Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-06-09

|ly true of the particular class Of build
ings, of which that whose corner stone VI
have this day placed in its proper posi-
ton. is one. The court houses tn,
buildings of this class are almost univer
sally deeignated--is one of the late
products of the science of architecture
Laws and law courts are the creatures O
the advanced civilization of the more re
cent periods. Primeval laws, when writ
ten at all, were very brief and simple
and their administration and execution
were quite as much SO. The enforcement
and generally the making of laws, wer'
the prerogativee of one man, as monarch
king, prince, chief, or absolute ruler Of
some name over nation, principally Of
tribe, as the case might be. The power
of these rulers, over both life and proper
ty, was usually unlimited; they could en-
act, change, and repeal laws at pleasure
they could make laws to suit themselves
and summarily execute them to CRAFTY
their whims; and If any one of them
chose to hang, decapitate or strangle q
dozen or more of his subjects in the early
morning, just to give himself an appetite
for his breakfast, the victims were OK.
pected to duly appreciate the high dis.
tinction, and no one dared criticise OF
call in question the rightfulness of the
act.
But these good old times of primeval
simplicity have passed away. The one
man power over life and property is no
longer anywhere, even among half-civil-
lied peoples, recognized or submitted to.
Laws in the main just and equitable, and
applicable alike to high and low, rich
and poor, have been enacted in all civil
lied countries, for the protection of life
and property, the preservation of peace
and order in the community, and the ad-
justment of business differences between
citizens; and courts have been instituted
for the purpose of administering and exc
cutting these laws. To these laws and
these courts the vilest criminal and the
humblest citizen may appeal for protec-
ton and for justice, Though justice is
sometimes just the thing they are not
anxious to receive.) and they have the
right to expect fair trial before Judge
they perhaps assisted to elect, and before
jury of their equals. In our country,
each county is entitled to a court of this
character; and for the accommodation
thereof also for affording a proper
repository for the county records, and
convenient offices for the transaction of
county business, county court houses
became a necessity; and hence the erec-
ton of the building whose corner stone
we have laid this day. When Indiana,
Illinois and Missouri were our frontier,
the county court houses were simply
large-sized log cabins. But we of the
western Kansas frontier are more preten-
tious. I think very few new counties
will be able to show larger, handsomer
or better county building than ours is de-
signed to be-
This is a proud day for Wa-Keeney
and for Trego county, and may well be
regarded as an epoch in our history.
Hereafter, the day on which this corner
stone was laid should be local anniversa-
ry among us and our descendants and sue
cessors. Although the funds necessary
for the erection of this edifice have not
been contributed by subscription in the
ordinary significance of the term, the
method is practically the same. With q
full and perfect knowledge and under
standing of what they were doing, the
people of Trego county, prompted by q
spirit of enterprise which has ever been q
characteristic of Kansans everywhere,
voted a tax upon themselves and their
property in order to provide the required
nifcent structure that is destined to be-
come and remain an ornament to our city
and county, and an honor to the public
spirited people who have voluntarily and
freely provided for the requisite outlay.
Since the organization of our county,
nine years ago, our people have acted
wisely, or have been fortunate, or both,
in the selection of managing officers.
Difficult as it is we'll known to be to har-
monte those two conditions, the affairs
of our county have been uniformly con-
Quoted in method and spirit of both en-
terprise and economy. We have paid our
way, we have maintained our self-respect
and commanded the respect of our sister
municipalities; and now, when I 90
among my Eastern friends, as I occa-
sionally do, who often inquire of me
touching the status and condition of
things in the coyote region, my heart
swells with pardonable pride when say
to them: ''Trego county is free from debt,
and her warrants are worth one hundred
cents on the dollar" The statement is
always received by them with astonish-
ment, and sometimes, I have to admit,
cum grano sails. But you know that it is
true.
We have right to expect that the
same judicious management of the affairs
of our county that has brought us to our
present gratifying condition of prosper
ity, will continue in the future. You
will continue to select and elect efficient
and competent men to fill our county Of
ices-we have plenty such among us
who will occupy the grand building you
are now erecting, and who will be
prompted by their surroundings to q still
wiser and better-if possible-manage-
ment of our county finances, in order
that the payment of the bonds you have
voted for the erection of this building
may not be burdensome. And the bonds
will be promptly paid. Silently and quiz
etly-as our nation ten years ago resumed
specie payment without q jar or ripple
that in any manner or to any extent at
fected the financial welfare or business
interests OF the country or the people