The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-28
Rohhinr The HcIpIess.

During the past two years TuE SrN has
devoted great deal OF space To exposures
of the atrocous acts of injustice commit
ted upon settlers i'm the West hv the inr.at
Land Ring. which under the present Ad-
...iuistrtion, has been securely utr,nchcd
IN the Interior Department.
The operations OF this Ring. were they
thoroughly understood by the puhiiy,
would alone afford sufficient reason for the
overthrow of the Administration which
has sanctioned them. Under new and
propostcrous rulings. made regardless of
law and in defiance of all precedent, the
late Secretary DuIANo and his active ac-
complicc, WILL. DHuMMOSD, rs Land
Commissioner, assumed the power. 10y
their mere individual hat. to couiscate the
property OF thousands of industrious citi-
gems, and to give the homes of whole COM
munites of energetic pioneers into the
hands of wealthy land grabbcrs. This
may seem an exaggerated representation,
~ those who are not acquainted with the
facts; but the truth is that we have under
stated the case. Indeed, we doubt Whether
there are words in the English language
which can adequately express the cnor-
nifty of the wrongs inflicted upon holders
OF homestead and prejmption rights by
GRANTS Administration.
II Is well known that Congress has
granted public lands to a great number of
railroad companies. CONGRESS has also
passed laws providing Tor the sale Of pub
lie lands 10 individuals under what are
known as the prctmption aud homestead
laws. Hundreds of thousan Is of citizens
have awaited themselves OF the provisions
of these laws to purchase and improve
lands selected from the public domain
and by their Industry they have added
Immensely. not only to the value Of the
ground they have cultivated and bu.lt
upon, but likewise t. that of the unoocu-
pied land, of the Government in their
vicinity. Now within few years the
Interior Department has set up the pre-
posterous assertion that Congress. in its
grants of aid to railroads, intended to give
10 them farm. houcstoads, houses, and In
some instances whole counties occupied by
thriving communitic, who had bought
and paid for Their lands. receiving COM
plete titles from the Government itself.
In short. the Interior Department has AZ
rogatel the power e. cancel the title OF
settlers who have bought, paid for, and
improved their property, and TO give that
property-the Improvements Included
TO railroad corporations, rs free gift
from the Government of the United
States. This is the whole story, precisely
- il H. rs thousands of unhappy house
holds IN the West can testify from bitter
experience.
And now II bill has been brought before
the United states senate intended TO rec
tify in part these wrongs, by confirming
preumption ana homestead lands within
the limits of railroad grants lin ease.
where such entries have been made uud
the regulations of the Land Department
that IS, providing that settlers who hav
lawfully obtained homes under the pre-
emption and homestead laws may gracious
ly be permitted 10 keep them. Certainly
American citizens have the right to eXpec
at least the privileges accorded IN this bill
But It has met with bitter opposition froI
the start, the most active opponents Of IN
bill bcin- the most prominent supporter
of GRANT's Administration. Their name
are CoNKLfNG, HOWE, BOUTWELL,, an
FREIINGuUYsEN. We do not think tina
this fact requires amy comment. Ii il on,
however, Of much sguihcauce.