The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-03-02
Hi..nrv Renea.ing Itself.

IL is. matter of almost dairy remark, that
Gov. ST. John has the power to do as he chooses
with the people Of Kahsas; that he can be Gov
.rnor f,r a third term or not, United States
Senator or not, just rs he wisll-s; that he can
carry majority Of the people Of Kansas, and So
care the anactment of any measures that he may
dictate 1t is argued, from this, that he is man
of great ability and shrewdness, and is not
mere ups;art or adventurer, as some would make
it appear. The common expression is that h" y
no fool. We do not remember that we have
ever hearl any person assert that he was 4
fool; he is a man Of a good deal of s!rewdness,
but Of very ordinary ability, which all runs TO and
is concentrated in 4 single idea, upon which he
is a monomanac. His career in Kansas Illus
trates what cheek and assurance may accomplish
among n people predisposed TO run crazy after
humbags, large proportion Of the people oil
Kansas are ST. John has not furnished the first
illustration in the State.
People who have come to Kansas since the war,
are more liable TO be astonished at such epidcm-
les as St. Johnisrn than those who have been
here twenty-five, or evon twenty years. Old
settlers who lived through Laneism, can accept
St. Johnism as a matter Of course. The reign of
these two men show that the people of Kansas
are predisposed to run wild at either extreme, no
matter tG them which. st. John tends 10 moral
ity, which is much in his favor. Lane tended
toward the grossest immortality, and was more
supreme in his day than ST. John is in his. Lane
was a ruffian, blackguard, hbertine, fraud
in every particular. He was not even sincere in
the principles he advocated We believe that
ST. John is sincere in his, bnt that he means TO
make them serve his interests to the fullest ex-
tent. Lane came TO Kansas to establish slavery,
and became the champion of the Free State party,
when he saw that Freedom was bound to win
and he was shrewd enough to see it soon. He
was corrupt, an infamous liar, and without a
conscience. He swayed the majority of the poo-
pie of Kansas at his will. They became disgust
ed with him, time after time, and lOnged to spew,
10 yomit, TO puke him ont; but he went among
the people, and those who had been loudest in
denouncing him, cringed the lowest for chance
to lick his feet. 1t was said that this was be-
cause of his wonderful magnetism He had no
more magnetism than the man who goes through
the streets of city, perched upon a cart, bawl-
ing charcoal" lie would mount platform
before audience, and put on stage style, bel
low, make faces, shake his finger, bluster, and
blackgnard, aud the crowd would go wild. lie
had miserable gang of satellites all over the
State, who would do his bidding and his dirty
work and men who abhorred him, would fawn,
and cringe, and hurrah for Lane, for the hope of
some of the crumbs of corruption that he scat
tered broadcast. the same rs men to-day, who
detest prohibition, follow and sniyel after St.
John, for tine sake Of riding on the popular tide.
Lane went ON in this course until he became dis
gusted with himself, and blew his own brains
out. And now but few of his servile lickspits
would come forward TO defend his memory. To-
day We find most of the men who stood ont
against Lane, striving against the epidemic of
st. Johnism; and, curiously enough, a large ma
jority of those who halOOed loudest and longest
for Lane, are now doing the same service for st.
John. The time is coming when he will break
his own neck by his antics If he wants to know
what amount of respect will be paid to his meul-
ory, let him study the history of Lane. The peo-
pie will be snuffing the air for another hnmbug
to run crazy after.
Yes, the older settlers in Kansas have been
there before