Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-07
OUR INDIAN NEIGHBORS.
The Best Mode Of Incorporating the
Tribes into the Political Organ.
izalions Of the States.
A Change In Tenure OF Lands without
Interference with Tribal organiza.
tion il Possible.
written for the Gazette.

introduced during the present session @
congress affecting the status Of the PEG
pie Of the Indian Territory and Indian.
generally, indicates desire, II not a de
termination, on the part OF congress e
make some change In their relation to th,
government, and must necessarily attract
the attention OF not only the Indians, but
also Of every one who has any interest
present or prospective, in this extensive
territory or who Is DESTROYS OF seeing
the Indians treated Justly and at the same
time encouraged to accept such changes
as viii be for their greatest good
One of the most necessary conditions
to the success OF any such measure is
that IL shall be willingly accepted by the
majority of Indians n II is not. they
retreat behind the guarantees OF treaties
made to suit other times aud conditions
and oppose any change whatever
II has been singularly unfortunate
that almost every measure yet proposed
which sought 10 eventually bring them
| into more intimate relations with the
government, and afford them the benefits
aud advantages which such a relation
| would bring, has carried with It, as an
essential requirement, the entire and inn
mediate dissolution Of their tribal rela-
lions and obligations. To those who are
acquainted with Indians, II Is not at all
surprising that this feature should imme-
dately develop the most uncompromis-
ing aud unreasoning opposition to the
entire measure, nor viii the opposition
be confined to any particular class or
character of the Indians, as would be the
opposition TO almost any other change
affecting them, but every Individual old
or young, irrespective of tribe. influence,
social or political standing, will consider
IL little less than ruin and degradation.
These tribal organizatlons--let them be
ever SO effete and worthless been
bequeathed TO them from their fathers for
unnumbcred generations and all
their political associations, their
legends and traditions are inter-
woven with this form of government
and make II almost sacred to them by the
cycles 1t has illled. Can II be wondered
at that they cling to this thing so tena-
ciously, and so bitterly object to its dis
ruptiOn! Yet every prominent measure
in congress, or elsewhere, con-
tains this requirement. And il seems TO
be 80, because these tribal organizations
or governments are the chief stumbling
block and hnderance to their advance
ment, and that, in fact, little can be done
until they are removed. II Ii true that
alter they have reached certain stage
for instance, that degree of civilization
and progress which exists among what is |
known as the five civilized tribos-a lif- |
lerent form would be more advantageous |
to them But this change can readily be |
accomplished without developing this de- |
termlncd opposition; in fact, in few |
years at most not only with their CON |
sent, but in accord with their desire and |
assistance. The fatal mistake in the |
whole matter is In supposing this tribal |
organization to he the chief |
obstacle to still marked advancement
or that 1t will materially interfere with |
their progress for another important |
stage, II will not. The mountain which !
bars their development in material wealth |
and enterprise is the tenure by which |
they hold their lands. This relic of bar |
oarlsul, OF communism, which allows no |
perfect ownership, and gives every man |
an interest ~ every other mans property, |
peralyzes industry, and mocks security in |
the reward OF honest labor. ID is this |
that has brought everything to stand |
still, and In fact made further advance |
ment and accumulation almost impossi- |
BILE. 1t is the want OF individual owner |
ship In the soil aud not the existence of |
tribal organization, or tribal law or |
usage that keeps this country almost |
wilderness compared with what 10 might |
be.
Still there is nothing 10 prevent an
allotment Of lands In severalty, and the |
clothing OF every man, woman and child
IN the security OF an Individual title
without IN any measure interfering
with the local governments A very large
majority of the people OF either or all of
he i've tribes would gladly exchange
.helr title IN common Tor one IN suyeralty
we're II proposed without coupling with
I the dissolution OF their tribal anton-
)my.
But with an individual title to the soil
IND that Industry, energy and dignity
Which such ownership would bring, to-
,ethcr with the many other advantages
vhlch such change would make possl-
Die, " would be but few years at further.
ISL until interests OF such magnitude
would be developed, and values SO i'm.
'ortant accumulated, that this people
NouIu OF thclr own option ask for the
OF such government as
YOU'D carefully protect aud defend such
NNaN--t''F'f CIV 1liOAh HttuIlLN WnlCn
hey know these little governments of
heir own are incapable OF Golnn II
would then be TO their individual and ne.
unlary interests to be- within the pale of
strong, self'supporting government and
everence an attachment to tha old style
II things would give place to desire for
eeumuiation aud consequent security.
These remarks are intended to apply 10
hose tribes OF Indians whose advance.
1ent Is such that common ownership I'm !
nc soil Is no longer desirable or proiltn.
lc Tho restrictions on the individual
ltle until the owner should understand
he value Of his land could easll, be ar /.
anged and In such manner as would
OF interfere with any rights of the owner
kept TO rigldly protect the title Ia him !
Z his heirs for term OF years
There Is much that could be said IN
lyor OF an individual title az compared
3'h q title In common, and especially rs
relates TO this country connected with
70 matters q ''lntruders,n but the linits 4
this article Will not permit.
Now the difficulty OF TRANSFERRING the 4
'mmon title, held MS tribe, TO one IN 0
yeralty would not be great. II those D
ipes or nations" owned "a fee.
mple" title to their lands
ey might each organize their
bal land afhcas and IT.. ~, q