The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-02
TRIBUNE REFERS To KANSAS.
Comments Upon the Semi Centennial
of SunfIoWer State

Comments Upon the Semi Centennial
of Sunfower State.
New York, Feb. I'm an editorial
on the subject, kansas Celebrates
the New York Tribune says:
Kansas celebrated Sunday the fif-
tieth anniversary of its admission into
the Union. The states early history
was stirring and dramatic, as were it's
experiences as a territory seeking adj
mission. The slave states objected to
its entrance on any terms which would
shut out slavery, because a free com
cumscribe slavery territory and stop
the march of the peculiar institu-
ton" toward the Pacific. From the
time that Kansas became q. territory
in 1854, under the guarantees of the
Kansas Nebraska act, allowing its
people to determine for themselves the
question of recognizing or excluding
slavery, it's soil was fighting ground
for north and south, and control of it's
destinies as a state was the prize in a
desperate struggle between the adj
herents and opponents of the slavery
system.
It's first nstitution-adopted on
November IL, 1855, and ratified by the
people on December Is, 1855-was re-
jected by the United States senate.
The slave power was then triumphant
at Washington and federal pressure
was brought to bear to induce the
people of Kansas to purchase adrn1s-
sion by making concessions to south
ern wishes and policies. A second
constitution, known as the Lecompton
constitution, was adopted by a COM
placent state convention on November
Z, 1857, and congress fastened to pass
a law admitting the state on The rati-
fication of that instrument. But the
voters rejected the Lecompton constf-
tuition January 4, 1859, preferring
freedom to statehood. After 1858 the
influence of the slave states rapidly
declined and October 1859, Kansas
voters ratified the Wyandotte consutu-
ton, under which admission was Sc
cured near the close of President Blu
chanan's administration.
The population of Kansas in 1850
was 107,2O6. It's population in 1910
was 1.6eo,949 It's development as an
time late in the sos, when low prices
and excessive speculation in land
brought about a crash in farm lands.
But the period of depression was br1eI
and Kansas is today one OF the most
prosperous, progressive and aggressive
of the prairie states. In Its days OF
ease and contentment it can look back
with pride to the dangers AND sacr1-
fees of it's earliest history-the herolc
asre in which it's character was nodded:
It's struggles for statehood contributed
materially to the cause of free fnstltu-
tons, as on its soil occurred the
clashes which presaged civil war.
Said William H. Seward in the
United states senate, April 80, 1883:
"She has been made to take the
hard and hazardous position CT being
the first of the states to vindicate prac-
ticaiIy by labor, by toll, through desc
Iation, through suffering and blood
the principle that freedom is better
for states and for the republic than
slavery. She will endure the trial
nobly to the end. as she has borne it
hitherto, and as she has been the first
so she will be the last to contend ano
to suffer. Every territory that shall
come into the Union hereafter, profit
ing bv the sufferings and atonement Of
Kansas. will come into the Union q
free state"
Kansas can Justly recall and glory in
that prophetic eulogy.