The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-08-19
A few Facts for the People to Think of.

n lew racts IOr the PeOPie 10 Th1nk OF.
Mr.. Clarke and his principle support
ers are very loudly claiming that he has
been the friend of the settlers, and the
enemy and opponent of monopolists.
How far he is justly entitled to credit
under this claim the people have right
to know, and it is our duty as public
journalists to furnish such facts as we
have at hand, for the perusal of our
readers, touching the official conduct of
Mr.. Clarke, and all other public officers,
when they are asking the votes of the
people. From an examination of his
record on the Indian treaty business, we
should say if all his claims for the votes
of the people are as groundless as that
of opposition to monopolists, he GER
tainly stands upon a very flimsy foun-
dalton. It must be borne in mind that
there has been a wonderful change in
public sentiment in the past year or two,
In regard to the Indian treaty business.
There is a determination on the part of
the people, headed by men like George
w. Julian, to put n stop to such infa-
nous swindles as the Joy purchase and
the Sturgis treaty, and this change of
sentiment, and this determination of
the people may have something to do
with Mr.. Clarke's change of front on
this subject. These may account for his
loud-mouthed professions of love for
the settlers, and his late speeches against
land monopolies.
But let us examine his record on the
subject of land swindles, during his
two and half terms in Congress.
He opposed the Usage treaty, two
years ago, and for that should have due
credit, Notwithstanding he offered to
support it for a consideration, which
offer can be abundantly proven. But
he has received full pay for that act by
a denomination and a reelection to
Congress. Even his friends admitted at
the time that the Usage treaty saved
. him two years ago.
During Mr.. Clarke's Congressional
career treaties have been made and rat
flied with different Indian tribes for
their lands in Kansas, as follows: The
Sac and Foxes, Delawares, Kickapoos,
Cherokees, and Pottawattomies, besides
some minor tribes. Let US examine the
provisions of these treaties in their Or
der. 1st. The Sac and Fox lands were
treated for-except the diminished Re-
serve-and sold "for the benefit of the
Indians" by means of a refined swindle
known as "Sealed bids" whereby no
actual settler nor the common schools
got an acre, but mammoth eastern land
monopolists and spectators obtained
three hundred thousand acres of the
finest land in Kansas at from fifty cents
to one dollar per acre. The effects of
this gobble are yet plainly visible in
Usage, Lyon, and Franklin counties.
I'd. The last Delaware treaty gave
$4,000 acres of the best land in Leaven-
worth county to the Missouri River
railroad company at q mere nominal
sum, and not an acre to actual settlers
or to schools, and by the terms of the
treaty we believe the lands are not vet
eren subject TO taxation! They were
not year or two ago. This land was
given to company that built about
thirty miles of road, when they already
had county bonds and franchises given
them by the people sufficient to build
the road. The land was n free bonus
Mr.. Clarke was specially active in per.
petrating this little swindle
Sd. The kickapoo treaty gave to the
Atchison Cor CentraD Branch of the
Union Pacific road-already endowed
with $4,000 of Government bonds pei
mile and large amount of other lands
the whole of the Kickapoo Reserve o.
over 100000 acres, and not an acre t.
settlers or schools, and not to be taxed
for sic gears, thus not only retardins
their settlement, but preventing then
from being q source Of reUeRue to tn,
State. The poor settler must pay ta1
on his homestead, according to Clarkei
political economy, but the rich railroad
company must not pay dollar on mil
lions worth of landl
4th. the Cherokee treaty provided To-
the sale of all that magnificent tract o
land known as the Cherokee Neutra
Lands in Southeastern Kansas-abou
100000 acres in body-and it was selt
under that treaty to Mr.. Joy, a railroad
president, for one dollar per acre, anI
not an acre reserved for schools anC
none to settlers, except the very small
number who had settled thereon prio
to the making of the treaty. There ar
probably 10000 people now living oil
these lands, of whom not over one-tentl
have any guarantee for either land o
improvements, but are at the mercy O
Joy. This treaty had not even the mer
it of securing the removal of the Indi
ans from the State, as the Cherokee
had never occupied it. And this is nc
all, after supporting the treaty, at leas
by allowing its contamination, he ha
tried to incense the settlers on the Ian
against Joy, for the sake of making pc
litical capital, and has continually prom
ised them their lands, while he has don
nothing to secure them.
9th. The Pottawattomie treaty wa
ratified in the closing days of the se'
sion of Congress before the last, an
while the Usage treaty, which he oppo'
ed was pending. 1t provided for th
sale of the entire Pottawatomie Reserv
thirty miles square-to the Atchisol
Topeka s. Santa Fe railroad compan.
for one dollar per acre, tcithout an dc'
being reserved for schools or settlers
Thus it will be seen that while he OF
posed the Usage treaty, he at the SAM
time favored one just as infamous ft
the disposal of the Pottawatomie r.
serve. "Oh Consistency, thou art
iewelrv especially with Kansas Coz
ores---- ~ appcE treaty. b