The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-07
INGALLS, ON THE SITUATION.

Senator ingalls, in his address at the
Old Soldiers reunion at FL Dorado'
dav before yesterday. dwelt at some
length upon the doctrine so strenuous
" urged by the Eagle. He opened out
by saving. Il hope my friend Murdoch
will prove to be a prophet not without
honor in his own country. The history
of this race" continued he, ''if l have
read its annals Alright, has been an in
cessant and bloody struggle for per-
sonal liberty. Dynasties have been
overthrOwn, tyrantS have been led
to the block and beheaded, not for
conquest. not for wealth, not for ambi-
/ ton. not for prosperity, happiness or
| contentment. but that man might be
/ free. The artificial distinctions of race
/ have been contested for centuries until
in this country we have reached con-
dition where individual freedom is the
fundamental law Of the republic, and
the will Of the majority is the su-
preme law OF the commonwealth. Gov
ernor Morrill, was harshly censured a
few weeks ago because he ventured to
saw that no law could be enforced in
this country unless it was supported
by public opinion.
81 have to say" resumed Mr.. ingalls,.
"although he was harshly criticized
for that statement, that his utterance
was absolutely, fundamentally true.
There is no statute, no enactment, no
constitutional provision in this state
or in this country that can be enforceS
or maintained unless it is sustained by
public opinion. The organic law Of the
state Of Kansas is the deliberate pur-
pose Of a majority Of the people. The
organic law of the United States is the
deliberate purpose Of a majority of its
citizens. The government of the state
Of Kansas is not in Topeka. The gov
eminent Of the United States is not in
Washington. e. n. Morrill, is not our
ruler; we are his ruler. President
Grover Cleveland is not our ruler; we
are his ruler. He is our high servant,
representative and minister, to carry
out the demands of a majority Of the
people. And if he fails to do that we
will find some way to find some person
who will do it. 1 am here tonight to
speak to you Of the duties Of the vet
Grams Of the Union armies and the sons
Of veterans and the citizens Of the re-
public in their various capacities upon
questions and problems of the present
and future.
"a quarter of century ago there
was, upon the statute books Of this
country, law known as the fugitive
slave law. 1t was enacted by a sub
servient president supported by plant
senate and house of representatives
and declared to be constitutional by a
subservient supreme court whose chief
justice declared that the black man
had no rights which the white man
was bound to respect. The law could
not be enforced because 1t was opposed
by an intelligent patriotic public
opinion.
Thomas Jefferson had no right to
pay Napoleon Bonaparte S15.OO0,0O0
for Louisiana, but public opinion in
dorSed the act There was no legal
objection to the president returning
to the southern states and regiments
from which they were captured, their
regimental standards He tried to
do it. but an enlightened public opin-
ion said drop those flags; don't You
do that act;' and they were returned
to the cases from which they We're
taken. address you, therefore, to-
night ladies and gentlemen, as the
organs Of public opinion"