Daily globe., 1879-05-16
THE INDIAN LAND sQUATrERs.
an InterUietc With Keohuh, The FamoM
Chief of the Sacs and FOres.

AH InferUtefc Wtth heOENk, The Famous
Chief Of the Sacs and F'oces.
lMuskogee Special to Chicago Times.]
The Times correspondent this morning
interviewed Keokuk, head chief of the Sac
and Fox tribe, adjoining those lands on the
Kickapoo route on which the squatters have
gone into camp. The city of Keokuk, Iowa,
is named after the chiefs father. His son
acted as interpreter. The following is the
substance Of the interview:
Correspondent-How many squatters are
now settled on the Kickapoo la ads?
4. A.Keokuk-About 500. Some say more,
but have seen couple of hundred 90 by
my place within month.
Cor.-How do your people look upon ike
settlement
K.-They don't like it. They say they
have not had sufficient time yet to get
enough education to
COMPETE WITH THE WHITES.
Cor.-Have the United States authorities
taken any action against the settlers?
K.-When I left, a few days ago, the agetn
informed me that the soldiers under the
big chief from the forts (Gen. G. H. SMITH
was getting ready to move against the
whites and burn their villages.
Cor.-What are the people doing to make
themselves equal to the white men in educa-
tion and farming?
K.-We have established schools which
are well attended. Nearly all our young
men speak the white mans tongue. Soon
all will speak it. We raise good stock.
| Cor.-b that country stock range or is
it good for raising crops2
| Kit is good for both. I have raised
all kinds of crops on it and the cattle and
hogs are Ill good and fat.
Cor.-Do
THE WILD INDIANS
give you any trouble?
K.-No; they have not run off any stock
and none of our young men have been
killed.
Cor.-Your father vas the great chief OF
the Iowas?
K.-He was. My people once were like
the blades of grass. They could not be
counted. Now we are few, and if the whites
take our new country we will be all gone
soon. am trying to be just. l hope the
white father will be just also and preserve US
in our rights.
At this point your correspondent showed
the chief the map of Indian Territory pub
lished in the Chicago 7'smes of Saturday
and explained the leading features to him
Keokuk said that the lands on the Black
Bear creek were the best he had ever seen.
There were no Indians on these lands yet
but the tribes understood that
THE GREAT FATHER
would not let any white men steal them from
his red children. The Indians had full
faith in their white father. He Keokuk
was in favor of education for all the Indians
and when the schools were first opened be
went every day for six moons to see that hit
people attended regularly. IF only the land
was left undisturbed he felt sure the Indians
would become as enlightened as the white
brother.
Cor.-How long have the Sacs and Foxes
been settled on their present lands
Keokuk-About ton years. Ten years
more will SEQ them all educated.
The Times correspondent then asked him
what the other tribes, as far as he knew
thought of the squatters. Keokuk said they
did not want them, because the whites had
too many advantages over them. The,
could not hope to compete with men whe
had been civilized for generations. Thi
closed the interview.