The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-02-12

across the country. The troops too from
India are accustomed to the heat they
would have TO encounter.
-----------s---...@
OKLAHOMA AND THE FILIBUsrERs.
A subscriber writes us 40 to Okla
homa asking for It's history, etc. For
some time these lands In the Indian ter
rltory. known as Oklahoma, have been
sought by cltlzsns for settlement. These
intruders have been again latelyremoyed
by United States troops The intrudors
lately held an indignation meeting at
Topeka. They seem TO favor a stran-
ger movement with a view to seize the
lands. They described President Arthur's
execution Of the laws as IAN outrage
that would disgrace the worst mon
archy," and they referee to their own
adv mere at Saltwater Creek as having
"but one parallel In history" namely,
the horrors of "the border ruflan days."
II should DO careful lly observed that they
do no. claim TO be border rufians OF this
comparison, but the Innocent yictims.
The United States Senate, only a few
days since, referred to Its Indian Com
mittee a proposition to peaceably pur'
chase the right 10 throw open these
lands 10 entry. The House has Inserted
In the Indian Appropriation bill a clause
empowering the President TO treat with
the Indians for the REIMBURSEMENT OF
their rights In the surplus lands OF this
region. But the Kansas Glibusters are
not Satisfied with this action. They ap
parently prefer TO defy the laws, espec'
tally % this may be done, up to certain
poiut' with impunity.
The country called Oklahoma is In the
heart OF the Indian territory, On maps
published by the Interior Department II
appears as q region extending from the
Canadian River on the south to the
CimmTon on the north, and from the
land occupied by the Iowis, Kickapoos,
and PottawatomIes on the east 10 that
occupied by the Cheyennes and Arapa'
hoes on the west, This gives about a
million and a quarter acres, and would
put It's nearest llue one hundred and
twenty miles from the Kansas border.
To reach II, this distance must DO
traversed by going through u%uoccupied
land known ~ the Cherokee country, al.
though the Cherokees now all live east
Of this strip. Originally the land called
Oklahoma was much larger. When &C.
Qaired from the Creeks and seminoles,
In 1865, the former tribe sold to the
Government 3,260,b60 acres at 80 cents
On acre, and tho latter sold 2.l6e,0S0
acres NJ IL cents, The aggregate was
5,429, $40 acres, costing $1,000, $50. Upon
parts OF this domain many tribes, tho
5eminoles, the sacs and Foxes, the
pottawatomles, the Kickopoos and
the Cheyennes aud Arapahoes,
have been placed, and II 10 only the
mail remainder which the f~libustors
lbsurdly suppose 10 be, by the simple
virtue OF this purchase OF 1855, without
survey or ceremony, public do
main. open for entry.
The land In question would have cost
Tery little nj the price spoken Of, II
purchased Internationally In fee. But
that Ia Just what was not done, and
here comes the root Of the present
These lands were situated In
Tho heart Of the country set apart for
.he Indians only, and because the civ.
liked Indian tribes wished 10 protect
themselves from the conflicting inter.
'sts OF whites, both the Seminole and
Creek treaties OF 1866 distinctly limited
no future occupancy Of the ceded
by duplicate provisions, one OF
which runs as follows:
"In compliance with tho desire Of the
United States TO locate other Indians
Ind freedmen thereon, tho Croaks here
by cede and convey to the United States,
% be sold 10 and uaed 40 homes for such
civilized Indians % the United
states may choose 10 settle thereon, tho
west half Of their entire domain, To DO
by line running north and
Now this 10 all there 10 Of tho cues.
lion % II stands. Unless COUGHS adven.
.urors are Indians or freedmen, and as
,uch the Government chooses To put
hem on the Oklahoma lands, they have
no right there. The Government ac-
these lands nj q low price for q
purpose. and proceeded faith
10 execute that purpose In regard
10 more than three, fourthe Of the pur.
chase. IL 10 40 much bound by it, con.
tract In reference 10 the remaining por'
ton, for which II has no Immediate use,
as In reference 10 the parts already 90.
Negotiations are ordered 10 soc wheth.
or u release from this condition In re-
gard TO the Oklahoma lands 10 desirable.
md II desirable whether II 10 practic.
able. When Congress has done thia II
hae done oil that " ought 10 do. Mean
while the Government must keep order.
GATH, otherwise George Alfred Town.