II Ia JanScr that Iprts anJ hide in
he sanrces and fonnta;ns of never in ever STATE
We have no standard by which to measure the dis
astar chat maj he hrouo6t unon ms nv ignorance and
~;c IN the c;t;zens Wien ;o;nel 10 corrnnt;on and
sud II IN ,hs snff-a.s -N- 'N W ~
The xa,ers nf tLs Irp;op Win make and upmake
c,ns,itntons and mon rbose Will bany the Jsst;
n;as of mr. Goycrn,nepts can trapsn,it tb.;r sn-
nreme authority 10 no successor save the coming
VI Ts r., ',ansr.;o, as o no,ns y, -, ~;
Lr;,a,p. hi;,Jl L,, ;.oaraneo and corrnnteJ nv,
vice tbe fall of the Republie will be certain and
iii IN. a.''' VI '"' -''P"'0 "- "' '' N
TJ,a nns,s has ,1rsa,v sou,,l.d the oIor,, i, tho
annaIlina tigures which mark how danrerou.ly bish
tba I'LL; f iIIiterocv has risen snong onr voters and
their children.
t" the South this question is OF supreme impor-
tance, but the responsiblty Tor the existence oi
slavery did not rest upon the south alone.
ihe Nation itself Is respSnsoie i"T ths eniems1n
nid IN removing the llteraey winch II mas added 10