Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-02
A Kansan's Heritage.

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when Kansas has within her reach the
possibilities Of unparalleled greatness,
to be Kansan ought to be greater
than to be a king. Rome's greatness
was founded upon the remains Of her
less fortunate rivals. Kansas great
ness contemplates the betterment Of
humanity. Rome sowed the seeds Of
sudden decay in the hour OF victory.
Kansas, should she build wisely, will
so send forth her elevating influences
that every State and every nation will
by that master hand OF divine mason
~ be cemented together into one
grand pyramidal pedestal upon which
Kansas shall sit and from which her
thoughts shall go out to shape the
destinies Of nations.
Upon whom rests the responsibility
OF determining the future OF Kansas
Who shall catch the spirit of our mar
tyred pioneers and pave the way to
purer life, public and private' Who
shall drink at the fountain of inspira-
ton that animated Old John Brown
Of Osawatomie and renew the strug-
gle for the eradication OF existing
evils9 The politician is too much alb
sorbed in self-aggrandizement to sac
riiice his popularity on the altar OF
unpopular reforms. The man OF al
fairs is SO intent upon achieving sue
cess, as the world views success, that
to enlist his interest in reforms not
immediate to his material welfare
would be a hopeless undertaking.
Woman, by prophetic intuition, the
natural champion Of the higher life,
is crippled in her possibilities by the
arrogancy Of man. The hope of our
State, then, is inherent in the budding
life Of our boys and girls. The stu
dents Of today, the educators and leg
islators Of tomorrow, may so mould
the future OF our fair State that to be
a Kansan in the twentieth century
will be greater than to be king.
Our situation is significant. Kan
sas is the pivotal point Of the great
American nation, the center"of mod
ern civilization. Her eastern slope
invites the rays Of the rising sun and
unseltishly she radiates the absorbed
warmth. Her latitude prolongs her
summer season and reduces to a max
imum her possibilities OF production.
Beneath her fertile surface soil, her
mineral resources await the demands
Of industry. Her turbid streams
move silently along with just enough
of sediment to remind the unprinci-
Piled man that gentle agitation
warns every unwelcome institution to
flee from the wrath to come. Her
balmy breezes, stealing perfume from
her myriad flowers, battle the earth
in the fragrance Of autumn.
But Nature has not been our only
benefactor. Everywhere the little
school house marks a milesone in
mans unseishness. The heaven
pointing church spire is a conspicu-
GUS witness Of mans willingness to
sacrifice in the interests of humanity.
Charitable institutions all over the
State are existing monuments OF
mans recognition Of his moral obli-
cations. Our constitution and our
statute laws, embodying the funda-
mental principles of Republican gov
eminent, are the silent witnesses Of
the patriotism of our people.
This is our heritage, ours to hold
in trust and transmit unimpaired to
posterity. Shall we be truants to
that trust or shall we beautiiy and
adorn and embelish and with the
seal of approval set upon our labors
make an assignment to other genera
tions2
Kansas has claims upon every citi-
zen. Her laws have guaranteed our
liberties. Her abundant harvests
have ministered to our material needs.
Her schools have furnished us educa-
tional opportunities. How shall we
cancel these caimsp Her demands
are moderate. Her martyred heroes
: cry out from the grave in her behalf.
, She insists that her citizens shall be
high-miuded men and women who
: will hold her institutions above re-
: proach. The character Of the State
is a composite of the virtues and vices
of her citizens. 1t is within the pos
, sibilities Of the boys and girls of Kan