Kansas in the sixties

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1911. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... chapter xxiv review--personal having served the State and General Government with fidelity and shared to the extent of my ability in protecting the lives and property of our citizens, I returned home at the close of eight years of strenuous effort, conscious of having done my duty. The record I left to my successors was clean, and our proud young State stood out in bold relief among the States of the Union, with every sail spread to the breeze. Not a blot, not a blemish marred the new Dreadnought of the West. Not a doubt was entertained concerning her seaworthiness nor her destination. It may be true that her pathway has at times been obstructed with rubbish, which caused a slight deviation from her true course, but so far she has been able to round such rubbish and push resolutely forward with the flag of the Union flying from the topmast. That the launching and the piloting of this steelclad structure beyond the breakers, were done amid stormy weather, goes without saying. Those who were present and all who read, know of the obstacles with which Kansas had to contend in early days. Until the close of the Civil War every citizen found it necessary to sleep on his arms; and until the close of the Indian wars, the frontier settlers stood in battle array to protect their lives and property against well-equipped barbarians, who were under the protecting care of officials who should have been sent to the Dry Tortugas. My predecessors, Governors Robinson and Carney, were kept busy trying to protect the south and east borders of Kansas against the thieves, robbers, and murderers, who prowled among the woods and hills of Western Missouri during the Civil War, and hence they had little time to devote to the general interests of the State. In fact, the young men of the S...