Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-13

cause of free principles can find no safe or
reliable support outside of the Republican
organization. The hand so ruthless to
invade the domain of freedom, to over
throw its time honored bulwarks, cnce pro-
nounced akin to the constitution, in order
to furnish an opportunity for the ingress
OF slavery as the only feasible mode OF il
Illustrating the great principles of American
Democracy, finds nothing in the history
of our country or OF its great founders,
nothing. in the work Of their hands CT the
monument of wisdom they have left US,
nothing, in short, but the Dred Scott de-
cision sufficiently sacred to be exempt from
its assaults. Even the Declaration of In
dependence comes in for its share, that
declaration, which, like the morning dawn,
ushered in the glorious sun of our nations
freedom, as to which John Adams Is re-
ported to have said: When read at the
head of the army, every sword will be
drawn from its scabbard ready to support
it or to perish on the field of honor" that
declaration which ~thToJ gh the long strug-
gle of the Revolution. was our pillar of
fire by night and of cloud by day. that
declaration which WAS as the resurrection
trump to the downtrodden millions of the
earth which awoke amongst the oppressed
of every land jubilee akin TO that which
arose, when, on the morning of the crea-
ton. all the sons of God shouted for joy;
that declaration is by this same hand di-
vested OF its power. its great light is ., ex5
and falsified, and all its purpose, force and
meaning are by miserable construction
frittered away and destroyed.
In view of all this We do well to heed the
admonitory language of the former consti-
tuition of this state which declares THAT
frequent recurrence to the fundamental
principles of civil government is absolutely
necessary TO preserve the blessings of lib
erty. And now, sir: in the name OF the
Republican party, whose cause you have
espoused, in the name of the fathers of the
republic. whose principles you have suS-
tanned and whose memory you have vim
dicated, we take this public occasion to
thank you for reScuing the great charter
of American liberty from dishonor and
exposure of those miserable sophistries by
which its great truths have been assailed.
Such a contest as this cannot from the
necessity of the case he confined in the
interest it commands or in the extent of its
| operations to the limits of a single state.
As has been well said We are fighting the
battles of the Union The struggle in
which We are engaged is the struggle for
supremacy of the Republican party of the
country. Our brethren in sister states are
watching with eager interest the issue of
the contest. Here in IlinciS il may be the
decisive battle between freedom and siav-
cry is to be fought This is the spot our
| opponents have selected. Here the great
| leader of the Kansas policy of the gov
ernment claims his strength and on this
| state he relies for his support. Here too
we say let the great question be settled.
! No more fitting theater could have been
chosen than this graf state abounding in
| fertile prairies, itself living and mighty
monument of the Sagacity and forecast of
| our fathers, from whose policy of slavery
restriction modern statesmen have SO
| crieyousIy departed. She owes it to her
/ self. to her history. to the memory of her
| founders. to her own free constitution, to
| see TO il that she is hereafter truly repre-
sented in the national councils: that as she
| has furnished the man who has been
mainly instrumental in breaking down
! that governmental policy of slavery
which has made her what she
! is. that she may hereafter furnish one in
| his stead who in right good earnest shall
aid in bringing back the national govern
ment to the policy of its original founders
| and instead of being the instrument OF
| slavery propagandism shall make il effect
| it was instituted. and shall render our
\ national ensign. on whatever breeze II may
| float a genuine. faithful symbol to all ma
tious, of freedom and peace. We bid you.
| then, Gcd speed in the good work IN Wflfcn
| you are engaged. We believe you are right
and
Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel
just;
And he but naked. though locked up in
Whose conscience with injustice is cor
| rUpted.''
The political skies are fun of cheery
| omeUs and decisively indicate that the
| day is rapidly approaching when a public
| man will not rashly venture to boast that
| he cares not whether slavery is voted up
! or voted down" when to rejoice in the glor-
! iouS heritage OF freedom which our faith
/ ers have bcqucathed US and TO desire its
| blessings in all their rich freedom for our
| nelghbo-S as well aS for ourselves shall NOT
| be regarded as an interference with the
| reserved rights OF the states and when IL
| shall no longer be charged as treason 10
| the constitution and the Union to express
| the hope that ere long the sun In his daily