Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-06
THEY MARCHED UP THE HILL AND
THEN MARCHED DOWN AGAIN.

President Cleveland has had the cour-
age to stand up against the cattle raiders
Of the Southwest, and we who opposed his
election can afford to recognize his firm
ness. They went in upon Indian lands,
knowing that they were trespassers. The
Government warned them that it would
prove true to Its obligation to the Indian
tribes, aud protect them in their landed
rights. The cattlemeu paid no attention
to this. They drove in their herds,
in defiance Of law, and trusted 20 the
Government at the last coming over 10
their side and neglecting the Indians
claim for protection. II must be confessed
that the record of the acts of the Govern
nIent of the United States in relation to
indians on reservations, in the past twenty
years, gave encouragement TO this ex-
pectation. Bat. for once the trespassers
have been awakened to q realization of the
fact that the Indian and the Government
OF the United States have rights even
cattlemen are bound to respect On Tues
day a delegation on their behalf called on
President Cleveland to solicit a modifea-
ton of his forty day notice to the drovers
to evacuate the premises they have in
vaded. 1t was a strong and a very large
oiegation, backed by representative
wealth, political influence and social and
official importance The President was
told that 20 move the cattle out now
meant ruin to the owners and n possible
panic in all the Southwest, and all man
ner Of evil and ill. We can well imagine
how the delegation bore down upon the
Executive, and how they pressed him with
excuses for delay and reasons for mercy
But he was inAcxiblc. In the words of
the slang Of the day, "he stood of the
whole batch Senators, editors capital
iss, Mayors military men and Congress
men. He told them that the cattle must
go, and that General Sheridan would see
to it that they were moved Said the
President;
There is one point that seems to escape your
attention. That point is before my eye. and it is
in the public interest We have lately seen
what fear can be created by thirty or forty Indi-
ans Within two hours n letter has come to my
desk from the Governor Of Kansas, urging that
the troops On the border of that State should not
be withdrawn. The highest officer in the army
one experienced IN the Indian affairs, reports
the situation in The Territory and says the cause
OF irritation is the presence OF cattlemen. sec
.AF.4
apart for the Indians. Only one tenth. O,G00
acres is left. They are crowded down to the
Agency. Some OF this may have been secured
with the consent of the Indians. II is apparent
TO me, as it is to you, that this state of things
cannot continue. Two interests are in conflict;
which shall give way? On one side we have
public peace, public security and safety of lives.
ON the other side are your interests. The for
mer, gentlemen, must be considered, though
priyae interests suffer. The question of putting
off this removal until next spring is inedmissi-
ble-the order cannot be modified 1 want 70
see some diligence in complying with the order
Twelve days have passed-precious time is lost
An effort made s.ter the order was issued to
secure an extension of time A dispatch was
sent, saying in the most positive terms that the
order could rot be modified, and here you are
after twelve days have passed. If any iudul
genee is shown it must be an application in spe
ciic cases, with evidence that an effort has beer
made 10 comply with the order If your inter
ests led You out of the Territory instead of in,
cannot help but think you would find some WAY
out in the specified time. wish you would co
operate and take hold and try to get the cattlt
of. No argument viii induce me 10 chang,
what has been done. Some loss and inconye
nience will no doubt follow. hut there is an in
terest greater than yours that must receive at
tention.
There is Z ring about that speech W,
like, and ii comes from The President O
the United States, not from Grover Clevo
land the Democrat, but from one who see
his duty in the premises clearly, and pro
poses to do it. IF the Government can b
brought to forbid the utter destruction Q
tie navigability of the Sacramento rive
and San Francisco bay, matter Of tran
scendent importance, viii sny one no,
doubt that the order will be enforced
There was great deal Of significance il
the remarks Of two of the retiring delesa
tion for the cattlemen: " We walked up t