The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-09-06
EASTERN EALLACLEs.

EASTERN FALLACLES.
The Kansas City Times Is just now
doing yeoman service IL defense Of the
commonwealth Of Missouri, which, II
seems, has been cruelty mAlIgned by the
eastern press 10 Connection with the
trial Of Col. --.sak James, at GAllAtin,
for mlsdemeaEore which have invested
that gentleman's name with notoriety
as Wide-rsaching - 1t 10 unsavory. In
addressing itself 70 this labor Of love,
the Times has taken occasion TO dlFeot
attention 10 the conspicuous mental
density which characterizes the editor
ial treatment Of matters pertaining 10 the
west by the metropolitan Journals q the
Atlantic seaboard, and intimAtes that
their knowledge OF the subjects which
they assume to discuss with such efful-
gence might be greatly augmented by
very moderate measure Of research, in
winch At least cursory review of the
Biographies employed in our common
schools should not be omitted.
without entering into q discussion Of
the engaging theme Of Missouri ciViliza-
tlon. We avail ourselves OF this Opportun-
ity OF saying that, a. a general propOsi-
ton, We regard the position ofthe Times
a. well taken and thoroughly tenable.
With ali the facilities for the dissemins-
ton Of intellieence which Is ahoSded 10
this 'AuGustan era of newspapers and
telegraph lines. the fact remains that .
large proportion OF the people of the
New England and Middle states enter
tain about as intelligent an idea regard
ing the west ~ Texas cowboy does of
the Concord school of philosophy. The
evidences Of this condition Of affairs are
abundant and convincing. We could not,
without reference to an illustrated edl.
ton Of DAnte's InfernO-which, by the
way, - not At hand-give form and out
line TO the conception Which scores and
hundreds Of the denlZens Of such pol
ished centers Is Boston and New York
entertain of Kansas City, . town devoted
70 the worship Of the muses. and whose
only departure from the purest estheti-
cism IL In the direction OF her pork
hOuses, which are employed simply as q
means In promoting the ends of more
generous culture.
The mental processes stimulated by the
salt breezes Of the Atlantic, yield readi-
ly 20 the Impression that St. Louis 10
the terminus instead Of the point of be-
ginning, OF civilization, and there is no
uncomfortable number OF college bred
young men In the eastern states who are
90 thoroughly persuaded Of the free-for-
all character Of the business methods OF
the west that they would take the
chances any time of journey on loot
through Spain In preference to crossing
MIssouTi on the cars. In the minds of
these theoretical Americans the James
boys stand - the type of the civilization
OF their section, and the fact that Mis-
sour ls traversed by almost half score
Of the greatest railroad thoFoughfares of
the c0ntlnent, whOse lines are beaded
with populous and thriving cities al
most within sight Of each other, cannot
disAbuse their minds of the conviction
that the state Ii given over TO q system
Of red handed brlgandage which is .
perpetual menace 20 life and property.
The prevalent idea Of Kansas through
ont the orient, while different in kind,
Il equally % erroneous ~ that COM
planned Of by the Times IN connection
with MiAsouri. In the eastern mind
this state Il IndissOlubly associated with
plentiful lack of rain and an unfalling
abundance Of grasshoppers and wind.
The windows OF heaven might be opened
on this commonwealth for forty days and
nights. and yet the conviction would
abide with many people who have new
CT been within thousand miles of our
borders that We are always suffering
from dry weather. We don't suppose
the grasshoppers have consumed, all
told, enough corn In the state since 1850
20 feed horse one winter; and yet this
insect is as much part of Kansas, 80
far as the public mind is concerned, as
her politicians. This year, while other
parts OF the country have been desolated
by tornadoes, Kansas has enjoyed al
most entire immunity from atmos-
pheric disturbances, and the same thing
was true OF last season. And yet, we
suppose there are comparatively few
persons living east of Ohio who
would think OF coming to this state dur
ing the summer season without taking
the precaution 70 bring along cyclone
hole.
The idea Of Kansas with people who
have meyer visited this commonwealth
par .akes largely Of the nature of an alb
straction. They entertain sort Of vague
conception Of the state in connection
possibly. with Dodge City and Hume
we'll, and IL il . matter Of rumor that
there are philAnthropic people in New
England who still impose upon them.
selves the religious obligation of send
ing certain number Of Bibles every
year to Wichita and their castoff cloth.
Ing TO NewtOn and LArned. The facti
which stand out prominently with thesS
people are that Kansas Il part of Whai
used To be called In the old geographies
the Great American Desert; that she hal
been the arena of strife for the pas,
twenty i've years in connection with
questions Of more or less importance Il
the interests of civilization; that despit'
her alkali spots there are 1000, 900 PEG
pie who are struggling for existence or
her soil. but of the height and breadth
OF her achievements they have a. imper
feet an idea - "a blind man has OF thu
sun.
We invite our eastern brethren, anC
especially those OF the press, to COM
out and look over our big corn fields
aize up our fat steers, make . note o
our mammoth hogs, glance their eye
over our haY-helds. take II
our churches and school,houseI
and then II they can tear themselve
away they will 60 home wiser and BET
tsr men. They win incur no risk Il
crossing Missouri, and will not evel
haYe TO keep thsir hands on their pock
etbookb while changing cars At Kansa
City. Come out west and learn some
thing OF country which Is not only sur
plying food tor the nations, but which
likewise shaping the civilization Of tn
American republic.
New York TribHae; A correspond
ent OF the Tribune formerly cOnnecte
with the navy writes a. follows apprE
pos Of the recent cyclone In Minnesota
''Home years ago, when sailing anon
the West India Islands, our vessel &
t,uraa vrould Ia aurrnnndad hv ,vafa