The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-17
A SUITABLE BATTLE GROUND.

this entire western country has strenu
ously insisted, that all the unoccupiet
lands Of the Indian Territory should bt
opened for settlement, the men back OF
the cattle interest have systematically
prevented the government from comply
ing with this universal public demand
No man believes the administration tc
be dishonest; and it will no; he claimed
that Mr.. Harrison is not desirious OF
serving the people, and yet lie and his
public officials have steadily neglected to
act, while the congress has almost
criminally opposed every movement
looking to the settlement of the Chero-
kee strip.
The lands there are unoccupied, ex-
cept by the herds of the cattle barons.
This land is owned by or is under the
control of the government 1t is a
goodly land of forest and stream and
rich in all that goes to make desirable
! farms.
For many years the people have been
petitioning the government to permit
them to go upon and occupy these rich
government acres, and for no apparent
reason, for no sufficient excuse,
The government has gone on and on
diliy-dallying with The cattle interests,
deceiving the men and women who de-
sire to seek homes in that region and
outraging all public decency in a dis
honest effort to mislead the people as to
what the government really intended to
do in the end.
There have been committees and COM
missions without number to negotiate
the sale OF these lands and while these
alleged negotiations were pending the
cattle combine of rich and
influential robbers, which includes
in its membership many of
the public and private boodlers of two
continents, and one congress, have cas-
lily succeeded in keeping their cattle in
with wire fence and the people out
through corrupt officials
We have all along maintained and
have for many years believed that an
honest uprising of an outraged people
against the dishonest and damnable
combines of this country which would
result in the wholesale use of an extra
good quality of hemp, dextrously manip-
ulated around the strongest limb of one
of our highest trees, the sovereign peo-
pie at one end and a profiigate and
lying political reprobate at the other,
the seance to be kept up as long as trees
and ropes and reprobates could be con-
veniently brought together, that the
people would go in and possess the land
and dispossess the cattle trust many
weeks before corn planting time next
spring.
The administrative power of this coun-
try seems to grow stronger in its desire
to protect the few, and weaker in its
ability to preserve the rights of the
many; and in saying this we speak of
the governmental tendency of the coun-
try and not of its political parties; for in
this drifting all parties are equally to
blame and equally responsible.
The lands are there, and they belong
to the people. If the people, without
the consent of the men who dictate the
policy of the government, go upon and
possess these acres, they are threat
ened with the army; and yet
it does seem but just that
the people should go upon these lands in
sufficient numbers to prevent the inter
ference of the army, or government
officials even though these officials may
be backed by all the power of the cattle
harons. This government cannot EN-.
ploy force to perpetuate fraud for the
single reason that the people will not
permit it.
Every man who reads and who thinks
knows that for years the unlawful and cor
rupt use OF money has been the means of
holding that country intact for grazing
purposes, and even at this late hour no
movement can be made by any public
or private interest looking to the settle
ment of that country that is not instant
ly rendered harmless by the manipula-
tions Of paid servants Of this colossal
combine.
And as the country grows older this
corrupt use of money becomes more
common, so that today these great ag-
gregations of public and private rob-
berries are occupying the amen corners.
or the raised and halustered and
upholstered seats close up to the execu-
tive, judicial and legislative affairs, CO.
equal in powers aud seemingly recoguiz.
edas a component part OF the government
itself. everywhere exhibiting or adver-
Using Its avocation with the brazen i'm
pndence of a street walking harlot whose
notorious career renders her obivious to
shame.
The same influences which today sur
rounds the Republican administration
was Just as potent during tie four
years term Of Grover Cleveland.
This is not a criticism of political
parties or Of men but involves some