Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-30
EDUCATIONAL EIGHT.

OKLAHOMA FIGHT.
As our readers are well aware the
EAGLE has urged no objections 10 the
of Oklahoma whenever il
could be done legally and without de-
the Indians by riding rough
shod through solemn treaty obliga-
tions. What we have objected 10 har
been the spirit evinced by the BOOM
crs who not only defied law but the
president Of the United States and SET
up as the interpreters Of
the law. They went into that country
under the leadership of man WI"
was never any thing but an adventurer'
TO put it mildly, aud at time whea
lands nearer aud better by the hundred
of thousands of acres were more ac-
cessable. They went there pure
ly in the spirit of specuia
tiou, in fact the whole boom was born
of that spirit as we are abundan'iy
able 10 show. For many months be-
fore any move was made towards
settlement hundreds of men were bied
of money by the leaders, who cared
nothing for Oklahoma and who would
have starved on the best quarter sec
ton of raw land in the country. Inc
editor of the EAGLE in public speeches
in this city has been denounced over
and again by Payne and others as
liar. hut the truth is that they lied and
the truth was and is on our side ana
will be. as the boomers VIII mo
ont. That they will be re-
moved there is not the least
doubt in the world il they haven't
been already unless congress shall take
some action. They now talk OF civil
processes and the courts in face OF the
fact that they have already had those
The Kansas City Journal of yester-
DAY goes into the whole question, NJ
GLIDING review of the history OF the
treaties, description of the country
and the claims of the Cherokees, SEM
inoles. Choctaws and Chicasaws from
which that paper concludes that SAID
lands caunot be legally settled untli
some action from congress Is had
The journal concludes its very able
article with the following conclusions:
Oklahoma is as much set apart for
Inaiau occupation, aud Indian occupa-
ton. exclusively, by treaty, MS by ex-
ecutive order any military reservation
is Withheld frem settlement, or by law
any part of the public domain Is set
anart for settlement under the home
stead act.
No white man. under the law, has
any right to invade Oklahoma and
seize for himself home. such nc,
tion is in olen Il, fiance of law and q
violation of a treaty obligation under
which the government rests, and
which il is its duty 10 hold sacred, ao'
solutely inyiolafe, even though the
other party TO the treaty be a tribe OF
two OF Indians.
This is the Oklahoma question in a
nutshell, and ii has reached The
Doipt IN AZ these lands have become SO
valuable and this region of the com
try SO desirable for homes for white
men. there Is but one way by which
the right to settle TO Oklahoma may
be acquired, and that il is through
annrnnriQfn6 the
money tor the purchase of these lands
and ratified the treaty reserving
them for exclusive occupation by In
dams
Reasoning thus, and from sound pre-
mi-es, we can not approve of the Ell
forts of the so-called Oklahoma cnlon-
lists TO take up lands in the territory
Their seizure would be nnwarrnted in
law. and the situation become more
deplorable when it is said that the
coloui-ts contemplate carrying their
defiance so far a TO resist the suihori-
ties awfulIy constituted TO enforce the
obligations under which the govern
ment rests. Resistance to the govern
ment will entail bloodshed-that all
good people will deplore, and all hope
that it NAV be averted by the nolouists
coming to their senses and realizing
that the lawful way 10 get home will
be the best and surest.
Not only is the government obligat-
cd 10 remove these colonists, at what
ever cost. but all Others who may be
trespassing on Oklahoma lands. If il
be true that cattle companies have in
some way or another acquired hold
in the territory, they along with the
colonists shonld be marched across its
borders.
The Oklahoma question is now be-
fore congress. the only authority
which can adjust the differences en-
tertained as TO whether or not Okla
homa is a part of the public domain.
Legislation put it apart fer certain de-
fined purposes, and legislation may
see way TO open the territory 10
white settlement. Until congress does
legislate upon Oklahoma the govern
ment has assumed that il is right in
Withholding these lands from white
occupation, keeping them inviolate.
and it will profit no one TO kick
against the pricks.-