Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-09-07
A Fulfilled Prophecy.

At the Bismarck Old Settlers meet
ing on Wednesday, Col. John A. Mar
tin was introduced by Gov. Robinson
aud spoke as follows:
''On the Goth of September, 1860,
one of the greatest aud most honored
OF Americans, speaking of Lawrence,
in reply 10 an address by l.. w. Rob-
inson, said: 'lienccforth if nv conf
dence in the American waivers, shall
come here TO learn the Union is strong
or than human ambition, because it is
founded in the affections of the Amer
lean people, and if c'cr shall WAIVER
in my affection for freedom / shall
come up here and renew there un-
der the inspiration of 100000 freemen
saved from slavery. llenccforih these
shall not be my sentiments alone. but
the sentiments of all. Men will come
up to Kansas rs they go up TO Jerusa-
lem. This shall he "A sacred city. 1t is
appropriate, therefore, the old
settlers should come up here 10
this Mecca of the carly Free
State pilgrims, To renew their affection
for freedom, and to rejoice over the
iriumps won in her namc-here under
the inspiration, not of 100000 of
freenscn saved from slavery. The
fields, the churches, the school houses
to which Mr.. Seward referred in the
speech have quoted from, have been
multiplied hundred fold. have
little doubt that there is more money
invested in the churches and school
houses of Douglas county At the pres
ent time than in those of all Kansas in
1860. The products OF our market
gardens this year will exceed in value
NJ ihe farm products of the Territory
twenty-four years ago. The resi-
dences erected in Kansas during the
present year will exceed both in nuln-
Der aid value all the residences of the
Territory at the date of its admission.
We had not mile of railroad in The
state ut that time: now we have
nearly 5000 miles. irayersing near
~ every organized county, and
the capital invested la these railroads
probably exceeds the value of all the
real property Of the state AT the date
Of Mr.. Stewards visit. We pollcd
5,5l3 votes that year; we will poll
nearly, if not quite, 100000 this year.
All the live stock in the state AT the
date Of It's admission numbered less
than $50 900 head: this year we can
count up nearly 100000 farm ami
mails. The four most populous coun-
ties in the state now have more inhab-
tanis than the whole territory at the
date of its admission.
"With confident faith the old set
- Il latl lat 81
a commonwealth, and its majestic
growth has more than justified their
most sanguinc hopes. The develop
ment q the state has been no less
wonderful than its eventual history,
aud both have excited the interest and
admiration of the civilized world.
Il am said Mr. Seward, in 1880,
prepared to declare aud do de-
clare you people of Kansas the most
Intelligent, the bravest, the most virtu-
GUS people in The United States"
Whether tins tribute was or was not
deserved, il is certain that no state in
the union could then or can now claim
q drawer, a more intelligent or more
entcrprising and more liberty loving
or law respecting population. Nor
tic history or boast of more splendid
achievements than these who have |
made Kansas what she is to-day.
Here the struggle was commenced
while it grew and intensified and
spread untn the whole country was
onlieted in the Issue. Here the first !
ohOt ut slavery was fired, and here
100 miles long and 200 wide. blossom
ing with abundant harvests. dotted
with school houses and churches, |
and with l, 250, 600 of busy, prosperous
and Intelligent people, IS the old and
the new Kansas; the kunsas that light
ed up the future of our imaginations
in the dear old days of long ago: the
Kansas that fulfilling all the proud
hopes of these early days still holds
her regal place in the ewes of the ma
ton and of the world. The central |
state, the. Sunilower state and the
best of an The soldier states, number
iag shore the people representatives
of every sreginent that served
= he Union army. This is /
eAe state of love and aud of
growing always in intellectual force,
and into material wealth, never falling !
into ruts: never afraid or ashamed 10
to experiment and learn; never hest
tating to accept new responsibilities:
trying now to keep her home pure,
aud her Young manhood clear and
healthy as bravely rs in the old days.
She took up the banner of human
freedom where il was trailed in the
dust by the government raised it aloit /
and protected it. and bore il to success
and honor.