The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-12-06
An fmrogtAsr MATTER ron 'Svrs'
IIgAIIUN.

'" TiGAIiON.
We referred day or two since 70 wv,
protest against the lease OF
COO, 600, 900 ao-es Of the Cherokee ldnds III 'ne
Indian. Territory, by CnEF BUsnfhEAp NV
other leaders OF the Cherokeesi TO syhu''
cate Of n dozen or more gentlemen ior
term Of five years, at 100000 per annu"'
We notice that some of our Kansas anu
Missouri contemporaries are very pro-
nounced in their condemnation oil this
lease, and demand q thorough investigator
of the facts and circumstances surrounding
the transaction, by congress as the uti-
mate court of appeal in Indian shairS' Inc
merits of that particular controversy or
transaction we do not care to discuss, ana
leave that to the Kansas and Missouri pa
pers and the immediate parties concerneu,
but the general subject Of leasing oil such
large tracts of land is different matter
In this particular instance the le'see5 Of
these 6 600 600 acres in the CheroEee terri
tory may il they see fit, and viii doubtless
very seriously Inconvenience the cattle men
| and cattle interests OF Texas by iercinR
this vast tract and interfering with and
obsrructing by so much the famous and
now well defined old cattle trail from this
state TO Kansas and points north. The land
ia directly in the pathway OF the great
annual drive from Texas, ard 10 attempt to
fence il up or incouveoiencg DRIVERS
would be the occasion OF much
and serious trouble between the
Texas cattle men and the syndicate VINO
own the lease. So that in that respect and
to that extent we are directly interested IN
this big lease.
But the general government has already
been wasting the public domain win
high and reckless land granting ana leas'
ing large tracts and permitting It's Walds
the Indians, to do likewise. In every such
case it means inconvenience and cost to the
general public for the benefit of few ii
means that actual settlers and those in
search of homes are to stand back until the
great moueyed syndicates have been first
proyided for, have taken up and fenced up
the best lands which they are
boIdirg on speculation the
instruct of which they are enjoy
ing for a mere song. TIE injustice OF this
cour.e has time and sgain been pointed out
bv honest statesmen and the press OF thu
country.
In the cases of the leases ofthe indians
of their lands the government is equally 10
blame in not stepping in and protecting
the body of the tribe against the dishonest
perhaps, but certainly unwise action of tn
few chiefs who in conjunction with skrewd
and designing agents and members Of
grasping syndicates, lease or virtually sell
fora pittance the largest and richest por-
tions of the Indian lands. There Is In
nine cases out of ten very suspicious and
questionable circumstances surrounding
these big land sales and leases by the govern
ment and the governments wards and
close scrutiny Of the terms and circum-
stances thereof by congress, the rightful
aud only guardian of the general publis's
interests in such matters, would not only
be the proper course but might be the
means of the prevention and punishment
of many frauds in the premises.
If the democratic house will turn its at
tention to this matter OF the sale and lease
of large tracts OF the public domain, and Of
the encroachmsnts by whites, whether
siugly or by syndicates, upon the Indian
lands, such attention may bring to lghl
facts and secure legislation that won
not only prevent gross frauds and unequal
contracts but prove very popular card
for the democracy in the national cam
paign Of 1884. The public has been for
long time looking with suspicion upon the
slipping away OF its vast common domain
and IDS possession by capitalists and corpor
atoms and the party that shall arrest this
wholesale destruction of thepublc's inter
ests aud preserve ss far as is now possib
this more than imperial domain to the peo
ple v III win the public's lasting regard and
practical approval.
| Co.