Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-01-17
IN RE BLEEDING KANSAS
ITS HISTORY As FASCINATING
AS a NOVEL
II. Emily Ingram Takes A Backward
Look Over this Pivotal Point
Oh the Cival War

DC me app Opltate CuDDlHR OF tHaJ COM
monwealth in Tine past. F" Well yes,
and since you put it 10 that unique way,
please let me go as far back as those
bleeding" days in the unique history
of this great commonwealth.
/ Right well may the challenge be given
to find another state in the union to
equal il throughout in all its phases
of fortune and misfortune: nor was
ever one so misunderstood, misrepre-
scented and so maIigned; and it mas taken
her a long term of years of earnest en-
desvo~ and hard work to come into her
own; and she has accomplished it in
spite of all opposing forces, and she is
in the procession of states, and that to
stay. In the not-distant past we recall
that il Kansas was visited by a cyclone
or blizzard, or mayhap flood or drouth,
it was published far and near as
kansas cyclone, +" "Kansas blizzard"
ct cetera, as though it were Indigenous
only to Kansas. But il like calamity
occurred in another state, near or re-
mote, it was nevermore noticed than as
small item of news, if published at
all.
The Prentis History of Kansas is one
of the branches of study in the gram
mar grade curriculum, so that before
pupils enter the high school they have
finished Kansas history; and the YER
satile and facile pen of its author has
so portrayed his work, that it read like
a story book of adventures, attractive
and fascinating to the highest degree.
But truth is stranger than fiction"
and deeds of courage and cruelty, dan
ger, pathos and patriotism are scarcely
blended in novel. Thus are the child
rem, in early life, taught to know what
their state stands for, and through what
it has come. The topics are easily
grasped by the mind and retained by
the memory So that the stu6ont is well
versed in things of interest, which oc-
CURED in the-to them long ago, and
thus naturally imbibing love and pride
of state and patriotism that is more
than commensurate with their years.
OF the great seal of the state Iquote:
'grhe most striking feature of the de-
sign 10 it's motto lad astra per aspera'
Ito the stars Though difficulties with
which every Kansas child is familiar,
and which was the suggestion of Hon.
John James Ingalls,. Apropos of
the history topics: My two young
friends, Floyd and Alma c., who live
next door and both graduated from the
grammar grade in May, and they have
not looked in their school books since
and | asked Floyd some days ago to re-
late to me an account of Qaantrill' s raid
into Kansas, and he gave me all the
essentials of the narrative in detail
Asking Alma to give me some subject
of her own choice, she told me about
the Kansas Nebraska Bill, who intro
duced it, some of its immediate results
after it had passed and been signed by
the president, etc, etc, also adding
something of the John Brown ira 1e6y.
Chat the John Brown tragedy in cen
nection with the Kansas-Nebraska Bill,
ana its results, may be classed together
as factors worth considering, which
tended to hasten the saDguinary episode
let the student study and deeide).
No one ever called Stephen A. Doug
las a criminal for introducing the bill
which annulled the Missouri Compro-
mise He was a northern man, yet he
did not care whether slavery was
voted up or down." But behold the
carnage for which it was responsiblel
Senator Wade of Ohio, said it was ''giv-
ing slavery chance to enter ter
ritory as large as all the free states,
/ pure as water and beautiful as the gar
den of God " Seward said "We are on
the eve of great national transaction;
/ transaction that will close a cycle In
the history of our country" And
reign of terror" commenced. The
| hero, John Brown, came to the defence;
he felt that he had mission, divineIy
appointed, to free the slaves He was
voted fanatic and filed martyrs
gravel legally assassiuated, wrote
Victor Hugo, in letter accompanying
golden medal, presented to John
Browns widow by the French govern
ment. ALSO it is written John Brown
lives in the heart of Kansas. +"
Thus Kansas, so to put it, was the
center ground and pivotal point on
which rested the principles that led up
to the Civil war. in SO short term Of
years afterward; and on its soil was the
drama played in miniature. which was
the forshadowing and prophecy of the
internecine strife that was destined so
soon to envelop our nation.
My time. and your patience and col
umn space, would forbid me to mention
a 1.-THE of the pleasant. up-to-date items
of interest of the "Sunilower State.
And in that one word "sunhower" and
how ii came to be chosen as the state
flower is story, and linked with that
is that of the "Santa Fe Trail" and
from that another to follow, like an
endless chain, and fascinating as the
tales of The Arabian Nighttl Four hun
bred of the seven hundred miles of tine
Sante Fe Trail is situated in Kansas,
and every ten miles or less is marked
with a boulder. on which is carved the
inscription that they we're erected by
The Daughters of the American Revo-
luton and the state of Kansas. (More
buted by the pupils of the schools
penny eontributions). Thus you see
the Suntlower state is no !aggard in the
universal good roads movement, and
as it was inaugurated centuries ago by
the Indian, or mayhap the Mound Build
ers, then used over which to tote"
freight between trading posts; later
used by the Mormons and California
gold hunters; and afterwards by actual
settlers and home-seekers; till now the
carriage driver and the motorist are
having the finest road in America: as
though it were just originated and pur-
posely fitted up for them A portion of
the trail is along new lines,
Appropriating to ourselves the Kansan's
characteristic, viz, never TO let any
thing get away from him." so | viii
utilize this remaining blank space to
tell you something of him. IL the sea-
son is dry, as it may be, he has his
deep wells, and by wind mills or gaso-
line engine brings up his water for