Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-27

/ restless and energetic population, and
! they are lisbls at any time to be filed
sgsin with greater number, which II
| will be difficult to control. " at was
J troublesome TO repress before will be al
most impossible to handle in two more
! years, and we will fad then that in order
] to suppress We must remove the cause.
! II is difficult 10 exactly determine the
number OF Indians west of the FIVE civil
| il C t4ibes. From the most careful data
we have been able TO obtain they do not
exceed 10 600, and are scattered over
soout 81 000, 600 acres Of land. These
! Indians could be merged into general
| body of settlement, with lands in sever
atty, surrounded by the proper safe
guards, which would not only be wise
and jndicious, but emiuently beneficial 10
them; or they could be induced to settle
on other tracts of land or given reserva
tons sufficient for their use within the
present line, nee they do not in any case
derive sustenance from the soil.
Tn proceeds from the sale of the other
lands would create fund far beyond the
means of supporting them in sfluence.
The government would not be called
upon for expenditure, nor would The H.
dians be in danger Of losing single v.lu-
able possession.
! The plans heretofore under considers
! ton for the opening of the Indian terri
tory may be clsssed under two divisions
Oae is to organic the whole territory,
including the five civilized tribes, under
a territorial government, using the Nu-
| thoEity Of the general government, justi-
( fed by the paramount necessity Of cor
recting Ia Rlessness and checking wide
spread and increasing crime, srd pre-
venting the subjugation Of the Indian
masses to the selfish rule of intrenched
power exercised by individuals and cor
porstions. Since it is 3 well-knoWn fact
that the great body Of Indians IN the civ
ilized tribes have little influence in the
council proceedings, derive little benefit
from the wealth belonging to the tribes,
and do not even enjoy the security of the
laws OF prote ction, the compreheD sive,
compulsory nature Of this plan does not
seem to violste the principles of just gov
ernnent. The other policy Is TO leave
| the five nations to their own course and
to organize the western portion Of the
! territory, dealing with every question OF
vested right by negotiation, and by treaty
and law protecting every interest Of the
Indians.
We will not presume to recommend IN
detail any plan of action. We have en-
deavored to present dispassionntely the
real circumstances facts surrounding
question Of the deepesG and most direct
significance to the states of the south
west.
The one thing OF supreme importance
| is the immediate opening of this territory
to the industries and commerce Of the
nation. Trivial AND unimportant excuses
should no longer delay this necessary re-
suit. Interested and powerful individ-
usls, corporations and combinations
should no longer be permitted to stand
in the way OF the best interests of the
great mass Of the people. In view of all
the facts and legal urecedents and decis-
| ions there should be no hesitation IL
reaching at once conclusion.
In dealing with the tribes and with the
individual 1t does not appear that q
change Of policy will be required. The
class with the most unqualified pster-
Dalism. From this We may conclude that
patern8lism which leaves polYgamy,
ignorance, laziness, and crime to tester
In contact with popu GUS commonwealtbs
may we'll proceed further without ex
hausting its right Of interference. This
request for territorial organization is
also a request for fair dealing with the
Indians, maintaining jealous guard for
their rights and Interests; for fair dealing
with the white settlements Of the south
west; for the advancement of poll
;ical liberty and material civilizi ion
AS it stands to-day, this Territory Is al
ment, an evil to all classes interested,
and menace 10 the peace and gooo
order Of the surrounding states.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved by he convention OF the cit
izens of Missouri. Ksnsha. Arkansas