420 



KANSAS. 



that, while we sympathize with peaceably-disposed 

 settlers upon these lands, we must condemn all mob 

 violence and resistance to law, and advise all parties 

 interested in the question of title to the Neutral 

 Lands to appeal to the courts and peaceably abide 

 the decision of the same. 



Kesolutions were also adopted appealing to 

 Congress for the passage of measures which 

 would settle all questions of title to these and 

 other lands, and provide for the speedy re- 

 moval of the Indians from the State. 



A vigorous effort appears to have been made 

 by Senator Eoss to carry out the wishes of the 

 people, but all his labors, according to his own 

 representations, were rendered futile. 



Several bills and resolutions passed the 

 United States Senate at the session of 1869- 

 '70 providing for the sale of reserved lands 

 and the removal of the Indians, but they were 

 defeated in the House of Kepresentatives by 

 the opposition or the inaction of Mr. Clarke, 

 who was chairman of the Committee on In- 

 dian Affairs. His course in reference to all 

 these matters of the Indian lands, and the 

 rights of settlers thereon, is thus summed up 

 by Senator Eoss : 



He has not brought to the consideration of the 

 House a single measure for the benefit of the set- 

 tlers. 



He has permitted such as have been sent to his 

 committee to sleep for months, until the adjourn- 

 ment of Congress, without uttering a single word in 

 their behalf. 



He has obstructed, by every means in his power, 

 the passage of such as have been passed by the Sen- 

 ate. 



He has attempted to bring obloquy upon those 

 who have endeavored to serve the interests of the 

 settlers, and expose the thieving schemes of his co- 

 adjutors, and, when exposed, nas lustily shouted, 

 "Stop thief!" that they might the more safely get 

 away with their stolen plunder. 



These matters are mentioned at some length 

 here because they formed almost the sole topic 

 of discussion in the State during the year, and 

 the principal issue in the congressional elec- 

 tion, which is virtually a State affair, as but 

 one Eepresentative is sent to "Washington. Mr. 

 Clarke was seeking for reelection, and his al- 

 leged disregard of the interests and wishes of 

 the people was the occasion of a vigorous op- 

 position in his own party. 



In the political campaign, as already stated, 

 the principal issue* was the election or defeat 

 of Sidney Clarke for Congress. At the County 

 Convention the main question in the selection 

 of delegates for the General Eepublican Con- 

 vention was whether the candidates were 

 " Clarke men," or " anti-Clarke men." Dur- 

 ing the summer anti-Clarke meetings were 

 held, and resolutions against the reelection of 

 the derelict member were adopted. The re- 

 sult was, that when the State Convention met 

 at Topeka, on the 8th of September, the ma- 

 jority were pledged against his renomination. 

 On the first regular ballot the vote stood, 87 

 for D. P. Lowe, and 77 for Clarke, and the 

 former was declared nominated for the Forty- 

 second Congress. The rest of the ticket was as 



follows : for Governor, James M. Harvey ; 

 Lieutenant-Go vernor, P. P. Elder; Secretary 

 of State, W. H. Smallwood; Auditor, A. 

 Thoman; Treasurer, J. E. Hayes; Attorney- 

 General, A. L. "Williams; Superintendent of 

 Public Instruction, H. D. McCarty ; Associate 

 Justice in the Supreme Court, D. J. Brewer. 

 The platform adopted by the convention was 

 as follows : 



I. The Union Eepublican party of Kansas, in dele- 

 gate convention assembled, reaffirms its adherence 

 to, and its faith in, the principles of universal liber- 

 ty, justice, and humanity, which it has. during ten 

 years past, zealously and successfully battled, and 

 upon which it has now securely and forever estab- 

 lished the foundations of the Government. 



II. It points with pride to a career of victory un- 

 sullied by a single act of national cowardice, wrong, 

 or inhumanity. It has, during its administration of 

 public affairs, crushed the most gigantic rebellion 

 that ever assailed the Government, broken the 

 shackles of a race long enslaved, and elevated them 

 to the dignity and privileges of citizenship, enacted 

 and put into operation a beneficent homestead law, 

 originated and perfected a splendid system of high- 

 ways across the continent^ secured the recognition 

 of the doctrine of expatriation, and in all things 

 proved itself equal to the sacred trusts committed to 

 its hands. 



III. The Eepublican party, with such a record, 

 needs to make no flaunting promises of future fidelity 

 to the great principles upon which its organization 

 is based. But this convention of delegates, repre- 

 senting the Eepublicans of Kansas, takes occasion to 

 express the convictions and purpose of the party : 



1. To maintain and defend the fruits of its victory 

 in the field, namely, the unity of the Eepublic, the 

 abolition of slavery, the enfranchisement of the 

 colored race, and equal rights for all. 



2. To protect and preserve the fruits of its victory 

 in legislation ; namely, the homestead law in its whole 

 letter and spirit, the law of expatriation, and a whole- 

 some system of public improvements. 



IV. In the future, as in the past, the Eepublican 

 party will continue to advocate the measures which 

 will promote economy, national honesty, domestic 

 concord, and friendly relations with foreign powers 

 to the end that we may have a government of laws 

 and not of men. 



V. We cordially indorse the patriotic, honest, and 

 economical Administration of President Grant, and 

 hail with satisfaction the rapid reduction of the na- 

 tional debt, which its faithful collection of public rev- 

 enues and honest application of them brought about. 



VI. In the struggle now going on in Europe our 

 sympathies are heartily with the German people. 

 Their triumph is a victory of liberal principles. \Ve 

 rejoice in the overthrow of the Napoleonic dynasty, 

 and earnestly pray that the war may result in the 

 organization and permanent establishment of a re- 

 publican form of government in France and other 

 European nations. 



VII. That the Eepublican party stands pledged to 

 remove all disqualifications and restrictions imposed 

 upon the late rebels, in the same measure as the 

 spirit of disloyalty may die out and may be consist- 

 ent with the safety of the loyal people. 



VIII. In the distribution of public lands and In- 

 dian reserves, we demand the full protection of the 

 rights of. settlers, and the reservation of the sixteenth 

 and thirty-sixth sections to which the State is entitled 

 for educational purposes. "Wholesale grants of ter- 

 ritory to speculators are unfavorable to the interests 

 of'the community, and inconsistent with the objects 

 for which the national domain should be distributed. 

 We especially condemn the policy of disposing of 

 Indian reservations to railroad or land monopolies, 

 and insist that such lands be undeniably opened to 



