New-York tribune., 1885-07-07

General McCook's letter to Secretary Lamar,
relative to the illegal occupation of lands i'll the
Indian Territory, is a strong indictment. ten
eral McCOok, while Governor OF Colorado, had
ample opportunities to ascertain the truth ABOUT
these lands, and in this communication he gives
a long list of men who are now holding vast
tracts of Indian lands under lease at nominal
rentals. Now it is evident that no matter what
changes may be called for in the National
policy toward the Indians, it can never be
tolerated that spectators and selfish advent
urers should become the beneiiciarles OF the
Governments treaty land grants to Indians.
The Indians should be given in severalty such
lands as they can cultivate; all surplus Indian
territory should be taken by the Government at
a fair valuation and restored to the public
domain and tho Indians should be placed
under the jurisdiction of the laws of the United
States and in all respects treated rs white men
are.
But this policy does not involve acquiescence
in the tricks and subterfugcs by which few
rapacous men and corporations have already
parceled out millions of acres of Indian lands,
thus mt once defrauding the Indians and the
Government. Nor can it be put out of sight
that in many cases these land -grabbers are
foreigners who have no intention of becoming
American citizens, whose business is raising
cattle on great scale, and who are taking all
the money they make out OF the country. For
several wears complaints of this class have been
rife, and specific representations tending TO
show their contempt for American laws have
been frequent. To come down to the present
time the threatened trouble with the Utes OF
Southern Colorado has been declared to be due
10 the course OF IN English cattle company
the owners of which gave orders to Kill on sight
every Indian found off his reservation, whether
or not he possessed written authority for his
absence. 1t is said that this order was issued in
retaliation for raids upon the cattle, but that the
raids were really made by white men.
These foreign adventures first acquire UNI
lawful possession of Indian lands, and then
bring on Indian wars, which cost the people OF
the United States millions. General McCook
intimates that the d-grabbers possess great
political influence, and that they have hitherto
been able to prevent any action being taken to
oust them This il n serious charge, yet the
facts are patent (1) that these men have ana
hold Indian lands on leases which cannot be
legal. for the sufficient reason that the Indians
cannot lDiht NiHtH, anu NhS '"U''" ~
partmcnt has not made them; (2) that though
the llegaity of the leases has been commented
on frequently during the past three years, no
steps are known to have been taken to restore
the lands to the Indians. No doubt pressure OF
work at the Department may account for much.
but it is equally certain that the statements OF
General McCook demand instant consideration.
We believe that a radical reconstruction of the
Indian policy is needed; but whether or not that
i, effected the swarm of greedy spectators who
have seized the Indian lanls under specious
but illegal prctences, and who not only hold
them but promote Indian wars, ought to be
swept away with rs uncompromsing hand as
was recently put forth to secure Oklahoma
from lawlcss invasion.