Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-31
MR.. KELLEY AT Fl, SMITH.
Kansas New Congressman Awakens In
dignation BY Referring to Justice.

| S"s-So %sOAO114ASo W St~St-COs
| FIT. SMITH, Ark, May 50.-The ladies Of
Fort Smith, both wives and daughters of
| federal and confederates, were out in large
numbers today laden with flowers with
| which, as usual, to decorate the graves of
| the dead who lie buried in our beautiful
national cemetery, irrespective of the side
on which they fought. Hon. Thomas H.
Barnes, prominent lawyer of this city,
was orator Of the day. He made patri-
otto speech, which was listened to with
pleasure and profit by large as
speaking, Hon. Mr.. Kelley, of Kansas,
stranger to the people here,
was introduced and probably no people
assembled on such an occasion amid such
surroundings and such fraternity of feel
ing, ever listened to such speech. Among
other things he seid in substance: The
state of Arkansas is in disrepute. Com
rades Benjamin and Clayton were assassi-
mated in this state because they were loyal
to the flag Of their country. The eyes of
the entire country are upon Arkansas.
He said his state legislature had
passed resolutions denouncing Arkansas
and calling on the national government to
protect its people, even if it had to put it
under martial law, and then continued:
Il am a congressman and, comrades, l
will see that you are protected if my infiu-
ence and power can affect il, even if we
have to resort to martial law"
The indignation and contempt of our cit
liens at the remarkable speech of Mr.. Kel-
ley eliminated in a large but spontaneous
meeting IN the court house at p. III.
1t was composed of both Republicans and
Democrats, and resolutions were reported
by committee composed of two Republi-
cans and one Democrat, two of whom were
federal soldiers and members of the Or. A
h. j. p. Grady, Republican and ex-federaI
soldier and a member OF the q. a. R., was
called to the chair when these resolutions
were adopted:
Whereas Hon. Mr.. Kelley. of Kansas,
an entire stranger, has this day disgraced
alike the Republican party and insulted
our people by desecratlng the graves of
our national dead in bitter partisan
speech, denouncing the people of Arkansas
as lawless people and incapable OF self
government and threatening,them with his
influence as member OF congress to put
the state under martial law;
Whereas, Mr.. Kelly has son living in
this city who is a part owner of the Re
publican paper of Fort Smith and who
knows, unless he is non compos mentis,
that such charges and insinuations are
false, and that the laws of Arkansas are
as rgidly enforced as any state of this
union, therefore, be it
Resolved That this meeting, composed
of Democrats and Republicans, denounce
the speech of Mr.. Kelley as not only false.
but upon such sacred occasion in
a taste thai could, it is to be
hoped, emanate from no part of the civil
lied country except from a state whose
legislature made such disgraceful show
of itself in the resolution of which Mr..
Kelley boosted so largely today.
Resolved, That we hereby tender Hon.
Thomas H. Barnes, of this city, a well
known Republican, our high appreciation
of his patriotic address and in which he
distinguished himself in contrast with
that of Mr.. Kelley.
[Signed.l THOMAS MERCUNE,
j. GRADY,
THOMAS d. LATHAM,
Committee