The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-13

Senator Morgan in Favor of Concentrating
the Different Indian Tribes.
Washin gton Post.

Washington Post.
1--WE found the FIVE tribes that inhabit the
eastern portion of the Indian country" said Sen
ator Morgan, of Alabama, to Post reporter,
Giving in state of civilization not at all below
the standard reached by the average community
of American citizens throughout the Union"
The Senator has recently returned from an eX
tended visit of observation to the Indian Terri
tory in company with Senators Dawes, ingalls,,
Jones (of Arkansas), and MaXey, his colleagues
in the committee Of the United States senators
on Indian affairs "They live IN families as
we. do, and their marriage laws are as
served. Their homes are neatly built, and
comfortably furnished Their schools, station
houses and public buildings large and sub
stantial. Some of them are worth, at least,
$50, 900 or 800, 900. Each tribe has a legisa
ture or civil government, modelled closely on the
lines of our State government. Their judiciary
is perfectly organized, from Supreme Court
down to the police magistrates. OF the $4,000
Indians or more embraced in the five tribes, at
least so per cent speak the English language.
they won't than because they can't They all
understand it. English is the language Of the
tribes it is used exclusively in their schools and
law courts
"Of course they wear long feather tails and
! war paint and carry tomahawksW
'No, they don't. They dress just we do, and
are as peaceful, intelligent and industrious
They are quite sociable and educated and en-
| CefIaln friendly regard Tor IQ0 CltlZenS ana
| government of the United States. They are
stern of manner and don't indulge much either
! in merriment or gush but they are honest and
honorable, and not at all treacherous."
Then they don't regard American citizens as
| aliens or enenleSF
''Bv no means, although they receive strang-
ers with reserve, and even with suspicion, as
| they have reason to do. The American citizens
who intrude into their territories are mostly
! fugitives from Justice. and the Indians know
/ hat Acf 10 ovtr af1y
: ence between these Indian nations and the
! United States, bankrupts and all sorts of Grim
! inals and fugitives from justice go there for
| sanctuary which causes the Indians to be wary
! of strangers Their principal occupation is agri-
culture, but they also cultivate the lumber trade
Many of them have considerable cattle ranches,
and in the Choctaw nation there are several good
coal mines The coal they supply largely to the
railroad companies. They trade freely with
the States round about them, from
whom they obtain the varied requi-
sites and comforts to be found in
other American homes. Their chiefs
and public officials are all elected by viva voce
vote the same as in Kentucky. They have not
yet adopted the ballot, but their government is
entirely representative. The tribes not only live
in peace and harmony within their own borders,
but they are quite friendly to each other and
have international treaties as other civilized ma
| lions have The subject of a federation of
| tribes has been long time under consideration,
and there seems to be growing feeling in favor
of the project. The land, as originally patented
| by the government of the United States is still
held under patent by the tribe, which distributes
it among its members. These tribes have a
right under their patents to sell or lease their
lands to whomsoever they choose, but it is not
| Of this land that so much has recently been
leased at nominal rates TO white SPECTATORS"
But all the Indians are not so civilized as
these five Eastern trlbesP
Far from it. The Indians who roam about
over the western half of the Territory are al
most as wild and uncivilized to-day as they ever
were. They have no homes, no laws, no indus
try. They still indulge in their sun dances and
other wild vagaries, which they cling to with SUI
perstitious ardor for in there wild freaks they
find their religion. They have discarded the
war or scalp dancc-I thlnk they dare not CON
tinue that-but otherwise their habits are pretty
much what they always were"
Are they not as capable Of civilization As
their neighbors"
Certainly. Why not! They have as much
sense and, doubt not, as great intelligence.
But they have never been settled like the FIVE