The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-07-01
Railroad Co.'S Border .Ruffianism.

night Of this week. .some thirteen Of the
settlers on the Reserve were kidnapped
by the soldiers. We believe that is the
term TO use. for they srsre seized Nth
ont any show Of authority, We are told
by those who were known to the facts.
The soldiers claim to be acting under
orders from Gen. Mitchell; but Mitchell
has issued general order for5idding
III, soldiers arrest any one, except when
called upon by the ciyil authorities: and
that If any change is made in this or
der. due notice of such change wiN be
Sipen. No such notice has been pub
lished, and the order is still in full force.
Is Gen. Mitchell man or thing? We
ask for infoi nation. II be is man he
will see that his orders are obeyed, if
he is kaing be will stuliify himself, and
belle his own words.
We have said before, and We repeat
it nov. that nothing equal to this out
rage vas ever perpetratedFin civilized
societysof which history makes any re-
cord. We again state the case, for We
are constantly having new readers of
our paper. who may not be thorough
ly posted ~ te the 'infamy and inhu-
'manily Of this wicked war upon an In
neceut and outraged people. Ii is this:
The settlers are on the Reserve lands.
They have claims which they wish to
Purcbase. and are only waiting to get .
title to the land or security for a title.
sshen they. will at once purchase. Many
of them have the money to pay dorn
for Gte land. and are and hare been anri-
ous to purchase for three years past
AN they scant Is the assurance that If
they pay the Railroad Company their
money, they wM not lose Il. They have
the right 10 this assurance. They would
be fools to invest their funds without
some guarantee that it was 30, thrown
away.
But the Company will no: consent TO
give any such assurance. They will
not give any documentary proof that
they have ever paid one cent iuteres, on
their bonds. ur tskeu sny steps neces-
sary to secure a title TO the lands in
question. They -producefno receipts
from The Interior Department TO show
that they have paid the interest they are
required 10 pay before they can even
have skador Of title TO the lands. On
The costrsry, il is reported as from the
Interior Department that they have not
paid the intcrest due. and hence, under
the provision Of the treaty. hare to.ft-
ed all right to CLAIM upon tile lands.
Thus any shadow of title on their
par, is matter Of doubt, and they re-
fuse 10 clear up the doubt. when they
could doit in Jsus minxtes BY producing
their receipts: or by an official state
ment from the Interior Department
l'ut they are endeavoring TO o.compa the
settlers to Juy tie land Wit1om fiale or
soay security for one; and mhen Mey re-
fuse to be thus sold out. hare them arrest
ed by the military.
This We believe TO be true and un
vanished statement of the facts in the
cas,.
Il we are in error, We are de.irous
10 be corrected, as We have told the
Company from the beginning.
We stale further: Numbers Of the
settlers haze gone TO the Agents Of the
Company and offered TO pay for their
land on the terms proposed. il the
Agents would simply give them re-
eei;pt Mat The money ucs paid on the land
to,rards is purchase. The Agents re
fused on tic ground that Il WouN lag
then, liable to a prosecution for Obtaining
money under FALSE PxEJESsEs These
facts can be sustauiiated ia any court Of
justice. Does anybody blame the set
Tiers Tor refusing to trust such men?
But what follows? Because these
settlers. will not pay their money TO
these men, who even refuse to receipt
for Il. they are hunted doacn like ~ae
beasts, se,zed Jy. u hired soidiery. and
hurried of TO prisons. Their houses
ars, 10 some instances. torn down or
uprooffsd, their families exposed 10 the
pitti,ess storms. their goods thrown out
of doors, and they and their families
with still further violence.
Was ever such inlumani,y perpetrated
te ore?
This is the Border Rufiianism Of
1888 renewed. and Sam. Denman and
Ysb Mitchell, said to be Of the Ruffian
osriy in '5e. are the men who conduct
Ibis truly 6enai.h business; but what is