The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-07
WICHITA IN TOPEKA.

| pehd with tne OlueT poliuClduS anu
political preachers on the Fourth of
July, when and where he joined with
| them in celebrating the Day by air.
| ing himself. Brother Colt is bright
young man, and promising, but if he
| don't know more when he gets older
he will prodigy. IfBrother
Colt is correctly reported he attempted
| a little cheap reputation by whaling
into the chief executive of the state, by
rounding up Wichita, and by waving
aloft in his peculiar style, that banner
of strange device, Excelsior" Gov
ernt' Morrill, and the balance of the
state will have TO take care of them
selves, but the Eagle is here to defend
Wichita, and we have to say to Brother
Colt and in all Kindness that when he
opened out in Topeka with an implied
menace of military suppression, in con-
nection with Wichita'S municipal af-
fairs, he didn't know what he was talk
ing about. Before he goes any farther
on that line we would beg leave to re-
specially and most earnestly suggest
few thoughts, among them the fact
that Brother Colt is entirely ignorant
of the municipal condition Of Wichita
and of What, the burthen of taxation
means. There have been homes lost
and business properties confiScated by
municipal taxes in this city, Brother
Colt. One Of the brightest spirits and
purest men Of this city, the father of
large family, died few weeks ago,
it is said from worry over taxes he could
not meet Another thing or two,
Brother Colt: Wichita people, in addi-
ton TO their paving-taxes, sewer taxes,
water-taxes, and all their other munich
pal taxes have their school taxes to
meet, and their churches and minis
ters TO support; for Wichita has always
been noted for her kindness to her min
listers and for the liberal support of
her churches. The first two churches
built in this city were built not by the
money of their members, but by the
fellows largely whom Brother Colt pro-
poses to march against with the militia
of the state. This class and element
have helped to build all the churches
and parSonages Of Wichita. What does
Brother Colt, who goes off 1c0 miles,
on Independence Day, to city rotten
in its whiskey trade, to criticize Wich-
tia, know about Wichita or her affairs?
We answer absolutely nothing. Our
Brother came from Missouri here, from
that modern Sodom and Sin-Soaked
commercial parasite, whose very name
was stolen from our state. He came
to beautiful home here for which he
did not pay, q home furnished with
modern cOnvenienceS and finished
throughout at no cost to himself. He
is not even asked to pay the taxes upon
it. He is not presumably annoyed with
the knowledge of the tax burthens of
his nearest neighborS upon either side.
If this be true by what authority, of
man or God, has Brother Colt for 60
ing off among our enemies who are no
better than We are, and leave the i'm
preston that Wichita is no better than
she ought to be. Brother Colt can sail
out from under the shadow of his
gourd and Jonah-like march up and
down the streets of this. his modern
Ninevah, denOuncing its people as
much as he likes, and we will stand it,
because we will have to, and will still
support him, his church and his par
sonage; but, it hurts to have him de-
nounce us TO those who have sought for
years to pull US down. Brother Colt
is not interested in Wichita beyond the
meeting Of the next or the next con-
ference. Materially, so far as he is
concerned, it may so up or down. He
will be off for the best place Offering,
in response to the highest bid and the
biggest pressure that will be made on
his bishop for his talents. 1t may be
to Topeka itself, or to some whiskey
city beyond the limits of the state But
he should not forget that the majority
of us have got to stay right here in
the interest of our children, 10 save and
sustain Is. best we can, stay right here
and pay our municipal debts. keep up
orr taxes, support our churches and
schools; and, as We have been as kind
TO him as We could under our straight
ened circumstances, he ought To be
willing that we should be granted a
chance 10 live, and mayhap prosper,
long after he has forgotten us. He
may find n better town and a better
people, and we hope he may, but in
shaking our dust from off his shoes
he might refrain from mixing such dust
proving 4 jest and jeer for the ''holier
than thou element roosting around the
denS and clubs and drugstore hotels Of
Topeka remain burthen unto us.