Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-07
CHAPTER II.
Slightly Historical.


Slightly Historical.
Who was McGinty? History is quite
reticent on this point but where the re-
cords fail imagination steps in and sup
plies the deficiency to the end that no
missing links of any Importance shall
be found wanting.
Daniel McGinty was born on the ould
sod about the year 1850. His parents
were poor but independent both of which
qualities he inherited or, at least possess
ed and there was no necessity for his
stealing them. His early education was
sadly deficient, if viewed from the stand
point of enlightened citizenship, and was
acquired by few weeks attendance at
parochial school. Here he imbibed a
catechetical knowledge of the saints and
other things equally conducive to pat
riotism and very useful to all persons who
are expected to earn living, promote
fellowship and support the theory of the
common brotherhood of man. Not the
least valued of his accomplishments was
his ready ability to accept in faith and
confidence any and all doctrine, both
church and secular, upon the simple re-
commentator or even hint from the
holy and infallible father. Endowed with
this literally contracted preparation for
the duties of useful life and citizenship it
was eminently fitting that he should en-
igrate to the land of the free and the re-
fuge of the off-scourings, which he did,
arriving here at the age of twenty or
twenty-one just on the eve of great
election. He soon formed the acquain-
tance of some public spirited gentlemen
(they had other spirits with tbem) who
advised him to stake out papers," There
fore he declared his intentions, knowing
full we'll that it would meet with the
hearty endorsement of his ecclesiastical
authorities who were the only authorities
he acknowledged in land to which he
felt bound by no ties whatever except a
possible feeling of gratitude for the priv
lege of getting on in the world. Accord.
ingly he became full fledged citizen en-
dowed with all the priVili ges and duties
of that high and responsible position. AL
this was conferred upon him despite the
fact that he could not have distinguished
the flag of his adopted country from the
bunting of a Chinese pirate. He was
thus made joint heir and co-equal with
the natural children of this paternal gov
eminent although he had never read the
constitution and did not even know that
we have such an instrument. In this re
spect he was little better than most o.
his fellow emigrants. He could read il
and could speak our language fairly vel
while nine-tenths of his companions could
do neither. But, unfortunately for US, hi
educators had never given him such
task owing to their great solicitude TO
his spiritual welfare and their sectariaT
success, and had not even given him al
inclination to study the fundamental Law
of the land much less competent know
ledge of it. 1t is an insult to the natura
citizens of our country that this condition
orphan of adoption still continues and i
fast becoming menace to the stabilit
OF our government. We need more strin
gent naturalization laws as well as nor
exclusive immigration. In nv opiniol
we need an educational test for CITIZENSHIP
and no person should become voter IN