Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-08-16
A DpLnoATn's T,ETTER.

OF Col. w. i. BOudinOt, our dele
gate in Washington, published il
this issue Of the CnIEFTAIN
Though somewhat Of a private ma.
ture,. II contains some views on the
lease question, which advanced
by one SO long and intimately con.
nected,. and for this reason the
liberty is taken to give his ideas
on the subject to the public.
For expressing an honest opin-
Jon on any gSen question, let it
differ as much rs it may from
yours, the right of no one should
be questioned, or that he should
be considered factious for SO doing
il the CnIhFTAIN therefore differs
with Col. Boudinot in his views
upon the lease question, and it
may be upon some other matters,
no disrespect IS meant. The
world is made wiser by the differ
encc Of opinion on all that con-
Germs the world.
1t appears from his letter that
the 100000 transaction, that rails
ed such a controversy in the polit-
ical circles OF this nation a few
years ago under the Phillips dy-
nasty, has, as was expected by
many, become a complication, be-
cause paid on all the lands west Of
the Arkansas river as was report
ed TO a cominittee Of congress by
the secretary Of the interior. He
reeites as other complications, that
involve our western lands, Attor-
ney General Deyen's opinion that
she Chcrokees have no right to
settle them, and of Attorney Gen
eral Garland that a "licensc is a
lease" and "that we have no
right TO authorize a cattle compa-
ny to be there" These complica-
tions and embarrassments he lays
down as reasons why we should
accept the offer OF the old compa-
ny-the $4,000. Not being able
TO determine future events by rea-
son of these complications, posi-
bly, Mr.. Boudinot may be correct,
but the chances are equal that he
is not. As repeatedly asserted by the
CuIEFTAIN, there is more than one
way 10 derive a revenue from these
hnds--to lease is not all.
Hrs argument condemns itself
IN making an exception in favor
OF the old company. If the caHs-
es he recites as complications and
entanglements will operate against.
the leasing TO one company, why
not TO another ? IfAttorney Cen
cral Garland has decided n ali
cense is a lease and VIC have no
right to authorize cattle compa-
ny to be there" such a decision
certainly applies as much to the
Cherokee Strip Live Stock as
sociation as it does to any other.
five accept their offer of s175 900
for the license to Craze cattle out
there, that license is as much a
lease TO them as it would be to
Henry and company. There can
be no possible advantage in re-
leasing TO the present lessees or
less chance for further complica-
tions in leasing to any company,
if ever will be Of any effect what
he seems TO fear from the s300,O0
payment, or from Judge Brewers
opinion as to the purposes ofthe
outlet, or Attorney General Dew
ems, that we have no right to DOM
icile on those lands, or from Mr..
Garland's that we cannot author
izc any cattle company to be out
there. If of any effect at all, the
old company cannot be an excep-
tion to the rule, unless Mr.. Gar
land aud other authorities in
Washington City are as much per-
sonally interested in the present
unexpircd lease as it is intimated
that Senator Plumb Is. How the
change Of occupancy from one
company to another will bring
down all the calamities Of tho en-
cumbrances and complications re-
cited in the Colonel's letter, or
how they can be qMeted by hand
ling the lease question as II IL
were a bad egg" or by letting
the old company remain quietly
in possession Of the country, is
question that mere belief cannot
satisfy.
The argument he puts up that
the old company are willing to ac-
cept the chances without condi-
tions can only be accepted SO far
as the company can hold peacea-
bio possession Of the country. 1t
can but be acknowledged that
when tho complications in which
the country is, begin 10 operate