The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-18
THE NEW KANSAS GOVERNOR.

(F'rom the New York Tribune.)
The new Populist governor of Kansas,
John w. Leedy, blew into office with the
whirl and sweep of a cyclone 10000 words
long. Opening with an expression of pro
found regret for the misfortunes of our
more pretentious sisters of the east
he proceeds to congratulate Kansas up
ION the many simple blessings that have
fallen to US in these adverse times one
of which very clearly in his own judg-
are that the savings institutions of Kan
sas give gratifying evidences of stability,
institutions brings the sad calamity to
the chief capitals, whose misfortunes
''clamor for aims in the streets of the
crowded cities are many, those who seek
are few; and that while the children in
the nations most popular metropolis
are untaught, unfed and unhoused, Kan
sas hnds ample houseroom and .school
room for every Kansas child. This is a
very cheerful picture, painted by Leedy
from the late Campaign. The older states,
while feeling deeply grateful for the sym
pathy and commiseratiOn of Kansas, will
no doubt unite most cordially in Leedy's
congratulations to the people of that
happiness and prosperity. Nothing gives
the more pretentious sisters of the east
greater qualification that to be witnesses
of the contented and prosperous condi-
ton of their most modest and utterly I'M
pretentious sisters in the west.
This being the true state of the case we
notice with some surprise not unmixed
with pain that Governor Leedy, who has
takes occasion to administer what is for
Kansas gentle and digniied reproof of
cage for. their ''puny and presumptouss
criticism of Kansas. with cheerful
.'audacity that almost challenges admira-
'tion' says the governor, Grub street
.scribblers on venal press, which pan.
"derS to the most vicious instincts of
''Semi-ciVilized foreign colonies like New
York city and Chicago, with semi-bar-
''baric squalor at the base of their So
'cial life, have puny and presumptous
criticism of those whose Shoestrings they
ARE not worthy to unloose." There are
few things in Kansas literature finer
than this. And he clinches it with the re-
mark, not entirely, irrelevant, though
Kansas is nOt-aS a state at least-any-
where near five thousand years old and
has no pyramids to speak of: The dogs
''Of Egypt have barked at the pyramids
unanswered for five thousand years.
AS a matter of fact, we suppose the dogs
have not really expected answer; if
they had they would have barked the
sphinx instead of the pyramids, though
the same, the figure is very striking Few
public documents have ever contained
anything like it. We commend it to the
attention of Professor VrOOman. of Par
sons, Kan, who is drilling the ''crude tall
ent'' of the state in stump-Speaking, as an
uncommonly good piece on which to ex-
ercise.
At a time when Waite, of Colorado, fail
ing to free Cuba, has retired to private
life; when Altgeld, of Illinois, has been
shut off from speaking several thousand
words of farewell; when Pennoyer, of
Oregon, makes no demonstration except
when he returns to the treasury half his
salary mayor of Portland; when Stone,
of Missouri. has subsidized, and Mrs. Lease
has left the stump for the more quiet
platform, the advent of Leedy will be
hailed a boon to the whole nation. He
comes in with 10000 words and every in
dication of multitudinOus vocables yet in
stock. He says Kansas is a pillar of
cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.
She is indeed, especially the pillar OF
cloud.