The Newtown bee., 1889-04-19
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1889.
OKLAHOMA.


 lion acres which, for dozen years, has been a coveted treasure in the white mans eyes. This tract Is the much talk | ed of country of oklahoma,-a portion of the public lands of the United States. | That the government has a claim to this | property Is undeniably true; but it is al- | so true that the manner in which the gov ernment's title has been obtained was, In many instances, dishonorable and unjust. The message of President Monroe, in lS2o, recommended the setting apart of country "for the semi-civilized races of Indians for thelr occupancy forever" The proposition was renewed again and again in successive years, until, in 1881, an act of Congress specifics that ''all that part of the United States west of the Mississippi river and not within the States Of Missouri and Louisiana, or the Terri tory of Arkansas" shall, for the purpose of that act, be considered the Indian country. This vast area was included in the tract known as the "Louisiana pur- chase" which was ceded to the United States by France in 1903. In 1850, it stretched away to Minnesota on the northeast and Oregon on the northwest but the development of the far West and successive formation of States and Terri tories gradually eneroached upon the res ervation of the Indians and narrowed their confines to m area of 6S, ,000 square miles, bounded north by Colorado and Kansas, east by Missouri and Arkansas, south by Texas, from which, east of the tooth meridian, it Is separated by the Red river and west by Texas and New Mexi co. The narrow strip on the north, ex tending west from the Tooth meridian, was ceded by Texas to the United States and is, therefore, a portion of the public lands, though for convenience it is geo graphically chased as part of Indian Ter ritory.
 By treaty with the United States gov- ernment, the Cherokees, Choctaws, Chick asaws, Greeks and Seminoles, five civil ized tribes, became sole proprietors of the above described tract. They were solcmnly assured that the United States would forever secure and guarantee it to 
 always, that such lands should revert to the United States if the Indians should become extinct or abandon them.
 At the outbreak of the civil war, the tribes were divided. The agents of the Cherokees, Choctaws and Chickasaws took sides with the seceding States and these three tribes donned the gray, though the Cherokees soon joined the Union ranks. The Creeks were about equally divided between the North and South and 8 majority of the Seminoles sided for the Confederacy. When the war was over, a commission waited upon the several tribes and, feigning friendship, propos- ed to treat with them for a portion ot their lands, at the same time warming them that, inasmuch as some of their number had joined the South in opposit- ion to the Union, the President regarded them as rebels; and, further, by leaving their reservation for purposes of war, they had forfeited all title to it. The Creeks, Chiekasaws, Choctaws and Sem. inoles, fearing a coniscation of their en. tire property, submitted to the terms oi the commission and signed the treaty conveying to the government one half ot their domain. The Cherokees stoutly re fused to agree to any such measure though the government finally obtained from them the right to settle friendly In. dians on their portion of the Territory they still retaining title to it. Various tribes were immediately settled on diff ferent sections which the government frightened the proprietors into transfer ring to it. After each tribe had been as signed it's portion of the Territory, Okla homa was left unoccupied by any partic ular nation.
 In 1878, the first decisive move wal made by land grabbers to secure thi; spot for settlement. While the Indiar commissioner was preparing his annual report, in which he stated that every fool of the Indian Territory was, by virtue oi the intercourse act and solemn treaties held sacred from the intrusion of white men, an extensive scheme was plotting among whites of the surrounding States who proposed to gain foreible entranc, and settle upon the much coveted gardeI spot. The plot was carried into effect Many Kansans and Missourians, enraget that this beautiful rolling prairie should be held by band of dirty, lazy Indians and further excited by fraudulent letter declaring the land to be part of tn public domain and open for settlemen by United States citizens, entered tn Territory as if to make it their perma nent home. Remonstrances were una vailing, nor did the intruders quit tn Territory until President Hayes issued proclamation, warning them to do so an, forbidding furtherinvasion. A few year later, 'sOklahoma Payne" founded col ony of boomers and raided the Territory Military forces ejected him and his fol lowers and shortly afterward Payne died Tn 1884, William Couch headed anothe crusade and gained a more substantia foothold than had yet been obtained Two boarding houses, store, restauran and other buildings were erected. newspaper was also issued, the OlSlaho ma Chief. From that time to the pres ent, there have been camps of ''boomers upon it's borders, waiting to enter tn promised Canaan as soon as authorit could be had.
 The proclamation which has been s long anxiousIy awaited by the Oklahom boomers was issued by President Harri son. last month. The Presidents actiol .fociaraa thaf fhnae lands which hv vir