The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-09
A REBEL TELLS Us
What the Rebels Think of Kansas-JOhn
Il. CrIsP's speech.

Il. CrisP's speech.
One of the best speakers that Tope-
ka audience has had the pleasure of lis
tening to recently was Fish Commission
er John I. Crisp of Missouri, who talked
to the assembled members of the state
board of agriculture for nearly an hour
this forenoon and made them believe
that 1t was only ten minutes and that
they didn't care for any dinner.
If Topeka man should meet Mr..
Crisp in the light of one of the city
street electric lights he would speak to
him and call him Pat Sherman, for two
men seldom look SO much alike unless it
is possible that Mr.. Crisp would wear
longer belt
Said Mr.. Crisp: ST would not have ac
cepted an invitation to speak before any
other people in the United States at this
time than Kansana
Il am acquainted with the Kansas
people. l met many of them during the
war which is now sometimes referred to
by politicians who were never in il.
81 was present at Fort Scott in your
state at one time and heard your lament
ed Senator Plumb deliver the finest
speech ever heprd delivered anywhere
by any man (Applause.) and have heard
all of them.
"Of course I am Democrat. I am
Missourian. Naughter.) was
kCOSA anu H6b WASA
have to can conscien tiously
make just as good G. A. r. speech as
anybody. l made one once in your Ar
kansas City, but l will admit that l was
scared to death when l started TO deliver
it before $4,000 members of the g. A. II.
81 feel acquainted with you though
perhaps you do not know me.
81 was your governor during the war,
though 1 don't suppose you ever heard OF
R,aI fl.ea
wheels then. us coufederates did.
"When We reorganized the southern
portion of the United States on our own
hook cast about me for something to
satisfy my political ambition with. l
was Il good looking young fellow of 81
or % years then, and l concluded that l
would like to be governor of Kansas. So
fifteen or sixteen of us got together and
told them my ambition, and was elected
unanimously.
During my term l came up to Kan
sas once with a lieutenant to get ac-
quainted with my subjects, blu. the re-
ception | got was not exactly what | had
hoped for, and | was compelled to go
away without having made the announce
ment that l was governor-governor on
wheels, or rather on horseback, for we
didn't have bicycles then If we had
had bicycles then we would have moved
faster sometimes, perhaps"
Mf. Crisp continued: "The wealth of
the world is growing. And nobody
knows it any better than England does.
Laughter But there is one thing
England can do and I will forgive her.
If she will just keep the idiots that go
over there from this country TO spend
their American made money l will be
willing to let her have slice of Vene
zueIa if she wants it. l have small use,
too, for our heiresses who prefer a Brit
ish title that isn't worth a cent to the
manliness of the American prod
uct. [Applause.]
"Any political party that will sell out
to any foreign combination to get tenn
porary possession of the coantry in a
political way must and will be damned
loud APPLAUSE >
"The first thing I heard of the Yankee
in Kansas was that he had a Bible and
Sharpe's rife. l thought it was a very
good com biuation.
81 have always liked Kansas. When I see
we learn largely by Illus
tration. You know better now how
brainy were the represe ntatiyes you had
before. Kansas has been first in every
thing. She needs no eloquence to de-
scribe her deeds. When you elected
Harris, an ex-confederate
soldier, 1 was not surprised. 1t was just
like Kansas. 1t was a deed that needed
no oratory or eloquence. 1t spoke for
itself 1t spoke for Kansas. 1t was d.
rect Offering of peace.
81 am not pandering to you I am
known where l live as blunt man.
am simply telling you what Missouri
thinks of you. l believe if it was left to
a vote of Kansas City the Kansas line
would be made at the Blue river instead
of at the Missouri river and Kansas City
would be moved over in Kansas as it
it belongs.
81 believe that the Kansas farmer in
congress would make Il better legislator
than many who are slipping in now.
Voice, Thank you.'")