Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-04-20
Saturday, April 20, 1889.
WESTWARD rHucouRsE OF EMPIRE.

WESTWARD THElCOURsE OF EMPIRE.
The dispatches Of :he Associated
Press have been for ten days past
teeming with reports appertaining to
the congregation and movements OF
proposed settlers on the borders Of that
district recently carved by congress
out of the Indian Territory and desig-
mated rs Oklahoma Territory. EThese
are people from the older states who.
anxious and eager to acquire possess
sion Of public agricultural lands under
the settlement acts, have proceeded to
take advantage of an opportunity to
securet the goal Of their wishes, namely,
n hundred and sixty acres of land,
and each one is anxious to be the first
upon the ground, in order to enjoy q
selection Of sites. Like an invading
army they hover upon the very bor-
bers Of the coveted Canaan, awaiting
but the signal to forward march into
the promised land; and now while We
write these words, they are moving, a
vast Gordon Of men and stock and
wagons into a new region where they
propose to seek for themselves q home.
This action, 10 the thinking mind,
means a great deal. This pell-mell,
huriy-skurry conduct of settlers in To-
catiag new lands In an alleged fair
o fertile region means much. Ii
means that the desirable lands of the
United States now opeE for settlement
have In the eyes of the proposed set
tiers In the older states waned TO an
insignificant quantity. The impress
sion prevails In the east that the gov
eminent holds now but little land OF a
worthy character s~ttainable to the set.
tier under the laws OF congress, and
hence vixen any portion of the coun.
try that lie alleged to be productive is
opened up for settlement, a perfect
stampede follows, resulting from .
concurrent effort TO attain them. The
Oklahoma country has been described
by the newspapers In the most seduc-
tive language. Its vast area 10 related
with emphasis of adjectives and marks
of exclamation. The fertility of its
soil, the salubrity of its climate have
been told in the language of the boom
writer, which is language of itself;
and through enthusiasm wrought upon
this, and fired by hopes and expecta,
tions, when the doors Of the forbidden
garden are thrown open, the rush ia a
rush OF a torrent. How potent is the
power OF the press, that 1t can thus
people q desert in a fortnight. How
willing to believe are those who are
anxious to acquire. All, indeed, II the
eye OF the settler would be but turned
Montanaward, how well would IL b,
repaid for the exertion. Sore disap-
pointment may await many of those
who are now pressing scross theK lsas
border. Sore distress may follow ia the
footsteps OF such disappointment. The
Oklahoma universal Eder may be but
an Eden of spots, of oasis in a Wild
and sterile region. which re zion lying
beneath the mirage which the fever OF
excitement produces. appears TO the
eye Of the advenIurer to be but a coun.
try Of cool shade and green pastures.
Choice words cannot make a country
other than II is, and pictures on paper
are oftimes but shallow sketches, when
the original looms TO view. Delibera-
lions In the selection Of a home is
forthcoming OF better results than the
choice which is Ia substance but a land
grab. 1.-THE Oklahoma settlers would
turn TO Montana, they would find re-
gions boundless by the eye which are
as rich and yerdant, Is promising and
as fair as any that can be found In the
south. They would find that instead
OF being elbowed and jostled they
would be invited and welcomed. They
would find homes and friends among
people as vigorous and as intelligent
as themselves, and they would find
land as free as they air, the light and The
water which gives them life. Come tc
Montana. No need to strive like
beasts to secure q coveted possession
Here there is plenty for all and all ar,
welcome 10 it.