The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-11-01
parsy Nex,ec, Of Public Trust.

bne people OF JnlS country naVS rfSnI
10 seriously complain, it is the way
the public lands have been stolen from
them. The controversy is with the
party, and it will be diff
cult for the leading men among them
to defend SO gross violation of public
confidence. The great wealth of broad
acres, the magnificent heritage of the
people, has been gradually taken from
them; the most of it by grasping rail-
way corporations, and every once in
while big slices cut off by fraud and
outrageous theft. Any government
but one wholly given up to schemes
for the retention of political power,
would have found time to overhaul
these land robbers, whether in the
form of organised corporations or SIM
ply acting as individual adventurers.
But this boasted Republican protecte-
rate finds ne time to look after any
thing except the spoils of Office, and
the retention of favorites in the soft
places of governmental control. 1t
has, therefore, come to pass that what
little land has escaped the ravages of
grasping corporations is being gobbled
up in every conceivable fashion by
men who care nothing for public rights
aud still less for the arm of the law.
The most outrageous and astonishing
frauds have been perpetrated upon the
land Office of the United States in the
FAR West, frauds so gross and 80 monu-
mental ia their character as to almost
surpass belief. Complaint has been
made time and again by the settlers
who were being robbed and plundered
by these bold adven .urers, but their
complaints were left unheard and un.
needed until these violations had
grown to such proportions as to de-
mand attention by the danger of great
public scandal. These things have
long been known to the authorities,
but the scene of the rascalities being
far removed from the thsater of polit-
ical activity, delays were allowed to go
on, disheartening the efforts of the set
tiers. and still more firmly intrenching
the robbers in their schemes of greed
and conquest. When the muttered
growls of discomfort could no longer
be postponed and action was forced
upon them, special land agent was
sent west into the territories to inves
tigate and examine, and the picture he
draws of Republican carelessness, in
attention and neglect, would be dam
aging in theextreme if the party whose
agent he is had any conscience to reach
or any sincere regard for public opin-
ion. This agent says:
1.-THE desert land entry act has been
violated with recklessness that was
positively astonishing. In many cases
it was found that absolutely nothing
had been done toward reclaiming the
lands, and yet what are known and
regarded as good citizens have gone
before the land officers and made SOL
claimed and all the conditions of the
law complied with, when. in fact, no
mark made by human hands could be
found upon the entire tract. Other
tracts were taken up under the desert
act that are no more desert than the
valley of the Ohio river. Other land
was found to be taken up under the
timber culture act upon which there
was growing at the time of the origi-
nal fling more forest trees than the
law requires when final proof is to be
made. The homestead law has not
been fairly construed, and thousands
of acres have been patented by persons
who have not com Piled vita one sim
gle requirement of the law, and who
have given fraudulent testimony with
the full intent and purpose to defraad
the Government. Tens of thousauds
of acres of public lands are fenced off
by wealthy stock raisers, thus leaving
the actual settlers without a range for
the family COW. In one instance it
was found that men living near city
in Montana had fenced up 5000 acres
of public lands and permitted the
town people to pasture their stock on
The inclosure for 81 per month per
head"
We have here string Of charges
which are disgraceful in the extreme,
including perjury and villainy. That
such state of things could exist in
the eye of men charged with the duty
of protecting the public interest, seems
almost incredible, but SO much has
happened during the past twenty years
of like character, not only out in the
far West but much nearer the haunts
of civilization, that one need not be
.oAnlo of
this country, they who must work hard
for living and have not the time to
read up closely the current political
doings Of the party in power, could
know fully and completely how the
interests of this country have been
trified with, betrayed and abused by
those charged with its protection and
defense, they would not need to be
told what their duty was as honest
patriotic citizens. A sweeping indig.
nation would overwhelm the men who
pratipg of their zeal and fidelity waste
their time in political scheming and
delude the people by honeyed words
when honeyed promises and betrayed
trusts rise up to condemn them on ev
cry hand. What that agent says o
the manner the public trusts are ad
ministered in the Territories is equally
true of public concerns nearer home
and every intelligent unprejudicec
man knows it. Neglect and indiffer
ence is written up against most of the
public duties of the Republican party
and it is high time to call that party
to account.-[The American Register
THE report of the Commissioner o