Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-04-23
Thursday, April 23. 1885.

WHATEVER may be the meritsl or
otherwise Of the course pursued by
the administration in regard TO the
opening of the reservations, it is evil
IDENTIFY the result of a well matured
policy and thorough examination of
treaty obligations. The Oklahoma
case is specially in point. Captain
Couch, the noted boomer, and en-
ponent of the several thousands Of at
tempted claim holders, in his inter
view with the powers at Washington,
was very plainly assured that the
land was reserved for Indian occu-
pancy, and the government was
pledged to protect the red men in its
possession. No white men could ac-
quire any rights there while the pres
ent treaty obligations are operative.
The cattle men who invaded the ter
ritory and were allowed by Secretary
Teller 10 remain, have been notified
that they must vacate. In pursuance
OF the same policy and regard for
what are deemed binding provisions,
the hastily signed order Of President
Arthur admitting the invasion of the
Winnebago and Crow reservations, is
declared off, and the eager occupants
required TO remove. In view Of the
persistent refusal or neglect of Con-
gress to take any action on the sub
ject, the issuance OF the order by the
late President during the closing
hours of his administration, no doubt
in good natured compliance with
urgent importantly, is open To yues-
tion as to the character of the intlu-
ences prompting this course. The
statement of Hon. ID. NJ. Kelleher, OF
jamestown, perhaps furnishing some
clue to them. In will be noted that
he claims knowledge of land grab
bing combination, in which his
political friend, the Dakota member
of the national Democratic conven-
tion, then with him at Washington,
was largely Interested and at once
started with Il carpet bag of script to
gobble up the choice lands at little
expense. Mr.. Kelleher is cautious
old-time Dakotan and his statements
will be taken with due consideration.
Ii is learned also from other sources
that IL is understood at Washington
that the greater part of the lands
taken in those reservations is In the
hands Of spectators, and the reputa-
tion Of good many prominent men
in the southerly regions is suggestive
of schemes. II is not regarded as a
worthy function Of the Washington
government to subserve the ends of
men who are seeking to monopolize
lands and fatten upon the needs of
actual home seekers. II this is the
solution Of the pressure so persistently
brought TO bear at Washington for
the opening, public sentiment will be
greatly modified. There will be re-
gret and sympathy for the honest, IN
dustrious home seekers, but little con-
cern for the failure of the machina-
tion Of unscrupulous and unselfish
purveyors upon the public estate.
There has been little of the common
veal involved in the present throwing
down Of the fences into the the In-
dian pastures, as there Is an abund-
ance Of the choicest government land
elsewhere awaiting the occupancy OF
settlers. Some who had designed to
locate in the north have been diverted
by the glamour and clamor Of the In
dian sections, aud they have Joined
In the scramble with loss and injury
to them. and for the time deprived
the north Of some Of the class OF popu-
lation specially desired.