Wichita eagle., 1886-10-21
OPENING OF OKLAHOMA.
Tie Opposition Of President Cleve-
lands Administration.
Records and Facts GOVERN. the Entire Qces-
tion OF Its Settlement.

Records and Facts Covering the Entire (ceS-
tion OF Its Settlement.
There has been studied effort upon the
part of Democratic papers and politicians
in Kansas, to lay the failure Of the opening |
of the Indian Territory, and especislly OF
the district of Oklahoma, at the door OF |
Senator Plumb, Congressman Peters and
others of the Kansas delegation. While |
the EAGLE had 10 sympathy with the
boomers in their attempts to force matters |
in the face of Arthur's proclamations, we
repeatedly set out the fact that Senator
Plumb was industriously at work endeav-
oring to convince the senate and adn-lnss-
tration that the thing was inevitable ana
that therefore the sooner the whole matter
was taken cure OF and the Territory opened
by proper legislation, the better it would be
for all concerned, including the Indians.
Mr.. Plumb made the only notable speech
in the senate on the question, extracts from
which were published by this paper. Judge
Peters and Ryan in the House were just as
earnest After action had been secured by
both houses, directing President Cleveland,
who in refusing to comply, replies by de-
nominating the men who were asking
settlement Of the question as unlawful com
binat;ons. The Emporia Repub-
lican of yesterday, treating OF
the presidential attitude, says that
the people Of southwestern Kan
sas. who have been largely interested in the
settlement of Oklahoma, have had their
hopes in this direction crushed by the pol
icy of the present administration. The sec
retary of the interior in his report for 1885
characterizes those citizens of Kansas and
other ststes who sought to make homes in
that country as 'outlaws and depredators
and says they will discover the impossible
ity of success when they find themselves
confronted by the law of the land, strength
ened by the civil and military arm and
backed by the moral sentiment of just
people" Congress authorized the presl-
dent to open negotiations for the opening
of the Oklahoma country. This favorable
action of congress was secured by the efforts
of Senator Plumb, Hon. Thos. Ryan, Hon.
s. r. Peters and other members OF our dele
cation, who did all they could, in the face
of a fresh and hostile administration, to
aid the people in their efforts to settle IN
this desirable country. So, the Republl-
can representatives from Kansas got
| through q measure authorizing the presi
dent to open negotiations for these lands
through commission, but, the administra
ton, arrogant with an unexpected politica
victory. refused to carry it out, and, to caI
the climax. characterized this advance
guard of daring pioneers as "outlaws.
And vet, we understand. some OF thes'
men who have been beaten back and in
suited are voting the Democratic ticket
Those that do so simply lick the hand tha
smites them. To show that our statemen
of the case is correct we copy from the re
port of L. Q. c. Lamar, Mr.. Cleveland
secretary of the interior, what he says o.
the Oklahoma question as follows;
By the third article of the treaty Of Au
rust IS. 1866 "a Stat, 1861, it is stipulated
8 that Gin compliance with the desire of tn
United States to locate other Indians an
8 freedmen thereon, the ScminOles ceded t
the United States theiJ entire domain col
sistinr Of 2 1853, ESQ acres, at the rate OF |
/ cents per acre.
By the third article Of the treaty of A,
3 gust II, 1866 Ubid., 1859, the Greeks, fc
: the same purpose, ceded to the Unite
: States the west half of their entire domain
g which cession passed 3,402 ,430 acres, ;
the rate of 80 cents per acre. The two ce'
sions combined aggregate 5,511 ,41O acre
The Indians have been paid therefor a
cording to agreement.
In pursuance of the pdrpose for whic
these lands were ceded to the United State
q portions on the east and the west thercC
have been from time to time set apart fC
and assigned to certain tribes and bands
: friendly Indians for their use and occ
So pancy.
That portion of the land remaining Ii
appropriated to the trust provided for
j, the treaties lies very nearly in the center
u the Indian Territory 1t is this unappr
priated tract that is commonly called Il
r .sOklahoma country" No agent of Il
government resides upon this land, and
!, is not occupied in any way by any pers6
u or persons for any purpose under any a
&c thority of this department
l. An organized movement by certain pc
], sons was begun and set on foot some yea
past for the forcible possession OF and st
le tlement upon these lands under the pl
ID that they formed part Of the public d
lc main and were subject to entry and settl
in ment under the general land laws Of t
.e United States 70 prevent such unlawf
u and unauthorized settlements it becan
necessary for the executive to
e sue the proclamation of Ap
A. %, 1879, February u, 1880, az
:, July t. 1881, defining the status OF tho
!" lands, and warning all persons against al
ic attempts to 90 or settle thereupon. 1t b;
also been necessary to use !: part of the n
&c itary force of the United States to reno
hi intruders who had succeeded in getting in
d that country
tie When assumed charge of this depa
er ment it was alleged that certain individ
ty ais, associations of persons. and corpol
hc tons were in the unauthorized posseSsi
nd of portions of the Oklahoma Country
}, and also that certain other portions and .
ar socia;ions were preparing 10 enter. occu,
st ard settle upon said lands.
- The matter was considered, and the pr,
il ident. or the 18th of March. 1885. issu
ne his proclamation warning all persons tn
ri lpon the lands, and those intending, p
ty narinq or threatening 10 enter and set
hat .i.ax- l,1-