National Republican., 1885-08-03
CATTLE IN THE INDIAN TERRI.
TORY.


The order of the President of the
United States requiring the occupants of
leased lands in the Indian territory to
remove their herds thereirom within
forty days from July %, is impossible
Of execution, and violative alike Of
private rights and public policy.
The REPUBLICAN believes that no such
order could have been promulgated if the
President had been fully advised Of all
the circumstances relating to the leases
Of the lands in question, and the business
that has grown up under these leases.
The REPUBLICAN has no doubt what.
ever that Gen. Sheridan was grossly de.
ceived, and that, while intending to do
right, he was made the instrument for
promoting a great wrong.
The validity Of these leases is not u
new question. 1t was raised when Mr..
Teller was Secretary of the Interior, and
was by him decidedin favor ofthe lessees.
These gentlemen claim that they have
fulfilled all the requirements of law, and
that they have had no trouble with the
Indians. 1t is altogether probable that
private interests rather than the public
good have been the potential factors in
working up the public sentiment that is
voiced in the Presidents order.
Many of the leases have passed into
the hands Of persons who had no original
connection with them, and again into
other and still other hands, with the
tacit consent and implied approval of
the government, so that, if there had
been any original informality, which is
sloutly denied by the cattlemen, the
present holders are innocent. They have
staked their fortunes on the good faith of
the government.
There are 5000 head of cattle, worth
about $4,000, 600, on the lands covered
by the peremptory order Of removal.
There are no ranches available except
in Wyoming or Montana, ten or twelve
hundred miles away. lfit were possible
10 drive the cattle to those territories
they would get there late in the fall and
in bad order, so that they could not be
wintered in so cold climate. Texas
cattle must be taken to high lattudes in
the spring, if it is proposed to winter
them there, for process of gradual ac
climati2ation is absolutely indispensable.
To drive these cattle to Wyoming or
Montana would require 200 men and
1000 horses, force not obtainable at
this time.
But if the men and horses were at
hand and the fatal objection on the score
of climate were removed, the way would
still be barred by the law of Kansas
which prohibits Texas cattle from cross.
ing or coming into that state until late
in the fall-and not at that time unless
they have been quarantned for whole
year.
From these iacts-which we assume
the President could not have had in his
possession-it will be seen that the order
Of removal is fatal blow to $4,000, 900
worth Of property-to this vast amount
of property which has rested in security
on the tacit consent of the government
to the occupancy of the leased lands.
1t is the belief of The RETfBLIcAN
that the President has intended to do no
wrong, but, for all that, this order con.
templates an injury as serious as would
result from the sending out of an armed
cruiser to prey on the commerce of the
United States.
There is no public necessity that de.
mands the preparation Of such private
injury AS the destruction of So, 600, 900 of
property. The order should be recalled
and some other method agreed upon by
which the objects of the government can
be attained without destroying great
and useful industry.