The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-12

When the struggle was over that set
tied forever the question of human
slavery; when the young men who had
given the best years of their lives
to preserve the Union laid down their
arms and returned to the peaceful
walks of life, the great undeveloped
west invited them to become home
builders, and by thousands they cross
ed the fertile prairies of Iowa and Mis-
souri, and came to the state that was
the child of the great struggle in which
they had played so prominent a part.
And they brought with them the same
love for the Union, the same love of
liberty, that had fired their hearts at
the sound of Sumter's guns. These
We're supplemented by the flower of the
young manhood and young WOmanhOod
of nearly every one of the older states.
1t was not the doubling, hesitating
young man who was allured to Kansas.
1t was the sturdy self-reliant men and
women who had faith in their country
and its institutions, faith in their abil-
ity to win for themselves a home, faith
in their power to make for themselves
a place in the great battle of life, who
were Kansas pioneers
These We're the men and women who
gave Kansas those peculiar character
istics that are distinctively kansan.
These were the men and women who
wooed the wild prairies and won from
her the homes they love, builded our
cities founded our splendid free school
system ard laid deep and strong all
the environments of our splendid civil
ization.
But history of forty-two years in
character making and state building
would be incomplete If we told of the
sunshine and not of the shadow; of the
successes and not of the failures; if we
bOasted of our triumphs without telling
of our diSappOintmenIS, for no state has
ever gone more quickly from the noun
tain to the valley than has Kansas in
her brief history. From a period of un-
paraneled development and debt Great
ing we passed through q period of de-
preston and readjustment of inflated
values, hard times and discomfort. This.
supplemented with a period of political
lunacy that threatened and imperiled
our credit and made the name of Kan
sas a byword. tells the story of decade
familiar to us all But the true Kansas
spirit has survived and Kansas with
her character maintained, greets the
new century with her credit restored
ard finds herself in harmony with the
advance of the nations progress. and
like the giant oak that has WithstoOd
the storms and tempests of centuries is
stronger for the victories she has won.
And this brings US to the duties and
responsibilities of the hour and the Oc-
casiOn- Kansas great past We owe TO
you; Kansas grea ter present we live
with YOU and Kansas still grander fu-
ture we must help to make Our people
have profited by every experience and
know Kansas better with each succeed
ing year. Instead Of waiting for eli
matte conditions TO change. they have
adapted business conditions to the eli
mate asst is. and there is no part of the
state today but resents the idea that II
needs sympathy and that it is not espe-
cially favored. Indeed. have been told
in confidence during the past year by
some citizen of nearly every county in
Kansas that his special county was one
of the very best counties in the state.
This Is Kansas spirit and is making
Kansas character. Indeed, I have an
abiding faith in the man who believes
his home. however humble it may be-
the best place on earth. and his town,