Wichita eagle., 1888-01-25
RESULTS OF OPENING OKLAHOMA.

the question of opening the Indian terri
tory west the lands Of the Cherokees,
Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws and
Osages will become part of our nation
al politics this year. Influential Demo
cratic politicians affect to believe that
the territory would become Democratic
while Republicans of experience believe
that the chances are equally good for it
to become Republican. However either
belief may turn out in the end, every
person possessing much knowledge in the
premises must concede that the
territory once open would fill up with
the greatest rapidity ever known, even in
the mercurial west. Owing to the pecu-
liar constitution of Wichita's population
and its contiguity to the proposed new
territory, the opening of it to set
Element would effect this city greatly.
Naturally grave fears must be entertain
ed that it may. as it undoubtedly will,
make quite draft on our population.
The EAGLE IN its policy towards the
Oklohama question heretofore opposed
opening that territory, because
it foresaw that the conditions of
Wichita were not i'll all
respects sufficiently developed to with
stand the hegira that would likely ensue
from it in that event Then, if from a
few hundred to a thousand or more peo-
pie had left our city for Oklahoma they
would have gone away comparatively
poor, and upon leaving it all ties of a
business nature would have been severed
from Wichita. In most cases the per-
sonnet of the emigration there would not
have had the capital and capacity to
have developed the business of the ter
ritory, as has that which would go now.
Nor had the city built up its
great manufacturing, its wholesal-
ing business and its various or.
CARNATIONS which are to enable it to
cover the trade of the territory as it
now has. Now the hardy adventurer
class of this city in the natural order are
largely those who were the pioneers of
Wichita and other places of the west
They have sold their property and re-
bought with full confidence in the flu
ture of Wichita. With from few hun
dredS to some thousands of dollars each.
in money, they may go to the new terri
tory and engage in the old and congenial
excitements, for which they are SO well
qualified, of settling new country. Their
forte is carving empire. from the raw
material. They will dot the new terri
tory when opened with homes and re-
tail stores, and at glance it will appear
as if our city has suffered an irreparable
loss. With place of less size and not
possessing the peculiar situation and
conditions of Wichita this would be true.
But this emigrating class will leave in
terests and ties of such importance be-
hind that this city will become the place
where their children will be educated in
its numerous schools; their trade will
come here as will all that they can con-
troll Where Wichita immigrant has
any influence in any direction
in his new home it will
be exerted for this city from motives of
selfishness and affection. 1t will be
tantamount to sending out SO many colo
nists and commercial agents from
a mother country. Every Wichita FAM
lily where it is possible might send a rep
resentative to advantage. 1t will be the
golden opportunity of this city.
1t may he asked who will take the
places of this lost population? 1t can be
answered that thousands of young men
will come from the old eastern cities to
take its place with capital and technical
enabling them to do in Wich-
tia what the emigrating class can never
do for want of that kind of knowledge,
e, build up the commerce and manu-
featuring of great city.