The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-02-10

bfacfng nearly al thA4 portion q the tract
reiinquished IN 1853 By the Choctaws and
Chickasaws. which les south OF the washita
river, containing about e00 square miles.
By the treaty Of October ., in tho same year.
the Cheyennes and Arapahoes were granted
. reservation consisting Of that portion OF the
Cherokee country west Of the ninetysixth me-
riilian which lies between the Arkansas river,
the Cimarron river and the southern boundary
Of Kansas. containing about 5000 square miles.
A remnant Of the Sacs and Foxes, by treaty Of
the same year. were granted . reservation OF
81 square miles west OF the Creeks and north
Of the Semino!es, and reservation Of the same
extent, situated west of the Seminole lands
was assigned to the Pottawstoraies
By treaties OF the same year the Senecas
Shawnees and Quapaws relinQuished parts OF
their small reservations next the Missouri line,
and the ceded portions were reassigned to de-
tachments Of the Wyandottes, Ottauas, Peo-
rias, Cossoslias. Meas. Piankashaws and Nj
ar1is. Subsequently. by act Of Congress, the
Osages received q reservation upon the Chero-
kec lands Immediately west of tn 96th
meridian. Small reservations were also as
signed the kickapoos, Iowas and wichitas out
OF the lands ceded by the Creeks, and the Paw
nees. Kansas, Nez Perces. PoG .as. Otoes and
Missouris were settled or small tracts west OF
the Cherckces. This is an epitome Of the es-
Enlistment so far OF Indian tribes in and
thus coded by the five civilized tribes out of
which it Is proposed to carve the territory of
Oklahoma and give Ii q government under the
terms Of the bill introduced by Mr. Springer OF
Illinois, adding thereto the public land strip
known as No-Man's-Land.
The arguments in favor OF organizing the
territory Of Oklahoma were ably and elabor-
ately stated by Hon Isaac s. Strvble Of
Iowa in a speech made In the House OF Rep
resentatives on June 3 1876. 1t was prefaced
By quotation from the remarks made By Hon
J. ID. c. Atkins. Commissioner OF Indian AZ
fairs. in his annual report. as follows:
What political development lies before the
Indians Of the Indian Territory. it il impossi-
bic TO foresee: but one thing is evident the
idea OF maintaining permanently al impe.
rum II ua7eTio. such as now exists must in
some respects be abandoned The idea OF
Indian nationality is fast melting away, and
the more intelligent Indians are themselves
awaking TO that fact In a word. the Indians in
the Indian Territory must sooner or later break
up their tribal relations. take their lands in
severalty, and to all intents and purposes
become citizens of the United States
and be amenable to its laws. as well as enjoy
all Of its high and distinguished privileges
When that is done they will be prepared to
dispose OF the surplus lands they may own to
the best advantage to themselves and in spirit
PRO bono pubico."
General Miles. referring to this question,
said: The Indian Territory is now a block in
the path Of civilization. 1t is preserved TO
perpetuate Q mongrel race far removed from
the influences Of Civilizations refuge for the
outlaws and indoleut of whites, blacks and
Mexlcans''
Secretary Teller said: Treaties impossible
CT fulf,lment or contrary to the public inter
est. SHOULD be modified or repealed. No more
treaties should be made or statutes enacted
to reemcnts made with the In
dian II he has more land than he needs he
must surrender the excess. and it can not be
left to him to determine either the amount he
ought TO retain or the price he ought to re-
ceive- He is incapable OF determining such
weighty questions. they should be deter
mined by the legislative branch of the Gov
erlment, or by some suitable tribunal created
FOR that purpose To many of the reserva-
tons he has no title whatever and is but the
occupant thereof By executive favor Such
occupants GU ght nos to be left landless. neither
should they be allowed to hold large tracts rot
for their support and o. which they
make little or 10 use'
Mr.. Struble took the ground that at the time
the policy OF settling the Indians on territory
west of the Mississippi river was first pro-
lected it was not thought possible. and could
hardly have been foreseen by even our wisest
that the vast plains of the far away
West would ever become the perma-
nent homes of millions of prosperous and hap
py citizens OF the Republic-that the barren
plains Of the great American desert would be-
'ome the gart.en OF the new world Neverthe-
ess. il is q matter of establishment that the
Ible legislators, who not only LAID the founda-
ions of OF present Indian policy, but as
listed in carrying the same INTO effect
should have so legislated in relation to any Of
he aborigincs of this country that the time
you'd ever come when il the very heart of the
Republic there would be found an empire capa-
Ne OF sustaining millions OF people. yet reserved
or the exclusive occupancy OF outlaws, COW
Joys. cattle and only about 5000 Indians.
1t was also . matter CT wonder that q sys-
EN- should have been allowed 20 grow
Up. under which this remnant Of Indians
ould claim exclusive ownership to such
-ast domain and not only this. but con-
rolt Congress and the people with the as
sumption that they are body Of people
Wholly independent of the power and control
4 the great Government which is supreme
'vcr every other foot of soil within its
not only as TO such lands as
hese Indians have never ceded back to
he United States, but as respects every foot
4 land included within the limits CT the Indian
Territory, which they assert, can never include
ither themselves or any of those lands within |
he jurisdiction Of any State or Territory.