The Washington critic., 1886-01-12
WASHINGTON. JAN. 12, 1886.
THE NEW OKLAHOMA.

TO frame law for the government
of the Indians--especially their self.
government--that shall he applicable
TO all their various conditions, circum-
stances and differing degrees of civil.
zation. as IL one and the same, is, of
course, out Of the question. Many of
the Indians must remain under tutclage
for years perhaps, before becoming so
familiar with the nature of our civil in.
stitutions rs to be safely intrusted with
the responsibility of incorporating them
into the local administration of their
own affairs. Others are now ready for
the trust. Ii is only a question of time
with ALL
Although the late Helen Hunt Jack
son, with forccful satire and too much
truth, pronounced our treatment of the
Indians for hundred years past
Century of Dishonor;' yet enough
has been learned Of their capabilities of
progress by the experiments of the last
decade or two to largely compensate for
the shortcomings of an earlier period
in our history when the Indian was re-
garded rs barbarian, no less ire
claim able than implacable, and simply
10 be pushed out Of the white mans
way.
The conquest of the original proprie-
tors is now virtually complete. 1t re-
mains for the conquerors TO make the
broadest and best use of what they have
won, in the interest of humanity and
the elevation of race that is found
to be implacable and irreclaimable and
in the white man Is way no longer.
Manifestly the policy most wise and
just is that which shall the soonest in
struct him in the duties of self. govern
ment and the means of self-subsistence
and bring him into harmonious politi-
cal relations with the general governing
power.
This cannot be done for the whole
Indian population by percmptory act
of Congress, but must be gradually
wrought out, and in some cases no
doubt by very slow gradations.
The important thing is to make a be-
ginning, and we ale glad to see in the
bill of Mr. Townshend of Illinois to
organize the Indian Territory, practi-
cal assurance that the beginning is
about to be made in field ripe for the
new experiment and upon plan that
is evidently the result Of profound
forethought and of humane and pa
hiotic purpose.
The bill, which is of considerable
length, proposes in effect to establish
a territorial government for the whole
of the present Indian territory under
the name of Oklahoma, with all the
executive, legislative and judicial ma,
chinery common to other territorial
organizations, and with the principle
of representation and the rights OF
franchise fully recognized, the chief OBJ
ject in view being to give the several
tribes occupying the reservations men
toned in the bill a preponderating
voice in the choice of their Legislators
and in the conduct of their local court,
even to the selection, on certain qualifi
cations, of their own jurors. 1t is pro
vided that all judicial proceedings shal
be in the English languages; that the
property rights of the respective triba
organizations shall not be disturbed
and that a system of gradual allot
ments of land in severalty shall b,
instituted, the Government holding il
trust for n period of years and for the
benefit of the Territory all lands not 81
allotted and the proceeds Of such lands
as may from time to time be sold.
This Is mere outline Of the mos
elaborate and important bill, approach
ing n similar character, that has eve
been submitted to Congress. That i
may require some notifications is quit
likely; that it possesses many com
manding merits cannot be questioned
That it embodies a final and satisfac
tory solution of the whole Indian prob
lem may not unreasonably be assumed