The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-20
THE INDIAN TERRITORY QUESTION

| President Hayes has issued n proclamation
| In duo form warming eertnin evil disposed
persons against my attsmpt to settle upon
| lands of what Ia known as the Indian Ferri-
tory. This may be NIL very we'll so far rs it
goes. although It. would seem to bn an lln-
necessary proceeding IA 1t Is to be presumed
that those for whose benefit this proclamn-
tion 10 especially made arc fully aware OF tho
fact that their proposed invasion OF tho In
dian Territory Is Illegal. In fact the guess
tiohs involved In the iss,ls are neither those
OF law nor OF right. and all discussion by
proclamation or otherwise IL merely waste
OF words. To put 1t In as brief aud ms plain
language us possible, 1t may be reduced to the
simple proposition as to whether tho Indians
arc to be dlspossessed of tho lands secured to
them by the most SOLEMN agreements on the
part Of tho United States government.
There Is not question As to whether
the citizens OF this country have any
claims upon the lands Of the Indian
territory. 1t Is merely question OF might,
and the history of the past has shown
that In contests Of this character the rod men
have always been at a disadvantage. few
years ago. 1t will be remembered gold was
discovered In portion Of the country set
apart for the Sioux Indians. At once private
expeditions were set on foot to invade the
country. Complaints were made at Wash
ington, ns In the present instance, and the
President issued his proclamation warming
the people then, az now, to keep way from the
territory set apart for the Indians. This
proclamation had no other effect than to
direct public attention moro particularly to
the matter and, perhaps, induce others to join
In the Black Hills raid who had not previously
heard OF the rich stores of gold and other
precious metals discovered in that Har-away
and desolate region. Some attempts were
made to Illustrate tho movement but beyond
q few arrests nothing was accomplished.
Then came complaints through the press that
the Indians were killing the ''peaceable white
Miners" and a loud demand was made
for protection. Troops were sent forward,
and soon one of the most terrible Indian wars
Of tho time was inaugurated; resulting, as
usual, In the defeat OF the Indians and their
being driven out Of the country, and deprived
OF their homes. This was followed by what
Is known as the Ute war There were no
miners engaged In this, for the simple reason
that no precious metals we're known to exist
In that portion of Colorado. But 1t was not q
part OF the policy OF the government to let
the redskins alone, SO they sent out heeker
and other missionaries to Impress them with
the dignity Of agriculture How far these
agents of the government went In the exer-
else OF their claimed authority, In their inter-
course with the Indians, cannot be very
clearly ascertained; but 1t is not likely
hot n., J.,kf TOW ho,
or ''disrespectful' measures Ii not In some
manner provoked thereto. Then, as In the
case Of the Sioux troubles, followed an appeal
for military protection, which being promptly
responded to by the government at Washing
ton, led to the Thornburg catastrophe on
White river, which, If not so terrible In Its re-
suits as the affair Of Little Big Horn, deserves