The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-04-27
a Territory Settled in a Day.

To-day will be memorable in
American history when many great
battles now famous have been forgot
ten. Since history first began to be
made there has been nothing to COM
pare with the invasion of Oklahoma
to-day by an army of land-hungry
settlers who represent the American
type of fronteirsmen that have pic.
neered civilization from the Alleghe-
MES to the Pacific. There was but one
remaining field for these rough he
roes and State builders that offered
sufficient attractions to develop the
long-continued craze for the rich
lands comprized in the heart of the
Indian Territory and obtained for
white settlement by the Federal Gov.
eminent.
Year after year there has been
more and more desperate determine.
ton, on the part of the "Oklahoma
boomers" that these coveted lands
should be opened to presumption by
the hardy. adventurous and indus
trioas. but landless. men of the new
States west of the Missouri. 1t shows
the moral power of our Federal Coy
eminent that so few United States
troops have 80 well protected the
long lines across which thousands of
armed "boomers" seemed determin-
ed to pass, law or no law. 1t shows
the wisdom of the Federal Govern
ment that while Oklahoma has been
preserved from illegal invasions. the
inevitable has been recognized and
careful provision has been made for
securing just and equitable settle
ment with the Indians and for a
lawful and orderly occupation to- day
after the fullest notice.
Yet what problem il is that is
undergoing solution in Oklahoma
An army of men who are walking
arsenals, familiar with the use of
firearms and brave to recklessness,
coming in on three sides of Okla
homa, every man determined to Sc
cure his quarter section and to fight
for his rights, with twice as many
"boomers" at least as there are quar-
ter sections of desirable land to "pre.
empt 5" then the "old boomers, "who
are organized and belive they have
the best right to the choice quarter
sections discovered and staked by
their stealthy scouts-these are con.
ditions such as never before were
known since our race set out for con.
quest and acquisition from its Scan.
dinavian home. 1t seems almost i'm
possible that there will not be sporadic
cases of homicide this week all over
Oklahoma. Controversies will be
many and hot and earnest, and re.
volvers and rifles will be handy.
Yet all who have seen anything of
our real frontier life before the law is
formally established know that the
very fact that hot and ugly words are
liable to provoke shooting, has ten
dency to make even rough men more
careful about their language and &C.
ton.
Then the President has taken every
possible precaution. in order to mini
mize the dangers attending this I'M
precedented state of affairs in Okla
homa. He has concentrated all the
available military forces in the West,
and under such an able. experienced
and fearless commander as Gen.
Merritt they will be very effective.
But they are to act merely as a posse
at the request of United States Mar
shals, and will be so many armed po-
lice. They have orders to enforce
the prohibit0ry laws of the Indian
Territory, and this will enable them
to remove some of the worst peris of
the situation. Yet, after all, the
American style of self-government
has never before been put to test so
severe as that which 1t will undergo