Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-01-05
The lNDIAN TERRITORY
An Interview with Conerrssman Peel
Who nas somo Ideas Respecting IT,
Anomalous Position.

Who nas Sono Ideas Respecting H.,
Anomalous Position.
WAsHiNgroN Dec si.-Reprcsentative sam
ucl w. Pcei who Is % be chairman OF the Con
mittce on Indian Affairs, Is n native OF Arisan
sas. His district Is in the northwestern cornc
of the State, bordering for some distance OF
tn Indian Territory. lie Is n man Of vigoiou.
mind, and has SOME ideas Of his own on the In
diin problem There Is strong desire upon
the part OF tho Administration TO have this
Congress put an enc to the anomalous situation
ia the Territory. Mr.. Peel has been selected
Tor this important Craftsmanship with a iull un
dcrstanding Of what his views are and IN tho
expectation that he viii ombo thom IN legis
iatluu,
what is your Indian pclicyY' Mr.. reel was
asked recently
TO relieve the Government Of the charge and
TO rcrpotuate and civiiize the Indians, he re
Piled quickly THAT Is what Is desired and q
what shall aim ut so fgr as ! can shape lcgis
lution."
"Dut howr was asked
"Wcll,' said the rugged hut rleasant.frccd
Arkansan "I'll admit that Il viii be som what
dinl ut to change 10 a radical manucr the ex
istiug conditions IN the Territory and nj the
same Tins ke p tire ty.iaith with the Indians
and do exactly right by everybody concerned.
But agricultural and mechanical industry. com.
mon school education, lands In scveralty aud
oihor hclps TO scliruliancc and independence
viii bring the change about and make the Iai
CLANS part and parcel OF our civilization. In
this country We must have hnt one Constitu
ton, one Tag and one citizenship. and VIC must
be governed by the law, not by the hayonct
The part Of the Indian Territory known ~ the
i've civilized nations or tribes, Is the place TO
begin, In my opinion"
How win you bcyiat Divide the land in
severaliy aad give each the usual quarter sec
tion-.GO nc csf'
no, indeed" replied the Congressman
promptly; "tho Indians hold n patent from
the Government made TO them rs tribes. and
therefore the lands belong TO them. They have
perfect titles. When the land ia divided it
must az be allotted TO thcfa equal ypor capita q"
But has not the Government guarant cd
protection TO these Indians Us tribes, and
promised not TO place d state or Territorial
Cover ment over them without their consent
and that. too, by solemn treaty."
"Ncs, 70 certninly has"
''rhcn how do you propose 70 make them citi-
zcns a u part Of our civilization and TO divide
their lands among them without violating the
trcatesf'
"wen, Of course, to reach the end sought and
completely solve the Indian question without
violating any treaty stipuiutous Is the main
dnculty In the way of legislation. Yet, think
it can be done. To fully settle the problem that
so-cullcd territory must become a Territory In
fact Of the United States, with Territorial gov
eminent In perfect form our iud cial system
must extend over IT, and the Indians should b
represented IN Congress Us other Territories
are In other WORDS continued hIr. Peel. "bc-
fore we can protect the Indians ia life, liberty
nui property as we do our own citizens, and
that protection they must have, thoy must be
placed la such q condition that our legislative
and judicial system Of government can operate
directly on and over them as It does over us
Ny plan TO bring that about ana not violate our
treaties with them is this: In the nrst place,
under the treaties u iS6i we Gre allowed 10 cs.
tubiish courts IN the Territory; so you see un.
der that clause we can put as many courts as
we please 90 that country. Of course the right
10 give them Jurisdiction over the lcoplr In the
Territory follows. Thus / say put courts into
the Territory with all the civil and criminal
jurisdiction needed 20 give every citizen, red,
black or white, full protection under the law.
That Is my beginning"
what Is the next stepT'
The same treaties allow these Indians q del
cgaic in Congress when Congress provides Tor
H. Now let Congress pass % bill at on C allow.
ing them a delegate in Congress with all the
powers possessed by other delegates. and pro-
vide for the manner Of his election. Thus We
have the judicial and legislative steps taken.
Next would pas a territorial bill ample and
complete, but just 10 every Indian right. aud
submit that TO the Indians and ask them TO
ratify II, providing the means AID manner OF
uiiuf 80. Iuese are inc steps l nope TO sec
taken b. this Congress"
"Dut suppose the Indians refuse 20 accept
your proposition 10 send a delegate and to
adopt the territorial form Of government. what
thenf'
wen, would have the United States Gov
eminent. IN that event, say 10 the Indians:
We have guaranteed protection 90 you by
treaty; that means protection by law, not BY
bayOnots. We meant by our treaty that you
aInrIln htasg the ftuf fsit
our owa people. This Government never did
and never can give more or different protection
20 any one than Is deicgated under the Cous;itu-
ticn tn be iycn, and now we eau not rrotcct
you by The biyonet We never promised 10 use
the bayoac; on our own people 10 protect Tou. II
you refuse 90 put yourselves ia condi ion so
shat we con protec; you with the law yoI must
take the consequences and take care q your.
selves Dy such refusal now that you g-c able
20 illiy understand the law you forfeit the
right OF protection - as any citizen foricits
that right wacn he puts himself outside OF the
law or beyond the reach OF the law
THAT IS the alternative ] propose -hail be
presented We will suy firmly and plainly 10
them; TIE time has come when we can no
longer protect you under that treaty promise.
unicss you win help MS by putting your country
"nd pcopl" under the jurisdiction Of our Gov.
cguMeut. We are willing and ready and anxious
70 make good every promise n you viii only let
Us. 80, come In and De one of us, aud 10 need
De, our uayoHets VIII stand nrmly behind the
civil authority, ana you, and each Of you. shall
have the perfect protection Of lie, liberty aud
property
what DO you think will result from put.
ting such an alternative before the'civilizcd In
daus!"
Those who desire to keep up their peculiar
tribal sysicm in order that they may rule. feast
uni fatten 90 the expense Of ticir oya peopl e
Win oppose The change but tho change Is in-
cyi;luie AMI u viii be the tllyaton of Tie com.
mon Indians When the Indians see and Lnow
that this Government never r0nisel 70 keep
% large staIding army % protect them
and Will no longer DO 10. they will most
willingly accept Territorial form Of
Government and put themselves undcr our
Rag and our law. II Is Inconsistent In the
very nature Of things Tor % G1ycrnuent 20 pro.
tect any one who refuses 20 come under its
Jurisdiction. Every subject Of this or any other
couniry owes allegiance 10 the Government
vhirh protects him The Indian can not claim
protection o. life, iib riy and property al the
hands ~ this Government and at the same time
cont DO 10 i've OUTSIDE Of it, iurisdic ton"
Alr Peel expressed his hope and belief that
such pian as he outlined would be- put In oper
alton by this Congress
- S-
Destructive FIRE.
KANAs CRY, No, Jan. 2.-The Stevens
n Brace Iron Company's four story build.
iug Ht Thiucsuth and Mulberry stfc,ts,
fitg rifv was lurltfH lHfurtIuts ttItsftt fs....