The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-31

MY father was ordered by the state
central committee to proceed over into
southeastern Kansas and address the
miners, among whom there seemed TO
be q very decided revolt He took me
and started for the scene of battle, for
in those days a political meeting was
nothing short of battle. We arrived
at the place at the appointed hour, and
while there was an immense crowd.
there did not seem to be any vast
amount Of Republican enthusiasm, both
of which were very common things in
those days. Some one had sufficient
temerity to introduce father. and then
the real hostilities began. 1 shall not
attempt to describe it to you, except to
say that I feared at times that the
crowd would raise en- masSe and rend
him, again he seemed to hold them IN
the hollow of his hand He rode the
storm. AS we drove away that beauJ1-
full moonlight night, for it was neces-
sary to drive nearly all night to catch
q train for his next speaking point, we
passed over the crest Of a very hlgn
hill and looked down upon one OF those
beautiful valleys for which Kansas VIII
ever be famous; a sight and an occa-
sion which viii ever turn man
thoughts to the brevity of fife and the
majesty of his creator. We paused for
a moment and father said, My son,
some of these days I will have to take
a long journey. 1 don't expect that 1
will leave you very much of this world
goods. but 1 leave you something far
better 1 brought you to Kansas when
you were small boy. and you have
grown uD surrounded by all the infiu-
ences which make up Kansas life. You
have read what the early Kansas set
tiers suffered and endured for freedom
and for their country You are daily
experiencing the intense love of the
Kansas people for honesty. 1 trust when
I finally leave you, I Will leave your
life thoroughly imbued with this prin-
ciple. If 1 do this and leave you moth
ing more, I shall feel satisfied We
until ] followed the silent procession to
his last resting place The memory of
the occasion ON that beautiful hill, that
moonlight night and the words there
spoken can never pass away
The Plea of Negro.
There is no use denying that the
speech of William T. Vernon, the
negro president of negro school at
Quindaro. ranked second to none in
the list of brilliant speeches at the
Kansas Day club banquet Its mag
nihcent composition, profound thought
and eloquent delivery placed it in the
front rank, and the great enthusiasm
with which il was received was a
compliment not only to the distin
guished negro leader but to the good
sense and fairness of the mem bers of
the Kansas Day club. Mr.. Vernon
subject was "A Plea for a Suspension
of Judgment" The speaker said in
beginning:
1T is a long way from the back
woods of Missouri where I was born,
to speakers place at Kansas Day
club banquet; and were I to use all
the time allotted me in efforts to ex-
press my gratitude for the oppor-
tunity given me by President Valen-
tine and the officers and members of
this club, I still could not utter my
profound appreciation for this en-
enlargement to my people, with
whom my destiny is linked forever.
This is no personal honor; but
rather the expression of cheer and
= -1r,Hr I~--
faithful part of the great party repre-
sented by this great gathering tonight
I would not separate myself from my
race. 1 am content to suffer affection
with them Placed for a spell by His
Almighty hand within this tenement
of possibly less favored clay=the
deathless soul which speaks through
lips OftimeS derided shall not lament
its presence there. The cause of my
people is my cause, their struggles my
struggles
Mr.. Vernon spoke of the bravery
displayed by the negro race in times
of war, from Bunker Hill to 1866.
Then he said.
IN peace the same devotion gave
we to those whom we served We
delved in EARTH we tunneled noun
tains, We diked and stayed the wave
dashed sea carrying all of natures
power, we felled the trees in forests
primeval, we changed the course of
winding river, We leveled hills and
titled the fields. we gathered stores in
barn and bin, we wrought in mine and
drew the load. the burden bearers we
were. If aborigine or wild beast at