Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-06

building at Iecompton, and, which ~ ~
expended for that purpose.
After Kansas became q state, one Of IL
first official acts.of Governor Robinson ~
to sell that capital building at public sne-
ton, and strange "a it may seem, % ittae
were capital buildings in demand at ~
particular season, that the net pr0ceods q
the sale only amounted to $216. 4uot0
from recollection, but think am correct
At Mineola, large and commodi0W
building was erected for capital purposes,
by private enterprise, and good hotels, for
the accommodation of members, Territorial
officers, and others.
for the purposes for which they were eRecssd.
The legislative assembly, which located tho
capital at Mineola, also provided for . con-
stitutional convention, to assemble at the
same place. It met, but refused to entertatn
any motion, or do any business, other than
organize, and adjourn to 1eavenworth.
where the constitution designated By that
name was framed.
The fate of both Lecompton and Mineola
as capitals was clearly discerned from the
beginning. The political revolution then
taking place sealed the fate of the former.
The latter-Mineola-w largely owned BY
the members of the assembly which located
the capital at that place. This savored too
much of the "job' to be tolerated by tho
ular Judgment upon so important matter
as the location of their capital. The people
became indignant. Their condemnation was
swift as the lightning and as destructive az
the cyclone. And the prospects of Mineols
becoming great city quickly
Melted into air, into thin air,
And left not a rack behind"
TIC show the feeling that was aroused upon
this subject, will state, that during the con-
sideration of the bill establishing the capital
at MineOla, in the council one of the mem.
ber5 opposed to the location said: II have
to say to the friends of this measure, that,
appropriating the language of Mr.. Webster,
the lightning has its power; the tempest has
its power; the earthquake has its power; but
there is something more powerful than the
lightning and the tempest and the earthquake
combined, and that Is public opinions; and
public opinion will brand this outrage as q
swindle; and its champions as swindlers."
"You are fattering yourselves" said he
"that you are locating a capital" SIT is .
mistake. 1t will prove to be simply grave
yard, in which every member who votes for
this bill will be politically buried"
The prediction was almost literally full
filled, for but few of those who voted for the
"Mineola swindle," as it was afterwards
called, were ever again entrusted by the peo-
pie with public confidence, or public places.
This much. felt. was due to the cities Of
our early territorial days. To the cities "that
were, but are not" To the cities, to employ
the language of our spiritualistic friends,
which did not fnlly materialize; to the cities
of 81 and to the cities of 81.
Having said so much concerning the cities
of the past, what shall / say,
what can say, concerning the cities of the
present? What should / say? Or rather
why should say anything concerning them?
Are they not all there to speak for them
selves? And, if they cannot speak, have
they not all got steadfast friends and stall
wart champions to speak for them? Aye,
and if needs be to fight for them. Has
their light at any time been placed under
bushel? Could any description of mine do
justice to our cities? Could l, by
painting, beautify the rose? "Behold,
then, and judge for yourselves"
There is Atchison and Leavenworth
and Wyandotte, and Lawrence, and Fort
Scott, and Ottawa, and Topeka, and Empo-
ria, and Wichita, and Manhattan, and juno
ton, and Salina, and Great Bend, and Hutch
inson, and Dodge and Garden City,
and hundred others, which would
exhaust both the poet and the painter,
as well as the historian, to portray them in
all their effulgent glories. What tho
jewels are to the crown! What the stars are to-
the armament, so are our cities to the broad
and splendid domain of our commonwealth.
And as the stars give life and light, and
beauty, and glory, and effulgence to the sky
above so do our cities give life, and light,
and beauty, and glory, and effulgence to the
earth beneath.