The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-11-20
HIS MEN WILL FIGHT
CAPTAIN NEWS DEFIEs THE FED
ERAL TROOPS

Says That According to the Law Of 49,:
They have the Right to Go Into the
Wichita Mountains, Especially Since
the Treaty Has Expired. and That If the
Troops Fire Upon Them When They
Attempt to Go In He Will Or
der His Men to Return the Com
pIiment.
Concerning the Eagles interview with
Captain Hews in regard TO getting up
an army of boomers printed Thursday
morning, the captain writes the follow
ing fiery letter:
Wichita. Nov. Is.
ITO the Editor Of the Eagle:
Il was somewhat surprised to read
the article Of even date in your paper
Surprised that the Republican press
would state the case of the Wichita
mountain boomers as fairly as you did
in this mornings paper.
PLEASED that your criticisms were no
ha5her than they were. II behooves all
fair-minded men, whether miners or
editors, to accord simple justice to all
claimants for the same. Individually, /
am impressed with the fairness Of the
Eagle; but must reserve a bill of ex-
cepuons to some Of its rulings on the
question OF the right of the miners to
enter the forbidden district First, you
say technically they may be right. Are
we not right? Don't You acknowledge,
avxrfld0aH f12f the
treaty With the United States and the
Kiowas and Comanches expired on the
3lst day OF last July?
did not tois land then revert back
to the government? If so, then why
haven't we the right to mine IN The
Wichita mountains under the act OF
congress approved May 10, 1872.
Secondly you say: But the brutal
negative argument of a regiment or two
Of soldiers from Fort Sill or Fort Reno
Is not q very warm invitation for the
boomers to try it 1 cannot believe
Mr. Editor, that you sanction any sucn
damnaole thing as the massacre OF free
born American citizens whilst engaged
in the exercise of their rights under the
law.
rs not the inference to be drawn from
the above quotation that IL necessary
the troops would bayonst or shoot TO
kill men whom you say may be acting
under the law.
"Oh. shades of the departed! Weep
over a lost republic, Ye spirits oil
Washington, Henry and Adams. Has II
indeed come to pass that the great
American people can sit silently by and
see the despotic military arm raised
right in their midst to throttle the leSa
freedom of our citizens? God forbid!
THE miners of the Wichitas are q
law-aibiding, God-fearins and God-lov-
ing people; but as far as I know, they
do not fear the deSpot-
ave have only peaceable intentions In
entering the Notwithstanding that we
are simply maintaining our rights guar
anteed us unaer the law. We know
them and dare maintain them. II the
troops fire upon US without warrant
of law, they may find another Lexington
on their hands We absolutely shall be
on the defensive; and yet before 1 viii
consent to see my men Inundated by a
troop Of Hessians, 1 will order my nler
to fire in return.
II love the stars and stripes and Shall
always fight for them, but l care naugh'
for tyrannical DEGREES Of a military
despot.
"Our first cry is: Eccsquom Bonum
Our second is: z Pluribus Unum,' and
Il need be, our third shall (be: Sic, Sem
per, Tyrannus. Yours for justice,
"E. L. NEWS, Jr.,
"Commander-in-Chie
"PostofflcA box 763. Wichita, Kan"