Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-07
WHAT HE SHOULD SAY.

We print to-day letter signed ''X. X"
on the attitude of the President towards
the cattlemen in the Indian Territory, in
which the views set forth are correct, as
we think. But upon looking over the
organ of the Republican party here,
different view is noted, and, being ad-
vanced by the journal which "holds the
foremost place among newspapers for
thousand miles in either direction"
is the correct one. Many people believe
that the order of the President in regard
to the removal of cattle from the Indian
Territory should be obeyed, and that the
law is superior to the interests OF cattle
men in that Territory. At least this is the
view of the President, and is the one that
will doubtless prevail. But the Tribune
says it is wrong. 1t suggests a much
easier and more effective way of proceed
ing, and then goes on to say what
Abraham Lincoln would have an
swered had he been in President
Cleveland's place. 1t says, "we think
Abraham Lincoln in Mr.. Cleveland's
place would have answered them more
like this: "You cannot move your stock
in August, that is plain enough. Then l
presume many of the stockmen are hold
ing under leases which they believed at
the time they were obtained were legal.
1t is bad state OF affairs, and you
must help me out of it. You say you
have 250,0 head of cattle; now | am
going to send special agent back with
you to see that the Indians are fed, and
to inform them that in few months they
shall have their ground. In Sep
tember you must drive out $4,000 head
of stock, and you must drive out an equal
number every month until all are out.
This arrangement / am going to make
known to the Indians, and you must see
that the agreement is kept in good faith. "
This course of reasoning very strongly
reminds one Of the arguments adduced
by the Herald in it's articles on "The
Wisdom of Halt" How pleasant it is
to think that the spirits of great
men departed dwell in the sanctum
of the Tribune, and that when occasion
arises they sometimes voice their thoughts
and use the Tribune as a medium. The
Tribune is a regular historical phonograph,
and by turning the crank any mans
voice may be heard and his sentiments
known. If the Tribune only knew it and
would profit by its knowledge, it would
be the most successful spiritual medium
ever known, while the experiences Of
the Fox sisters and Judge Edwards
would be nothing compared to its
experiences. Think for one moment
of the power it possesses, and how
modest it is in its use of it. Is
there another paper in Utah or the
Union that would not use such a power
to its own advantage far more than the
Tribune does? This very power of being
able to tell what great men would have
said upon all questions of any moment,
Justly entities the Tribune to hold "the
foremost place among newspapers for a
thousand miles in either direction" 1t is
far better guide in such matters than
Virgil proved to be to Dante when to-
gether they wandered through Inferno and
the neither regions; in fact, it is a
power greater than the gift of tongues, a
gift which upset Edward Irving. If one
may be so bold as to encroach upon the
Tribune'S domain of prophecy, we should
say that were Abraham Lincoln alive and
in President Cleveland's place he would
have said to the cattlemen's delegation: i:
Gentlemen, am much pleased to see
you, and have been much interested in
the story of your grievances. The
matter of which you speak is
something of which neither you
nor know much, and if you
would know all about it and have
your grievances heard and your wrongs
righted, just call upon the Tribune and
everything will be done according to JUS
tice and your wishes. If you should have
any difficulty in determining which Trib-
une you are to call upon you will know it
from the fact that it holds the foremost
place among newspapers for a thousand
miles in either direction Any one will
point out the office. The President is
off wrong in this business, sure, gentle
men,"