Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-09-25

2IpSt pIOC6S5lOuS, Will udSS duU Dduuefs
and music and resounding hurrahs; the
marvellous interest, dwarfng and absorbing
all other concerns, and even paralyZing, for
months, the everyday business pursuits
and industries of the people-al these will
be wanting in the campaign of 1886. And
yet the interests involved in the election
that will be held in November next are as
nomentous, and the issues depending on its
result are quite as important to the state as
as were the interests and issues depending
upon the result at the baliot-boX in 1884.
The one officer who was to be elected then,
and is not to be chosen now, was the presi-
dent. We are to choose, in November next,
n1 We Old two years ago, d Iul1 board of
state officers, seven congressman, q state
Legislature, judge of the supreme court,
and nearly half of our county officers. We
are to elect men who will make our laws,
national and state, as well as men who will
execute our state laws. And as good local
citizen far more than do the acts of the
president, because it touches each and
every citizen more directly, it has always
seemed to me that the people, if they have
q proper regard for their own interests,
ought to regard the "of year" elections
with quite as deep interest, if not more anx-
ious solicitude, than they do the choice of a
president.
DEMOCRACY IN KANSAS.
great party, honored by its confidence and
and proud to bear its standard, to ask you
IN its name for your support. have been
citizen of this state for nearly thirty years.
L came here boy of 18, when Kansas was q
poor, weak, distracted territory, rent and
torn by civil war, invaded by hordes of ruff
3ans and marauders, and suffering under all
the evils of the worst government that ever
harrassed and oppressed free people. For
more than two years this intolerable lawless-
ness had prevailed-for nearly three years
longer it continued; and the party that con-
fronts us to- day, and is asking your support,
is the same party that, FROM 1854 to 1861,
xnd murder, and arson, and turbulence, and
every crime that ever disgraced humanity,
endeavored to fasten upon it the curse of
human slavery.
Beaten in its attempts to enslave Kansas,
the democratic party plunged the whole
country into civil war, and for four long and
bloody years the nation struggled on to uni
Eersal freedom and national unity, and this
young state, that had been fighting for five
years to get into the union, now had to fight
for four years more to preserve the union.
Republicanism and Kansas were welded to-
gether in this long and terrible struggle.
When Jefferson Davis marched out of the
senate, William II. Seward moved to take
mp the Kansas bill, and as the coat tails of
the rebel chief disappeared through one
door, young Kansas. smiling and trium-
plant, marched in at the other.
REPUBLICAN CONTROL IN KANSAS
For twenty four years the republican party
controlled the government Of the republic,
and from that day to this the republican
party has moulded, directed and controlled
the affairs and estiny of Kansas. Has the
trust reposed in the republican party by the
people of this state been misplaced or be-
i,,if L.
ment wisely and humanely? Has it justified,
by its conduct, the reasonable expectations
S1f an intelligent people? Has it enacted
wise law? Has it honestly collected and
disbursed the public revenues? Has it main
tanned peace? Has it made liberal pro-
visions for the education of our youth? Has
1T fostered institutions for the care and
maintenance of the unfortunate? Has it re-
membered that the only liberty that is
valuable is liberty founded on Just laws aud
connected with public order? Has it allied
ss0manity with justice? Has its rule pro-
NOTED enterprise, fostered agriculture, en-
'couraged industry, and nourished commerce?
Has it endeavored to further morality, to
promote sobriety, to- suppress vice, to
and to curb and scourge lawlessness?
Has it, in brief, in the dis
charge Of its public trusts, made
chis state great, prosperous, Intelligent,
9H.-espectlng commonwealth, in which
every citizen enjoys the largest possible lib
erty consistent with social order and a due
regard for the rights of his fellow men? If
these questions can be answered in the
affirmative, the republican party has just
right to expect that the people of Kansas
~nl continue to give it their confidence and
support.
What, then, are the facts? Kansas cele-
grated only a few months ago, the first
Sc -
During all that period, as have said, the
republican party has controlled its destin-
les and administered its government. The
aecyental break in the governorship, four
Years ago, does not modify this assertion,
for the legislature was, during that period,
republican by an overwhelming majority, all
She other state officers were republicans,
and the local governments of the state were,
as a rule, of similar faith. The republicans,
therefore, controlled public affairs just as
certainly and as firmly, during the years
1852 and 1885, as they did before and have
since.
THE GROWTH OF KANSAS UNDER REPUBLICAN,
RULE.
What, then, has been the history of Kan
sAs under republican ruler It's growth is
without parallel in the history of American
states. In 1860 Kansas had q population of
only 1O7, 0O6, and ranked as the thirty-third
il fully !, 800 900, and Kansas ranks a. the
fourteenth state. During the past quarter
of q century Kansas has passed ahead Of all
the northern states except eight, and Of all
the southern states except five. All tho
other great states of the Union were from
fifty to hundred years in attaining the
population Kansas has reached in thirty
yeats. In 1850 We had only three towns
With population exceeding 1000; We have
now over one hundred, each having q popu.
lation in excess of 1000; twelve having each
over 5000, and four with over 1900 inhabi-
fants
Twenty-Five year ago We produced only
5000 600 bushels of corn and l94 900 bushels
of wheat per annum; last year We produced
194 000, 600 bushels of corn and Loo, 600
bushels of wheat. In 1860 the farm crops of
Kansas were valued at less than $50, 200. In
year their value exceeded $4,000, 600. In
1850 the farm products Of Kansas,
including crops, products of live
stock, etc., were valued at less than $1,000
600; in 1855 their value was nearly Sl44..
100000. In 1860 less than 10000 acres were
under CIVILIZATIONS; last year the area was
nearly 1900, 900 acres. In 1860 only Its
40G acres were taxable; in 1856, over 27,7lO.-
900 acres. In 1850 the live stock of Kansas
was valued at less than So, 0O0, 600: in 1885 the
valuation reached nearly Sis, 100000 The
value of the farm products of Kansas, for