Altering a historical illustration to materially change its message isn’t a matter of causing offense, it’s a matter of historical accuracy.

It seems like the Kansas State Historical Society would get that but maybe not.

A doctored version of a historical illustration, “Voting in Kickapoo,” has been removed from the visitors center at the Kansas Capitol after a state legislator — who happens to be a history teacher — pointed out that key elements of the scene had been removed. The original picture showed illegal Missouri voters who had crossed the state line in an effort to stuff the ballot box in favor of pro-slavery candidates. After they voted, they were lining up to get a shot of whiskey at a nearby stand and perhaps get in line to vote again.

However, after eliminating the “Down with the Abolitionists” sign under the polling window and the word “whiskey” on the neighboring stand, the illustration became not an accurate portrayal of Kansas history but a way to promote voting in Kansas.

“We hadn’t intended to offend anyone,” a historical society representative said. “The whole thing is encouraging people to vote.”

That’s a good message, said Sen. Greg Smith, R-Overland Park, but it’s not the message of the original illustration which had been published in a book that included a discussion of the 1855 election in Kansas Territory, an election marked by massive illegal voting. The story of the election is “complicated” according to the historical society spokeswoman and would have been difficult to explain, especially to young children, in the visitors center display.

Yes, Kansas history is a little complicated, but that doesn’t mean we simply alter it to fit a particular agenda. That kind of convenient editing is something one might expect from an advertising agency but not from the state’s historical society.

The illustration is gone, and a replacement is being sought. Obviously this is far from the most significant issue raised at the state Capitol this year, but it nonetheless is surprising and embarrassing for an agency charged with preserving and presenting an accurate account of Kansas history.