Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-25
WIN Deeds. Not Words.

10 lIlt OF lne JOuEndl.
There is a movement now on foot for
Kansans to make Kansas day, January %, a
holiday, and adopt resolutions answering
recent attacks of the Eastern press upon
their state: The plan, as hrst proposed,
Fourth OF July, and instead of pulling
plumage from the bird of freedom, the cpl
deTmis was 10 be removed from the East
ern editors who have roasted the sons
of the SunhoWer state since they left
the straight and narrow path of Repub-
licanism Tor the crooked and twisted by
ways OF POpullsm. To the patriotic but
injUdicious movers of this plan l attribute
sincerity and Il desire to uphold their
states good name. But / fail to see why
sucn a radical and unusual procedure
should take place
In the first place many of the local Kan
sas papers have greatly exaggerated the
articles of the Eastern press. Some of the
leading papers in Kansas seemed TO think
that the more they abused the Eastern
press the more friends they would make at
home. In most cases the home papers did
not accompany their comments with the
article in question TO show that their cen
sure of the Eastern press was justifiable.
Under these circumstances the people of
Kansas have presumed good deal; and in
some instances have been led TO think that
New York and Chicago papers We're rum
ming out extra editions whenever d new
one on Kansas" could be found. But in
TACT many OF the articles came from the
humorous department. and were never in
tended to do the state harm, because in
many instances, they were totally lacking
IN sincerity. Hence, it IS certainly reason
able to suppose that the whole country has
not received such bad impression of the
conditions in Kansas as kanSanS think
they have. For this reason a sweeping de-
nial or refutation is unnecessary because
similar wholesale accusation has never
been made: Thus, Kansas would appear to
many TO be her own accuser. She can
never afford to seem thus.
But there are some things which Kansas
canrct and needs not deny. She cannot
deny being inconsistent, but she can an
swer the charge of Inconsistency with the
logically and morally sound argument that
1t is always better to be right than to be
consistent. Kansas has none of that moss
back spirit which clings to precedent in
preference to right. Hence, 1t is true tnat
some parts of her history do read incon-
sistently and contradictorily. But Kansas
has never been found throwing precedent
before the wheels of progress to stop their
onward march. If to be progressive neces-
states the destruction of old idols, then
Kansas can truly be said to be iconoclastic.
And 1t is only parts of Kansas history,
taken at random or to suit the desire, that
the Eastern press has used. They have
looked for the humorous and ridiculous and
satirical in Kansas history. and have found
it. But should Kansas roast the press
for printing her Jokes? Such an answer
original attacks ever did; for when people
read the effects they would naturally look
for the cause; and in the end Kansas would
be scattering the Objectionable articles her
self.
The vigorous and vindictive nature Of any
ansW er Kansas could make would not en-
hance the pleasant and cooperative spirit
which should exist between the Eastern
money loaner and the Western money bor-
rover. Considering that Kansas has large
ly been built up by Eastern money and
that her future welfare is largely depend
borders. It is easily seen that she must not
do anything to cause its withdrawal. The
tendency of this movement would surely be
in that direction.
The effect of such an answer upon the
Eastern press itself should also be consid-
cred: If some papers have shown desire
m rid Ia md aTlh GlQ II
sas. they would now be presented with a
new theme to write about. They would
Yes the Grub street scribblers" would
have another one on Kansas" Can Kan
sas afford to furnish the Eastern press
The opening paragraphs of Governor
1seedy's message convey the startling news
that CANNES. with their noses pointing to-
ward the dog-star have sat out on the
Egg ptian deserts for fifty centuries and
spent the moonlight nights in serenading
the pyramids. His excellency says that the
dogs have been unanswered. but forgot to
state to the legislature that Napoleon
hurled his boottack at one and killed il the
night before he made his famous address
TO the soldiers. While such legislative pab-
ulum is a little out of the ordinary, yet the
governors analogy would have been appro-
pirate had he not already devoted much
space to answering the charges of these
fellows to whom he compares the Egyptian
dogs. His intention was very commend
able, because he meant to say that 1t Is
beneath the dignity Of Kansas to make re-
ply to these charges. And such it surely is.
But il an answer must be made. let it
come from the deeds of the past. Let the
citizens Of Kansas put forth her history.
II is unnecessary TO point to the present
grand and noble as II is. Let history speak.
Let its voice plead for Kansas if Kansas
must be defended. Let it tell how the old
pioneers. whose tombs are now crumbling
into dust laid deep and secure the. founda-
tion for the magnificent structure of state.
Let 1t tell how, the boys in blue whose
ranks are fast being thinned hy the COM
ing of death. guarded the noble structure
against every foe. Let 1t tell how the. ris-
ing generation of Kansas youth. whose
minds are being trained in school and col
lege and whose souls breathe patriotism
from the noble EXAMPLES of Kansas history
will protect preserve and perpetuate this
heritage of untold value-the common
wealth of Kansas. Let Deeds not words,
give answer back. CLYDE H. KNOX.
Platte City, Mo-. Jan. 10. 1897.