New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-23
OKLAHOMA.
TILE CASE OF THE INDIANS AGAINST TIE
RAIDERS.
ursroRr OF THE TERRITORY IN QUESTION
THE INDIANS TITLE TO IT-vIEws OF
THE INDIAN LEADERS.

THE INDIAN LEADERS.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIHUNE]
washington, Feb. 1o.-The story OF the Oklahoma
country Is so often told by the land grabbers that the
indian side should in fairness, also be given hearing
The Oklahoma country, as It's name signifies Is indeed
beautiful land,' but more so than thousands OF
acres In its vicinity now unoccuped As an old
choctaw Indian said to the writer Its chief beauty
in white mems eyes consists in the fact that they
have no right to its Previous TO the civil war the
Eve civilized tribes were the owners and sole pro-
prietors Of the socaled Indian Territory Their re-
spective reservations In the main extended In long
strips westward from Arkansas to the eastern bound
airy Of Texas and Colorado. To the northward and
south Of the Kansas line was the home Of the
Cherobeos: the Choctaws and Chickasaws occupied
the southern borders adjoining the northern confines
of Tcxas while the CreelEs and the Seminoles held
middle ground between the two reservations These
reservations wero the result Of treaty supuaons and
were guaranteed permanent home of these several
tribes When the broke out the protecting forces
Of the United States Withdrawn. The North and
the South demanded the tribes as allies. Each
claimed TO be tho nation to which the Indians had
sworn allegiance, and the tribes now unprotected
listened to the threats Of Northern and southern
smssar1eJ amazed, undecided and perplexed. Many,
without pay thanks, resisted the enemies OF
the Government, and, soon as could be- len
their mountain hiding places to battle for me
ceived, hattered and bribed, Joined the leaders
Of the Rebellion, but when the war was over they all
returned and were the first of all TO abolish slavery
In accordance with the emancipation proclamation
Then commission sent to the Territory ana the
tribes called 30 counsel. They were told THAI
they regarded by the President as rebels and hav
Ing violated their treaties their rights and privileges
were forfeited. Then the protection Of the United
States and the hand of friendship were offered But
the price demanded that each tribe should give
up epehalf Of their @pemanent home" Arguments
were Of no avail The tribes were poweress, anu
without submission ruin stared them In the face. Inc
Creeks, Senlnoes and Choctaws signed the treaty ihe
Cherokees refused to subscribe TO the terms OF cesson
and finally prevailed the Government to leave them
tho title Of their lands, the right only being granted 70
settle friendly Indians on their reservation, ana
his legal utIe stin remains The ceded lands Of the
choctaws and Chckssaws, lying in the southwestern
quarter of the Territory, now occupied In the man.
By settled Indians The western two-thrds OF the
Creek and Seminole cessons were assigned to the
Cheyennes and Arapahoes. while the eastern half OF
the remainder Is occupied by the reservations Of the
Sac and Fox Agency. Just between these two last
named Indian settlements and embracing small por-
ton of the Creek and Seminole cessions is little tract
of country the land rich, charming and productive
which has not been assigned to any particular tribe
This is Oklahoma
@The Indian Territory embraces an area Of $4,000
square miles, every foot OF which is devoted to In
dian settlement and by virtue OF the intercourse act
and solemn treaties IT is held sacred from the Intrusion
of white men, These the words OF the Indian
Commissioner Mr.. Hoyt, In his annual report on NO
vember l. 1873. II was a renewed pledge OF faith
But even while that Commissioner was pennng those
words an extensive scheme was being organized BY
white men TO take fofcble possession of Oklahoma
Letters, crafty, aurng and full Of deceit, were pub
lished and circulated in the States surrounding the
Territory by parties interested in the project decar
Ing that these public lands, and were open to
settlement by citizens Of the United States. AS
result of this conspiracy numerous persons from Mis-
souri, Kansas Texas and other places were soon dis
covered entering the Territory with household goods
and farming Implements, as II TO make there home.
Remonstrances OF avail and the President
was compelled TO ISSUE proclamation warning all
persons from entering the Territory, and noufying all
offenders TO remove, and troops were sent TO enforce
his orders Toward the close of 1880 another and more
extensive snort was made by tho raiders undor the
leadership OF Payne, and again the United States
troops restored order. In 1854 several settlements
wore made; In one, two clearinghouse were estab-
Hshed store, restaurant and other buildings includ
fns a printing office from which issued The
Oklahoma chefn President Arthur sent General
Hatch TO read his proclamation ordering than to
leave the country, but that doing special good the
eth Cavalry sent 10 drive them from tho Terri
tory. The next season they again made raid, and
the 9th Cavalry reinforced from the 10th, Goth
the raiders subsded. Several raids were made in
1885, but the participants removed by the mil
itay ut the request Of the Interior Department In
July Of that year the President declared the leases
made by the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians void,
and directed tho removal Of the alleged essees, their
cattle and their employees from the reservation within
. specified time. Thus thousands Of cattle were
driven to Craze on Oklahoma land5. In December
the Department ordered their removal, but II Yves
not until the spring Of 1856 that they were all driven
out of the Territory. In June GANG OF boomers,
who had congregated in the Chickasaw Nation, just
over the Oklahoma line were arrested and expelled
nom the country.
The hope Of the boomers has again revived By the
stttude of Congress- which has under consideration tho
opening of Oklahoma, by taking this land al low
price, and taking from the Cherokees the grazing lands
west Of % degrees, thus creating new Territory.
The Creeks and the seminoles, II is understood are
willing TO sell their lands at fair price, but the
Cherokees have desire to part with lands valuable
to them, and to compel them TO do So under the gusc
of consent VIII hereafter be explained the lands
arc to DO made useless to them by the Government
The 10th Article Of the Treaty Of 1896 provides
that "the United States may settle friendly Indians
In any part of the Cherokee country west Of SO degrees
~ be taken In compact form. IN quantity not exceeding
100 acres for each member Of said tribes thus TO be
selected the boundary Of each of said districts TO be
distinctly marked. and the land to be conveyed In
foe simple each of said tribes, to be held IN
BY their members in severalty. the United States
may decide. The Cherokee Nation to retain the
i.ght Of possession and jurisdiction all Of said
country west Of o6 degrees Of longitude, until thus
sold and occupied
Tho Springer Oklahoma bill provides that the
cherokees shall put their lands west OF 90 degrees
20 any ALL thus making IL valueless 10 them. IN
order 70 get their consent which the bin provides
for 10 make them take 81 20 per acre or get nothing
and the Cherokee Nation must bear all expense Of the
survey sale. etc. and then the best lands of tho strip
VIII DO taken UP BY white settlers, who win have the
privilege Of paying for the same in instruments Of
one, two or three years. II will be dihicalt 10 see
Row the 10th Article Of the Treaty OF 1866 changes
or mobiles the title to the Cherokees or vests any
tile in the United States TO the land west of 96
degrees. 1t simply gives tho United States the right