The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-01
bargaining for the Chsroxes Strip.

! bargaining LOT the OQSrOkeS strip.
The negotiations between the government
/ com nis>ioners aud the commissioners of the
! Cherokee nation looking TO the purchase b Y
the Unitei States of the Cherokee strip are
not proceeding altogether satisfactorily.
/ The Cherokee commissioners do not seam to
be disincline1 to sell tbs strip, but they are
I p-ocee ling with a deliberative, non-com-
initial policy that is exasperating TO the
government commissioners Following in
/ line with the Sioux chiefs with whom the
negotiations were conducted by which the
/ lately opened Sioux lands were acquired by
| the govern nent, the Cnerokees have awaited
! themselves of every pretext for proc asst
nation, and for five months have evaded
making any definite answer to the c)mmis-
sio1. While they have not refused the offer
made of 81 p per acre they regard the
price as too low, but they have RETAINED
from making any offer or suggestion by
which an agreement might be reached.
The opening of Oklahoma to settlers has
made it important, even imperative, to
secure an outlet for that territory which
shall not be through Indian lands. Okla
homa is at present surrounded by that class
of lands, and while temporary arrange
ments for ingress and egress have beel
made, the Importance is generally recog-
nizSd of keeping the RACES separated as
nearly as possible, in order to avoid tine
fri 'tioa which is certain to result from
their being brought into too close contact.
With the exception of the Cherokee strip,
the lands bordering ON Oklahoma
ore not only owned but occupied
by different Indian tribes. That territory.
as is well known, is not occupied by the
Cherokees, but has for several years been
leased as pasture ground to a cattle syn1i-
cate, and its acquisition by the government
would be the simplest method of solving the
problem. On the other hand, the purchase
of the lands of the other tribes would in
volve the purchase of other lands and the
removal thereto of the occupants of the
lands first purchased.
The negotiations have been further COM
plicated by the action of the cattlemen who
have been and are now occupying the strip.
Up to a recent date the syndicate had leased
the tract for the sum OF 500, 900 yearly.
AT the expiration of the last lease the Cher
okees demanded S200,000 year for the
renewal of the lease. This at first the sym
! dictate refused to pay, but as the govern
ment was about to perfect its present plan
it came to terms and agreed to pay the
amount demanded, making at the same time
proposition to pay 100000 for period of
five years, and at the end of that time
to renew the lease for five years
at the rate of 100000, and subsequently
for third term of five years at $72), 900
annually. The governments offer for the
cession of the strip amounts to 81, 1l3, $40
which, if left with the government would
yield an income of a little more than $780,
900 yearly. The government, however, is
not disposed to recognize the cattle syndi
cate as competitor, aud takes the position
that the security which that corporation
could offer for the fulfillment of its con-
tract is not such as to make its Offer valid
one.
| There is little doubt however, that the
government will in the end succeed in its
object, which is recognized as an important
part Of public policy. 1t has the treaty
right to place other Indian tribes on the
land at price to be fixed by the President
| v
could, therefore, annex to Oklahoma the
lands of other tribes to the south Of that
territory and settle them on the strip in
exchange, thus affording Oklahoma an
out ct into Texas.
1t seems to be inevitable that the Indians
will disappear. The proposition lately dis
cusSed of the allotment of land in ssveralty
and the sundering of the tribal relation,
with a view to the civilization of the
Indians and making them eligible to citizen
ship, will be a starting point, which it
seems must result i'll their assimilation or
extinction. However much such result
may be decried by sentimentalists and
dealers in ethical distractions, it seems un-
avoidable-not as an act but as conse
quence of civilization.