Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-21
Kansas and the East.

all o'ol Uno oVaIo IopuilsI papers
are publishing notices signed Com
mittee, calling on the people to meet
on Kansas Day, Jan. 20, for "exer.
cises," the nature Of which is not
openly stated. Everybody knows
what 1t means. 1t means that the
day is to be spent in "denouncing"
the East; it is to be dav of hurling
epithets at the "plutocrats" and cap
italists-it is to be what the Populists
call standing up for Kansas" but
which is really an exhibition Of parti-
san spite. Kansas cannot afford any
such nonsense and we hope this coun-
ty will not make any such exhibition
of foolishness. Just because lot Of
wild-eyed Populist theorists have
made the State ridiculous in the eyes
Of eastern people who have been at
tracted by their lingual pyrotechnics
is no reason why the Kansas people
should be silly.
Kansas does not wish to break with
the East-to many the scene of
youths dearest memories. Kansas is
very much child yet. Its politicians
may threaten and warn the East Of
the hatred that exists but in the
hearts Of the people there is a tie that
binds to the old home. Everything
is shack east when good and pleas
ant times are mentioned. The dream
of the settler is to 60 on visit to
those whom he loved and dwelt with
in the days Of youth.
The West is the child Of the East,
in fact as we'll as heart. Less than
half the adult population Of this prai-
rie state is native born the remain
der came from the states beyond the
Mississippi, and to them that region
seems flowing with milk and honey.
Talk with the settler for a moment
and you will hear him say something
about, "When | lived in the East"
On the walls of the cabin on the plains
is seen the pictures that were brought
in the trunks when the family came
west. They are of the old-time type
and have for everyone who has seen
the eastern farm home tender mes
sage. With these before their eyes
all the time can the westerner forget
the Eastp He hears the wind whistle
over the wide plains and thinks: 81
wish were back among the Maine
hills or the lakes of New York, where
there is not this terrible howl OF the
lost storms wandering over the prai-
rie." There are no strangers out on
tie plains-all are children Of the
great mother whose teeming acres
have, sent so many brave men and
women to build up the domains Of
the level lands. And as they build
they dream. Their dreams are Of
gabled roofs and wide-spreading
naples and ash, Of quaint corners in
the pastures and wide reaches Of gray
sea. They can almost feel the salt
air as 1t rushes upon them just from
race across unnumbered miles Of
water. Then they wake and look
upon that other sea Of sod around,
with its breezes dry and enervating
and they sigh for home.
Never was more arrant nonsense
preached than antagonism between
East and West. Can the mother dis
own her child or the offspring forget
the nursing Of other days and learn to
hate the land that is the mausoleum
Of bis foreiathersP Hatred will never
come so long as the settler talks in
his present tone Of tenderness when
he speaks the words, "back East
Observe Kansas Day. Glorify and
eulogize the Sunhower state and Its
beauties, but do not surrender to the
partisan passion Of petty minds by
makln0 N q dav NJ ssdon,uo,....