Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1889-05-23
GRAFTON.


Kelly Opera House, Friday evening May 18th,
1881
In all ages patriotism has been regard
ed as one of the noblest traits of human
nature; il has distinguished the greatest
men, whose names adorn the pages of
history; it has characterized and to an EN-
inent degree, those nations, whether of
ancient or modern times. which have
been most celebrated for humanity and
civilization.
Wherever exalted patriotism exists will
be found high-mindedness, magnanimity
and courage. Indeed patriotism is the
resultant of these qualities of mind and
heart.
Among ancient nations Greece stood
pre-eminent for patriotism. Among mod
ern nations the United States of
America stands confessedly first
Among the several states of this union,
there is not one whose patriotism does
not shine with the resplendence of star,
but there is difference in the brilliancy
of the celestial lights, and without insti
tuting invidous comparisons. there may
be found different degrees of patriotism
as exhibited by the several states. If So
where can higher be found than in the
Sun Flower" state. Men can show nc
stronger manifestations of patriotism
than by voluntarily imperilling their live!
in their cOuntry's cause. When the
black night of civil war settled like 6
pail upon this glorious republic, which
state furnished the largest quota of men
in proportion to her population, for the
protection of the stars and stripes and
the preservation of the union?
1t was Kansas.
1t is matter of history that this state
furnished more soldiers for the suppress
sion of the rebellion than she had voter.
at the time of the breaking out of the
war
! The contingent of troops furnished by
Kansas was not only large, but valorous
Her heroic sons first and last in skirm
ishes and battles. bravely met the enemy
| in more than hundred conflicts.
If the patriotism of Kansans has beer
manifested on the field of battle. it hal
not been less strongly shown by her son!
and daughters in the civil walks of peace
From the commencement of her exist
ance to the present time. our state ha.
been the pioneer in progressive legisla
ton. Party differences and contentious
have not divided the unanimIty of he
people on questions of social, moral ant
political advancement.
This has been due not only to thei
patriotism, but to that other character
istic for which KansaDs are equally notet
their lofty intelligence. Indeed thes'
are concomitant virtues, and are alwsyl
found hand in hand
A stranger, upon visiting our state
will find that education is not only gen
eral, but of high order. Upon investi
CATION he will discover that great atten
ton 10 paid to learning in Kansas, ant
that a system of common schools exist!
here inferior to none other in Chrlsten
dom; system which makes an education
thorough, comprehensive, extendin.
to the sciences and languages if desired
within the reach of all the youth of thi
great commonwealth, however humble OF
poor they may be. Our schools are free
For those who desire to persue thei
studies beyond the liberal limit of tn,
common schools, the state has established
a university which ranks with the best o.
its kind in the great west; where at ,
nominal cost. the aspiring student may
persue his linguistic, scientific and phi
| losophical studies under the instruction
of the ablest masters.
Other colleges also of a high order ART
numerous throughout the state. The effec
of the instructions given by our schools
and colleges is reflected by the intelli
gence and information of the masses Of
the people. The people of no other state
excel our own in the qualities of industry
honesty, common sense, even-handed jus
tice, liberality of opinion and advanced
ideas.
1t is the pride of Kansans that they
keep abreast of the best thought of theil
time, which thought is largely evolved
by themselves. Such people in state
with the natural resources of Kansas,
cannot but prosper, and they do prosper.
Behold our empire covering an area of
more than SO, 900 square miles. greater in
size than Pennsylvania. Delaware, New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
Vermont combined; one third as large as
the Austrian empire, and much more
than third as large as France or the
German empire; larger than Holland,
Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and
Greece combined; larger than England
and Scotland. which contains popula-
ton Of q, 900, 900. Not only is Kansas
larger than those respective countries,
but she is capable OF maintaining more
people to the square mile than any of
them; for her soil is uniformly produc-
tive and very fertile.
Kansas. though young in years, al
ready produces more corn than any 9TH
er state. She raises more hogs and cat
tie. She yearly builds more miles of
railroad and breaks more virgin sod.
The states of the east are old and crafty;
Kansas is young and robust; the former
repOse in the noon tide of their splendor;
the latter wakes strong in the sunlight
of her morning.
In population. enterprise, wealth and
prosperity, Kansas is the leader and the
wonder among the new states: her people