The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-02-04
TWENTY YEARS OLD.


full appearance memory brings to mind
to-day, with wonderful fidel-
ity. She was clad in the sable habili-
ments of woe, and was standing on
SORT III step constructed for the purpose,
At the rear of a li5crty-car, in which were
seated thirty-three Of her youthful COM
panions, dressed in robes of white and
blue adorned with bright scarlet sashes,
On each Of which was stamped the name
OF some state of the American sister
hood. In the hand OF the little alien,
who was separated from her Aisters
by door which barred her entrance to
the happy circle ON which she gazed
from her isolated position, was a white
flag, bearing in black letters the simple
legend-"Kans3s." TIE banner was
bordered with Grape, and the effect Of
the contrast between this suggestive
standard and the gay, red Gags in the
hands OF the representatives OF the ad-
mitted states, brought To many
heart and mind on that bright
autumn day in 1856, the wrongs Of ter
ritory the story Of whose struggles i'm
parted such II marvellous impetus to the
awakening sentiment OF the free north,
in the memorable canvass in which FIRE.
mont and Dayton bore the standard Of
the infant Republican party.
That campaign was made upon issues
which involved the most momentous
interests with which the world has ever
had TO do. In vindicatiOn of the foes of
human liberty who had invaded the viz
gin soil of Kansas and stained her YER
dAnt prAiries with the blood OF mArtyred
freemen, the national convention of the
then dominant political party met at
Cincinnati, on the End day of June, 1855,
and adopted the principles Of the
infamous Kansas--Nebraska bill
that is the nen-lnterference Of
the general government with slavery,
compromise measures advocated by the
Democracy; within the very walls Of
the national forum, Preston 8. Brooks, q
representative OF the slave oligarchy Of
the south, had stricken to the earth
| for lifting his voice in behalf o.
free Kansas. Charles Sumner, a. brave
and noble = champion of human
freedom rs ever commanded the applause
of listening senates; the cry OF outraged
liberty had been borne ON the free air anG
feet winds TO the shores where Amer
lean Independence was born, in thi
shadow of Plymouth rock. and the brave
sons of New England, responding to thu
cry, had carried in sentient vessels thC
leaven of q patriotism that had mad
q nation free, to the trackless sweeps o
the new territory; John Brown had
with heroic daring, snatched from of
the altar of liberty live coal, which
famed by the breath Of = righteous
vengeance, kindled q mighty fam,
which proved the funeral pyre o
human slavery; Kansas had be
come the battle ground on which
was fought, In the presence o
waiting world, those memorable en-
gagements which have decided for al
time the tremendous issues which viii
shape the civilization OF centuries We
unborn, and in 1851, having repudiats'
the Infamous contract for her sale to III
slave power, as stipulated by the Trainer
OF the Lecompton constitution, and CON
ing out victorious in her hand-to-han'
struggle with the powers of politics
darkness, was admitted into the Union
under the administration Of James b
chanan. with a population Of less tina
$50, 600 souls.
And now, pAusing In the swift pursui
of future achievements TO glance alon
the way she has come in twenty year
who shall attempt to outline the maj
niIude of her past accom-
1 plishments, or set meets an
bounds to her untriel possibilities
The wild and fascinating associations {
: the Santa Fe trail are matters Of persons
{ experience with men who every day 70
3 along the mighty railway thorough
! fares OF Kansas in the luxuriant cas-
e OF moving palaces; the lncendiary WHO'D
;, OF the midnight raider, the shrek I
> defenceless women and children, Ii
e lurid glare OF the arson's torch, paintin
4 hell on the dark sky, and the deepC
d glow Of heroic blood, have scarce fade
e from the ear and eye Of Kansas either
Q who dwell serenely in the majest
shadow OF the shield OF the law, and T
pose within the. security Of pr
tected homes; the dreams of th
pioneer who erected q hut l
. the wilderness, have materiAliEe
I' into splendid cities, teeming with pc
pie, and publishing IN imposing mon
ments OF brick and stone, all the eVide
ces Of wealth and enterprise which ca
= be conveyed through the medium
skillful construction; the day
small beginnings has develops
into an era OF peerless achiev
meni, and the little handful OF i
!, trepid emigrants who pitched the
"a tents upon the virgin soil of Kansas
e scare of years ago, has grown into
mighty people numbering a million
" souls; and, better than all, the trackle
l. expanse which rolled away in an u
&c broken sweep OF emerald pillows q qua
IL ter of century ago, is now dotted wi
a Gordon OF school houses which forev
n interpose their impregnable fortifiC
,r tions against error and ignorance in &
" their insidious forms, and render Kans
d the fore-runner In all great questions
I. political and social reform, and the fel
a. less exponent Of those enternal pr
he ciples for whose supremacy her ear
q sons poured out their blood, that b
3 soil might be fertilized for q
n production Of every growth whose Fl
m GRANGE 10 grateful to the friends and q
" vocates of q higher morality and q mo
Ie generous culture. Nay heaven hless o
d young state, and maks her as true to
" cause Of God and humanity in the futu
~ as abe has been in the past
HASKELL FOR SPEAKER.