The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-02

!
, Oklahoma, 1877, 100 acres, lies south
, of the Cherokee Land Strip, which
! bars the way 10 il from Kansas and
other Northern States. On the west oil
, II lie those Cheyenne and Arrapahoe
reserves, from which the cattle of some
big cattle syndicates were expelled by
. the government last summer under a
proclamation Of Mr.. Cleveland. "Okla-
noma, Secretary Lamar says in his re-
port, lis not occupied in any way by
any person or persons for any purpose
under any authority OF this depart
ment." As a matter of fact, however,
II is to-day ranged over by1not less
than 100000 cattle. These cattle are in
part those driven by the government
from the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe re-
servations last summer and which
their owners put into Oklahoma, and
in part cattle of the men who have
sublet parts OF the adjoining Chero ee
Land STRIP and who range freely south
ward. SO that from all this vast terri
tory OF ii 900, 600 acres, a region nearly
as large as Maryland and Massachu-
sets together, white settlers are kept
/
termined cattle ring has subsidized the
Indians to resist all pesuasions by the
government TO allow this vast terri
tory not occupied by them, and to
which they have no right whatever, 10
be opened TO white settlement.
AND STILL MORE CATTLE.
But the Cherokee Land Strip Cattle
Company does not sit still. These en-
terprising people mean TO extend
their already great boundaries. Then.
again, the Caldwell Journal for March
nth, reports that
AZ meeting of cattemen held at
the Sac and Fox Agency, Indian Ter
rltory, on February 9th, an organiza-
ton was perfected TO be known as the
Sac and Fox Agency Live Stock AS
ISOLATION" embracing within its linn
its the country between the Cherokee
strip on the north and South Canadian
river on the south, with the Creek
and Seminole nations on the east and
the Indian meridian as the western
boundary
That is to say, they are leasing In
dian reservations covering many hun
dred thousand additional acres Of
land, and, of course, these Indians TO
whom they will pay money will also
resist any attempt TO open the snare
lands OF the Indian Territory 10 white
settlers.
THE INDIANS AS LANDHoLDERs.
There are ~, 469 Indians, half-breeds
and adopted Indians Gin the Indian
Territory. They hold Al 1921 acres |
OF land. II would be tedious TO give |
all their separate holdings, but here
are some samples which show how
ridiculous and unjustifiable is the |
claim OF friends of the Indians that
they must not on any account be in
terfered with except with their own
consent particularly when the gov
eminent has tolerated and continues
TO tolerate system under which cat
Tie men are allowed to b ibe these In
dams TO remain Indians, and to ex-
clude from this vast area all white
settlers, on any terms whatever. The
following are from official returns:
The lowas number only 9S persons,
but they hold 22S,4l8 acres of land
which, by the way, they are Just leas-
ing to a cattle syndicate.
The Kansas number 225 persons
They hold l00,l37 acres of land.
~, Inc kickapoos number 346 persons.
They hold 206, 1866 acres.
The Quapaws number fifty-two per
sons. They hold $685. acres.
The Eastern Shawnees number six
lynne persons. They hold l3,04S
acres.
The various Indians ON the Peoria
reservation number 9O6 persons. They
hold 50,30l acres.
The list might be extended, but
.hese samples are surely enough.
WHY CATTLE AND NOT MEN?
The question which Congress ought
o ask is why this great area should
% open to cattle, but not 10 men and
VomenY A cattle syndicate can 90 i'm
md lease from ninety-eight Iowas. il /
Gems their 22S,000 acres of land
ease 1t to keep out men. Why cannot
ne government, which Congress has !
declared to be the guardian Of the In {
ians, deal with its wards in favor of !
IS citizens who want homes? \
The Cheyennos and Arrapahoes. 1
Nlchltas, kiowas and Comanches I
lumber IN all 1000 men, women and
hildren. Their reservations cover
,OlO,214 acres. II every individual :
] these Indians, man, woman and =
hid, were assigned 100 acres, there :,
would still remain more that six mil :
ion acres left for the settlement of In. :.
ustrious and white farmers. But H. r
THAT would be far better for the In :,
ians, each family were settled on 100 +
ores, there would remain 1850. 600 .
ores thus open for the use of farmers. =
his, ut 100 acres for farm, would
make 10000 Farms, and would omen
omes for a white population OF at
East 100000. Is it right to leave il all g.
o 1000 Indians, who will presently +,
ease II to cattle men?
The Indians ought not to be /,
vronged, But, as they are wards of G
he nation so declared by act of Con- n
ress, their guardian must have the u
light TO act for them for their own in G
crest, and must exercise this right 4
I only that disposition of their prom v
rty is to be made which is pie sing a
o them, then they are no longer :
wards and no longer und the special
of the government as mi
nor or persons incapable of guar ING
themselves, In that case they must
are for themselves as other men do,
md their estates will soon be squan,
tered. II they are to have thespec al
gu rdianship and care of the govern
ment, then Congress has a right To
that they shall be ON farms
N moderate area, so OF 100 acres TO
family, and that the rest of their vast
possessions shall be sold for their ben
eft, and sold, not to cattle syndicates
Or land spectators, hut in small par
cells TO actual settlers. Nor is IL safe
Tor Congress to delay doing this much
onger. The Indians themselves will
be the worst sufferers by such DELAY
"a Important Arrest.
Toe a'r'tt Of 3 suspicious character
l,uu a' general appearance, move
uc g. compsnionship without wa /
rg unui be has robbed a traveller.
H.. kntaan