The advocate., 1895-01-16
Gov. MORRILL'S MESSAGE.
(DeliYered January rs, 1S95.l }

think 1t may not be deemed Inappropriate
to say to you that while appreciate the high
honor conferred upon me by the people Of
Kansas In selecting me as the chief executive
Of the state for the coming two years, am not
unmindful Of the grave responsibilities that
will deVolVe upon me, and I should
hardly have courage to undertake them
did not feel that IN every honest
effort I may make to give to the people
Of the state good government shall have your
hearty and undivided support A third Of q
century has passed since Kansas was admitted
into the union, and you meet In this session
under conditions strikingly In contrast with
those that presented themselves to tho hrBt
state Legislature Of Kansas. There has BEEN Q
wonderful increase in wealth and population, o
wholly changed condition OF things, demand
ing an entirely different consideration Of
affairs. You will pardon me II remind you
that weighty responsibilities rest on you, and
upon your action will largely depend the sue
cess Of the present administration.
l am not aware that there Is any demand
from the people for radical change In the
laws, but they do ask for relief from excessive
taxation; that the expenses Of the state shall
be reduced to the lowest possible point con-
sistent with q wise and economical sdminis-
tration of the state government Owing to the
financial panic through which the country has
passed during the last years, in some respects
the seVerest that has ever been known, and
the partial failure Of crops for the Same period,
there has been a serious depression in values
and decreased demand for labor, which rom
derS our burdens far more oppressive than
they would be In years Of prosperity. It
should be source Of hearty Congratulation to
all that Kansas has passed through the terri
BILE crisis with so few failures, and so little TO
discourage citizens.
While legislative enactments are important
In opening the channels Of trade, In stimulating
industries, in protecting the individual In his
life and property and his right to pursue hap
piness according to his own judgment, there
are laws Of trade which will control business
and which cannot be repealed by any statute
Of any legislative body. The waters OF the
river, obeying the law of graVitation, will
flow to the sea- and while the building of dams
or putting in distractions may retard the cur
rent, it will not change its course, nor can it
stop it's flow Wise legislation would provide
for the removal of the driftwood and snags In
order to accelerate the current. So industry
and economy wisely directed will always find
their reward in measure, regardless Of what
human laws may decree Still it Is recog-
nized fact that legislation may disturb and re-
strict trade
Foreign Markets.
And in this connection desire to call your
attention to one branch OF the trade Of this
country that especially interests our people,
and that is the increased demand for our farm
products from foreign market For several
years steady and determined EFFORT was made
to open up the markets Of the old country to
some Of the products in which Kansas eXcels,
especially Indian corn, beef and pork. Under
Is-t,A ~ mia osvi11 1aEf
prejudice and cupidity were gradually yielding
and our exports of these products were becom-
ing an important factor Of great value to our
people, and gave promise Of an increased de-
mand for the articles in producing which Kan
sas can lead the world. But the present con-
gress has, in my judgment, by ill-adVised and
crude legislation, assumed to dictate to foreign
nations their internal policy Of protection to
their home industries by discriminating duties
on sugar imported from countries having export
duties on that article. This has led to active
retaliation on the part of those countries, and
all the nations Of central Europe have become
commercially estranged from our country, and
are taking sctiVe,and what prove to be e1iec-
tive, measures to prevent the importation OF
our meats, justifying themselves by o revival
OF the exploded and senseless claim that our
meat ANIMALS are diseased. The repeal OF the
reciprocity provisions Of our tariff laws has
caused Spain and other countries to make
most unjust discrimination against the tmpor-
tation Of our farm products. To relieve US Of
this embarrassment by the removal OF this en-
bargo and to restore US to condition where
we can increase to its utmost limit the eXpor-
tation Of those articles which are our main
support, Is matter Of universal concern to the
people Of Kansas. I would therefore urge the
the passage Of q concurrent resolution by your
honorable bodies, instructing our senators and
requesting our representatives in congress, to
introduce and work for the passage OF the most
effective remedial legislation in this regard.
Constitutional Convention.
When the present constitution was adopted,
o large portion Of the state was an unorganized
waste Only 1926 persons voted for its adop-