to by my fellow cowmen, and, in turn, wired our friends at Washington, asking that our interests be looked after and guarded.  Pending a report, General P.H.  Sheridan arrived with a great blare of trumpets at Fort Reno for the purpose of holding the authorized investigation.  The general’s brother, Michael, was the recognized leader of the clique of army followers, and was interested in the bar concessions under the sutler.  Matters, therefore, took on a serious aspect.  All the cowmen on the reservation came in, expecting to be called before the inquiry, as it was then clear that a fight must be made to protect our interests.  No opportunity, however, was given the Indians or cattlemen to present their side of the question, and when a committee of us cowmen called on General Sheridan we were cordially received and politely informed that the investigation was private.  I believe that forty years have so tempered the animosities of the Civil War that an honest opinion is entitled to expression.  And with due consideration to the record of a gallant soldier, I submit the question, Were not the owners of half a million cattle on the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation entitled to a hearing before a report was made that resulted in an order for their removal?

I have seen more trouble at a country dance, more bloodshed in a family feud, than ever existed or was spilled on the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation.  The Indians were pleased, the lessees were satisfied, yet by artfully concealing the true cause of any and all strife, a report, every word of which was as sweet as the notes of a flute, was made to the President, recommending the removal of the cattle.  It was found that there had been a gradual encroachment on the liberties of the tribes; that the rental received from the surplus pasture lands had a bad tendency on the morals of the Indians, encouraging them in idleness; and that the present system retarded all progress in agriculture and the industrial arts.  The report was superficial, religiously concealing the truth, but dealing with broad generalities.  Had the report emanated from some philanthropical society, it would have passed unnoticed or been commented on as an advance in the interest of a worthy philanthropy but taken as a whole, it was a splendid specimen of the use to which words can be put in concealing the truth and cloaking dishonesty.

An order of removal by the President followed the report.  Had we been subjects of a despotic government and bowed our necks like serfs, the matter would have ended in immediate compliance with the order.  But we prided ourselves on our liberties as Americans, and an appeal was to be made to the first citizen of the land, the President of the United States.  A committee of Western men were appointed, which would be augmented by others at the national capital, and it was proposed to lay the bare facts in the chief executive’s hands and at least ask for a modification of the order.  The latter was ignorant in its