The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-29
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
afraid of you. but do not like this blank sneak
ing manner of getting Republicans out Of
ofroa
PROSPEROUS INDIANS.
The High Degree of Prosperity Attained by
the Tribes in Indian Territory.

1he Hlgn Degree OF Prosperity Attained by
the Tribes in Indian Territory.
WASHINGTON, June 27.-Senator Ingalls,, wto
has just returned from Indian Territory, whittier
he went with q sub committee to Investigate GER.
tain matters by order of the Senate, speaks with
enthusiasm of the condition of the civilized
tribes. To are porter of the Associated Press this
afternoon, he said the journey had enlightened
him in regard to matters which seemed quite
remarkable, and of which he had no previous ap-
probation, although he once before passed
through the Territory The tribal govern
ment is democratic in form, with an elective
chief magistrate and upper and lower houses Of
the Legislature, which assemblies annually:
there are courts with an elective judiciary, and
convicted criminals punished as n communi
ties of whites. There were no laws for colec-
tions, aud as the standard of commercial honor
is high, none are needed. Fifty per cent. of the
entire revenue of the ChSrokees is spent for
educational purposes. Wherever thirteen
children could be gathered together "a school
house was built and a teacher with ample quail
hcations employed Two colleges, one for each
sex, are maintained, the buildings being of noble
proportions and all the appointments creditable
The tribal government not only furnished the
buildings and paid the teachers, bat clothed and
lected each year and sent at public expense. TO
continue their studies at Yale, Dartmouth and
other high institutions at the East.
The utmost good feeling prevailed toward the
United States, but no disposition existed &c
change the relations between the tribes and the
faithfully kept by the government, but there
was feeling Of apprehension that the tribal
forms of government might be overturned by
the admission of white settlers, to which the In
A.ov,c a,4lx n..A Al
they manifested no objection to the admission Of
other tribes of Indians to homes in the Indian
Territory, and seemed to think it to be the best
policy of the government to concentrate Indians
there.
In the Senator's opinion, the Indians seem to
have reached the ideal solution of the land ques-
tion. All land belongs in common to the tribe,
but any citizen may cultivate as much as he
chooses, provided he does not come within
quarter of a mile of tract cultivated by his
neghbor. This provision is designed to break
up the tendency to collect in small communities,
which was thought to be provocative of idleness.
The occupant of the land is its absolute pos
SCISSOR, and may leave it to his children, or sell
his possessory right to another citizen but he
may not sell to outsider, and if he ceases to
cultivate his property, the land .reverts to the
public domain. This prevents requirement of
large bodies of land by individuals, and removes
the dangerous evils which result from land
monopolies. TheSfreedmen are better treated
than among Anglo Saxons and no civil or polit
ical right is denied them.
Senator ingalls, thinks the advantages of the
Indian Territory as a farming region have been
overstated. 1t is beautiful country to look
upon, with large forests OF oak and other hard
woods, which, being free from underground have
the aspect of welkept parks but much of the
country is mountainous and rugged, and belief
prevails among the Indians that if they were to
take to the plow Universally there would not be
arabic land enough in their reservation to give
them $50 acres each. OF the 10000 Indians in
habiting that country there is not one pauper.
No person is supported at public expense, and no
one lacks home. Only one insane person was
heard of.
There is" said the Senator s'no occupation
of the Oklahoma country at all, and Sc far as the
cattle men are concerned there never has been
even attempted occupation"
The Senator was very glad to say that in re-
cent interviews with the Presdentand Secretary
of the Interior he discovered vigorous deter
mination to prevent invasion of the rights Of the
Indians, or any infraction of the guarantees of
the treaty under which the land was ceded in
1866. The committee made thorough investi-
cation of several matters into which they were
directed to inquire, travelling to all the principal
points in the terri tories of the civilized tribes
and examining all the principal men.
With regard to leasing the Cherokee strip the
sentiment is generally favorable, though many
were of opinion that the rates paid which were
fair enough originally. were now too low.