The Nevada picayune., 1885-01-29

a few rich syndicatcs slip Tn through the back door of illegal negotia- ton and bribery and gobble mp mill lions of acres for song. The time has plainly come fora change in the whole matter of these lands in the Is dian Territory.
 The Indian I Territory is the only large piece of fine arabic land which still remains at the disposal ofthe United States. This must be made to go as far as possible. So much of it as may be needed for the personal use of the 60,00o or 6J,O00 indians who are now placed in the territory may be put aside. To give each of the aboriginal fami- lies farm of half section of the best land in the territory would re- ouirc at most 1000 square miles. The territory contains 69;S91 square miles. More than G0,000 spare miles of land are therefore now lying useless so fur as any practical needs of the present in haDitants are concerned. The 1n- dians should be made the individu- al owners of farms; they should be invested with citizenship in the United States and the farce of teaties with the subjects of the United States should be discOn- tinued. Every trace of the imperi- um in imperio which has been main tained by permitting the Indians to continue independent national ex- istencc winthin the republic should be abrogated, and the Indians made to understand that they are on the same footing as other inhab itants, with no more rights than white men.
 Such scheme would not aim to take away any property rights which the Indians have required. It's purpose is simply to bring these lands into one. The waste O. leaving this magnificent block of agricultural land idle should bt brought to an end. All the land that is not aside for the direct use of the Indians could be divided in 'to arabic and pasture land sold out 10 actual settlers at government price. The proceeds could be sci aside for investment in bonds ot such securities as Congress should select, the income to be applied tC the benefit of the Indians. There is no violation of "plightcd fAitb,' in such an arrangement. The su preme court of the United States has upheld the right of Congres: to change the treaties made witt the Indians The popular ides that the Indian territory is a reser vation of a certain definite portion of land made sacred to speciheC tribes is a deluSion. The Indian territory was originally all the ter ritory of the United States west o the Mississippi and not.included il Missouri, Louisiana or Arkansas IL has been diminished by the or. ganization of various states anc territories until it has been reduc ed to it's present size. There is a large part of it which has not been assigned by the government to any Indian tribe. Even that part which has been assigned by the government may condemn if il thinks best upon making proper compensation to the Indians. II this is not done We shall have in the southwest the spectacle at which England grows aghast, oi vase estates of fertile lands from which markind are excluded at the pleasure of the landlords, with thls unique difference, that in this case the monopolizing landlords are not the conquerors but the conquered.
 The Indian territory is suscepti ble of supporting nearly as large a population as Kansas. The land is equally fertile. If opened to settlement, after setting aside farms for the Indians, it will con. tain million industrious, thrifty, wealth-producing white people within ten years. The rush into that country with it's mild, salubri- ous climate and fertile soil would be extraordinary. Itwould quick ly take rank among the great yves. sern states. Sooner or later this must be the solution of the Indian territory question, Why postpone and procractinate the inevitables"