Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-19

such. We are not friendly to land monpo-
lies, nor any other monopoly, nor the ag-
gregation of capital in any way which cur
tails the rights of the many for the aggran-
dizement of the few. Our interests and our
sympathies are, and always have been, with
the people, and against rings; and this
brings US back to the settlement
Of Oklahoma. We believe the time is near
at hand when the Oklahoma country should
be open to settlement, and we are satisfied
this is growing conviction in the minds of
all our western Legislators in the Federal
congress, without regard to party. But we
do not believe friendly legislation can be Sc
cured by the methods adopted by the adj
venturer Payne and his followers. Payne
has never sought by legislation to have the
legal obstacles to the settlement of that eoun-
ty removed, but he has assumed to exercise
the functions of the judicial, legislative and
executive branches of the federal govern
ment. He has sat in in Judgment on the
question, and decided in opposition to the
best legal talent of the United States, that
the disputed district was open to settlement;
and in defiance of the decisions of courts.
and the proclamations of presidents, forbid
ding settlement, he has with an armed force.
invaded the country and committed acts of
instruction. The treatment of Payne and
his followers, during all these years of Of
Tending, is characteristic of our government,
and is unlike that of any other government
known to history, 1t seems to be almost
fault of our system of government that it is
too magnanimous, too merciful to its citi-
zens. when they commit overt acts against
the constituted authorities. In any other
country Payne would have been convicted
and been severely punished. But the mercy
shown 10 these political offenders has been
repaid with taunts. 1t has been called a
'temporizing policy" "cowardice," and IAN
evidence that Paynes claims were acknow-
lodged" etc. 1t has been also charged that
the administration was complicated with cat
tlemen and his fraud exposued, and
many other things equally absurd.
To those who make these state
ments. knowing them to be false, we have no
reply to make.
The Oklahoma country, so called, was set
apart by an act of congress for certain peo-
pies uses, and until released from the oper-
ations of this act and devoted to the uses BY
the same authority, that country is no more
subject to settlement by Capt. Payne than
ear the parks in the District of Columbia. That
it has not been used for the purpose to
which it was dedicated does not make
it public lands open to settlement,
and it can only become so by
an act of the federal congress, which we be-
ieve can be easily secured, but not by
threats of armed invasion.
Again, Capt. Payne and his followers are not
denied the privileges in Oklahoma which are
or have been granted to cattle men. Let us
put this so plaidly that ''the wayfaring man,
though fool, need not err therein.
Cattle men have been granted no privilege
in Oklahoma which Capt Payne and his fol-
lowers or any other citizen of the United
States, may not freely enjoy. And wha. are
these much talked of privileges Cattle men
going on Indian lands, by the authority of
the Indians adjoining the Oklahoma coun-
try, could see no objection to their cattle
grazing on the Oklahoma district, and, little
by little, their cattle drifted on to those
lands. H. NJ. Teller, secretary of the Inter-
Tor, was informed of these facts, and he
instructed Major Devices, post
commander at Fort Reno, to warn all per-
sons in the Oklahoma country that it was
unlawful for them to build fences, or cor
rails, or erect houses, or pillow the lands, or
to do any act in the nature of permanent
settlement. In the meantime the boomers
so-called invaded the country, and COM
the work Of permanent settlement.
Some of the holder of the cattle men built
temporary post and wire fence; some built
log houses, and some put up hay for the sad
die ponies the coming winter. These facts
were again reported to Secretary Teller, and
he at once called upon the secretary of war
for military force to destroy these i'm
provements. General Hatch, now COM
at Fort Reno, ordered the cattle
men to remove all these improvements with
in thirty days. The cattle men answered
that they made no claim to permanent
Judgement in the country-that their i'm
provements were only temporary and were
they did not defy the gov
but rather asked for mercy, and
while waiting for an answer to this respect
full request, the soldiers were sent out and
actually cut down their fences, and burned
their houses and their hay stacks. Now,
what would the people of Wichita think of
these cattle men if they should come to
Wichita and ask for band of music to es-
rort them from the depot to public hall,
hat they might relate the story of their
wrongs. They have suffered no wrongs, and
hey have too much sense to complain. They
occupied that country without the shadow
Of law, and while they did not insult the Of |
icers of their government by threats of |
armed resistance as did the baggart PAYNE, |
hey were none the less intruders, and they |
could not appeal for protection to that law |
which they had violated.
And now we will ask the rink meeting |
how many Of them understood |
'ully the character of the last offense Of
Payne, and how it differed from his
,ther offences! 1t will surprise
many TO learn that this last
.ttempt at settlement was not upon Okla
loma lands at all, but was upon the Chero-
zee lands known US the Cherokee strip or
'utlet. Even Judge Mcdonald in his speech
It the Friday night meeting is reported to
lave said he believed "Ail these lands had
everted to the government but the Chero-
Zee strip" 1t is understood by all, and
'obody has disputed the proposition, that
he lands known as the Cherokee strip act,i-
lily belonged to the Cherokee Indians, and
What crazy notion Payne had in making
ettlement upon their lands has never been
Explained. He represents that rich cattle
nen occupy these lands; and We answer
hat rich men occupy lands in Sedgwick
ounty, but Capt. Payne would be handled
oughly if he should attempt to settle upon ,
ny of these large farms without permission ,
the owner. We have not the space to-
ay to give the history of the Cherokee ma
on, and the different acts of congress, and
It's of treaty, by which they acquired title,
ut it is enough to say their title is absolute !
nd perfect, with the single reservation that |
lev cannot convey it in fee without the a