Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-09-16

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 il they should come TO
Wichita and ask for band of music to es-
cort them from the depot to public hall,
that they might relate the story of their
wrongs? They have suffered no wrongs, and
they have too much sense to complain. They
occupied that country without the shadow
Of law, and while they did not insult the Of
fcers of their government by threats of
armed resistance as did the braggat Payne,
they were none the less intruders, and they
could not appeal for protection tc that law
which they had violated.
And now we will ask the rink meeting
sympathizers how many ofthem understood
fully the character of the last offense Of
Payne, and how it differed from his
other offences. Ii will surprise
many to learn that this last
attempt at settlement was not upon Okla
homa lands at all, but was upon the Chero-
kee lands known as the Cherokee strip or
outlet. Even Judge Mcdonald in his speech
at the Friday night meeting is reported to
have said he believed "All these lands had
reverted to the government but the Chero-
kee strip" 1t is understood by all, and
nobody has disputed the proposition, that
the lands known as the Cherokee strip actu-
ally belonged to the Cherokee Indians, and
what crazy notion Payne had in making
settlement upon their lands has never been
explained. He represents that rich cattle
men occupy these lands; and we answer
that rich men occupy lands in Sedgwick
county, but Capt. Payne would be handled
roughly if he should attempt to settle upon
any Of these large farms without permission
of the owner. We have not the space to-
day to give the history of the Cherokee ma
ton, and the different acts of congress, and
acts of treaty, by which they acquired title,
but it is enough to say their title is absolute
they cannot convey it in fee without the
consent of the government.
Now that portion of their land lying west
Of the 96th parallel the Chorokees have
made no use of since the game was exhaust
ed and they have let il for wears to cattle
and sheep men for grazing purposes only.
They permit no blowing of the land nor the
erection of any permanent buildings. After
upon these lands several years and paying
by the head, the parties who were SO occu-
pied formed themselves into an association
and rented this land in body, paying for
the use of the lands 100000 per annum in
two half yearly payments in advance. To
call this a ring or monopoly is absurd.
All persons who came were permit
ted TO hold herds of cattle,
horses and sheep en- these lands,
and the man with one hundred head as
much right to come as was welcome as
the man with ten thousand. All paid by
the head and it did not matter to the Indi-
ans so long as enough came to occupy all
the lands, that they might get the largest
revenue. 1t was during this state Of things
that Mr.. Mccoy, who presided at the Payne
meeting, was employed to collect pay or tax,
as it was then called. The types make Mr..
Mccoy say that the government, (mcanng
the federal government, collected this tax,
thus proving the government claimed the
lands as public domain. If Mr. Mccoy said
this, or only the reporter said it, Mr.. Mccoy
knows it to be untrue. All these taxes or
rents were collected for the Cherokee nation,
or rather by the Cherokee nation. for they
are quite competent to transact their own
business, and MIR. Mccoy was sooE succeed
ed as collector by members of the tribe.
Now we have shown that these lands were
occupied by all corners without respect Of
persons-by rich and by poor, by black and
by whte--and all who chose to remain and
engage in the lease for five wears were not
only permitted but invited to do 81. We are
not advised as to the number Of persons en-
gagged in making this lease, but We are sure
there are several thousands directly and in
directly interested in it. And this is the
and these are the lands on to which
the modest Captain Payne, like IA French
Communist, landed his lazy carcass, and
hosting over his rebellious head the Amer |
can flag defied the renters of the land, the |
owners of the land, and the government
whose duty it is to protect all its citizens.