The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-12-30

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er Of much that has APPEARED - ysist os1be
subject OF the Oklaheas lsn&l, and h1ve
carefully aud coasesentiously studied III ~
arguments which have been o1bsed Sss md
con on the subject.
A great deal Of gush asd false sentineat
and ignorance has bseat lisplayed In the dis
cussion OF the right, and wrong involved II
the settlement OF the Oklamoma lands. am
opposed to such st settlement, but my 0pposi.
tion is founded upon entirely different
grounds than those generally advocated in
the news papers.
1t has been ably argued BY an eminent ju-
rist OF this State, that to open these lands to
white settler, would be . violation Of sacred
treaty obligations, and crime against the
Indians. IL that true : Whist treaty II to
be viol.tcds Against what particular tribe
, Of Indians Is this crime oGereds What tribe
OF Indians has any right, title, claim or In
tcrest 10 those lands: Twill admit that the
title to those lands was, ut one time, vested
In the Greeks, Siminoles, Choctaw and Chick
asaw tribes Of Indians; but all the right and
title they acquired by their treaty with the
United States, they Invested themselves OF
by the treaty Of 1906, and relinquished all
their right aud title back to the United
States. The government bought back the
land for the purpose Of locating captive In
dams and colored people thereon. The 18th
amendment to the Constitution OF the United
States, and an act Of Congress inhibits the
Interior Department from using the lands
! for either Of the purposes mentioned In the
treaty; but will any sensible lawyer argue
that the 18th amendment and the act Of Con-
gress, aforesaid, operates rs reversion Of
the title back to the Indians! or As an extin-
punishment Of the title in the United States:
Certainly not. Such an argument Is alb
surd.
Now. while il may be said that all the In-
dams in the Territory have right, common
to them all, in demanding that the Indian
| Territory may not be invaded by white set
tiers, bat very clearly the Indians I have
named are the only tribes that wcic ever in
u situation to complain OF an invasion Of the
particular lands now known rs Okalah0ma !;
but they having Invested themselves Of all
| right and interest therein, cannot complain
| VI WhtC tuttussO" uHOst stsCrC sAuuSs rHCS
cially. The Usage Indians would have no
right TO complain OF white settlements upon
the Pawnee lands, nor would such u settle
ment. II permitted, he violation Of the
treaty with the Osages, or any other tribe
than Pawnees. An intrusion by white peO-
pie upon any Indian reservation would be a
violation Of the treaty with that particular
tribe owning the reservation. But the in
trlision, by white people, upon any lands in
the Indian Territory, not owned by any
tribe Of Indians, would not be a violation OF
any Indian treaty, or Of any rights they have
acquired in the Indian Territory.
| l am In entire sympathy with the Indians
upon every question affecting their legal and
equitable rights, and I wish to discuss this
question in the light of what IL best and
right for and towards the Indians. Why
should the government prevent white settle
meut Of the OKLAHOMA lands? think
have shown that those lands are part Of the
public domain. and that no tribe has any
right to object to such settlement by reason
of any title or interest they have in the
lands. But aside from this question, are the
real interests Of the Indians subserved by
excluding the white people.
1t will not be disputed that it is the policy
OF the government to settle the Indian ques-
ton by civiiizing methods,-by educating
them in n knowledge Of the English Ian.
guage,--by teaching them the civilized modes
Of gaining livelihood, that they may be in.
dependent and rely on themselves.--by cX-
tending to them every facility for making
them an intelligent industries. self-suppOrt-
ing race: Can this object be attained by
drawing away from them all evil
izing influence? l submit, as the result Of
my observation and experience, that those
Indians who live nearest to the white people
attain greater degree OF civilization than
those who live more remote !; that they are
soonest to give up their savage habits and
customs, and adopt the ways of the white
| man, than those who are seldom brought in
contact with them.
has almost grown into q maxim, that the
sure way to conquer an Indian is to take him
to Washington" That is dose that no In
dian can resist. The most inveterate hater
Of the white people, the ablest and bravest
chieftain, when transported in Pullman car
across our great country, and has exhibited
to him densely populated country !;
large cities, teeming with their millions Of
inhabitants; mammoth buildings, which
tower above him, beyond the flight Of his
swiftest arrow; magnificent bridges SPAN
ming large rivers. which, to his untutored
mind, are the webs Of a magic hand. The
lodges OF his people he can number on his
fingers, but the white people are as many as
the leaves upon the forest trees, horses aud
cattle are AS thick AS the blades Of grass. He
is bewildercd by the profusiOn and the mag
nificence which he. for the first time. be-
holds, and his subjugation is complete. The
effect upon him is wonderful. even magical.
lie returns TO his tribe conquered man, aud
forever thereafter he has but one thought,
one ambition, one desire in life, and that is
tog again to Washington.
The effect is the same, in lesser degree,
wherever he is brought ia contact with civ
| ilization. Familiarizc him with these things
and you may make Of him different being.
Isolate him from them and you compel him
to remain savage.
also insist that the policy pursued by the
government In the treatment Of this ques-
| ton is inconsistent. arbitrary aud unjust, in
the respect that II permits one class Of per-
sons. engaged as Stockholders, to he and re-
main within any and every portion Of the
Indian Territory. and at the same time ex-
cludes any aud every other person. Thous-
ands of men. engaged in the stock business,
are now in the Indian Territory by the direct
authority OF the Interior Department. Why
should this exclusive privilege be granted to
one class of citizens and be denied to others
Why should that particular calling be en-
couraged and legaiized by the indulgence Of
the government, and every other attempt at
legitimate settlement Of the pnblic domain
denounced as unlawful and an outrageous
crime against the Indians:
Our long frontier has been expo ,ed BY the
withdrawal Of troops which are necessary
tor its protection. aud the army Of the Uni
ted States concentrated in the Indian Terri.
tory TO defend, what. to defend the dry, ster.
lie lands of Oklahoma against the invasion Of
few. poor Kansas farmers, who nave been
deluded with the false reports that have been
made with regard TO the wonderful riches to
be found in Oklahoma.
Let me present to You an illustration Of the
Inconsistency Of the present policy Of the
government. one which have witnessed and |
is now Of daily occurrence along the line. |
\ stock man. with a half dozen assistants, |
appears on the line. driving before them into
the Territory. a large herd of cattle or sheep. |