Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-27
INDIAN TERRITORY.
Memorial Presented to the Senate and
House Of Representatives Regard
ing the Indian Territory.
The Resolutions Adopted at the KANSAS
City Meeting Included in the Memorial
Tho R.ssous Assigned,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The following
memorial regarding the opening OF the
Indian Territory WAS presented in the
House 10 day by Mr.. Warner of Missouri:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives of
the United States IN Congress assembled:
We, the repre- sentatives Of the people OF
Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, New
Mexico and the Indian Territory, Ia con-
venlion assembled at Kansas City, Mo %,
on February 8, 1883, do make the follow
ing declaration, presenting sUbeFly and
earnestly some VI the reasons why defln-
tie action should be taken for the reorgan-
zAtion OF all or p1lt ef the Indian Ter
rltory:
We realize that the time has come when
change OF policy Is impera:ivsly de-
manded; we believe that further post,
p1nement will be st the risk of iDcurring
disorder and evils not within the reach OF
moderate remedies; we know that this
Territory is becoming a hot-bed Of dis
turbAnce and crime, SIS 1t always has
beer mass of ignorance andidleasss, OF
Wastefulness and vice.
Il Is large expense to the govern.
ment, burden on the people Of ghs en-
tire country, q menace TO the good order
Of the surrounding states, an impeachment
to commerce, and disgrace to our civil
cation and nation.
The Indians remain in the bonds Of
their ancient barbArism; while chiefs,
cattlemen, and others who have married
into the tribes fatten on the wealth. noni-
nslly belonging TO the Indians as class,
The Indian is If 3 comparatively pure,
lOng-sustGined race, With strong original
characteristics, and So soon as ne leaves
tue temporary influence OF church and
school be drops back TO his former super
stitions and manner OF life. While he is
being governed By chiefs and couuclls he
maintains his habits and traditions, and Is
0eiug forced rapidly toward extinction.
We maintain that the highest obligation
OF government toward 3 helpless, con
quered people, penned Ia tract of coun-
try, every boundary Of which touches
aggressive and highly organized Civilizl-
ton OF wholly anita gonistic character, is
to teach them the arts by which they alone
can endure, and to infuse into them the
spirit u seltreliance and industry, which
underlies al civilization and all perma-
Mt prosperity.
Not the narrow charity which, while it
feeds the hungry, encourages dependence
aud Incidence, but rather that broader
and wiser policy Of philanthropy which,
in aiding, also encourages and develops
the inherent principles IN msn OF self
maintenance, industry and independence
Left in their present condition they, ID
the aggregate, are the prey Of the sdven-
ff1r bl VI ~ a = bo
food of disease. Instead OF giving this
people the best of our civilization, its
peaceful inc ustries ard higher code of
morals and lave, ne hsve given them
every hing which, separate add apart,
would have destroyed any people or
nation Ia the worlds history.
While the Industrious and the inteJli-
gent, the temperate and the honest white
man is barred from making for himself
and family home 10 this fertile domain,
the lazy and the vicious, the criminal and
the outlaw roam and plumber there Ia
freedom and safety, ready and anxious TO
reWsrd this generous partislily by fur
ulshng Introduction and example to the
people Of his deciVil!Zing accomplish
ments.
The harmonious development OF the
southwest and the commerce and indus
tries Ct the nation require the orgSnizs-
lion OF the territory.
1t is not restless adventures and land
grabbers who ask for this act of philan-
thrOpy and statesmspehip, but the honest
lRhorers, III every svocsGoD, those who
nave produced the wealth OF the nation,
and who have within 100 years extended
the lines Of its settlement s0d power
from a narrow belt of sea coast across s
mighty continent. Not schemers, but
business men, the equal In honesty, in
telligence, and philanthropy Of any class
of American citizens, who, while they
may appear to have less sentiment, Ger
tsinly have better opportunities for prac-
teal knowledge than those far removed
from the territory.
1t is not IN the interest Of personal
gsln, but to secure the blessings OF good
order and permanent government for
the Indisns and settlers, commercial and
Industrial enterprises.
Again, We would call attention TO the
extent Of the lands now held by the In
dian tribes, and in trust by the United
States, in trust for certain purposes in the
Iodlan Territory. This Territory con-
tains abou. Al 900, 900 acres. The lands
west of the sO-cSlltd civilized tribes, or
the portion included in one or more bills
now pending in Congress, amounts to
about 81, 100000, and with the Neutral
Strip added 100000 acres. Nearly all
these lands ae fertile AID we'll wStered,
having popuiation-sGpportiBg capacity
equal to that OF any body OF land west of
the Missouri river, and so favorable in
climate and In soil that we are justified
10 exp citing it to become within few
yesrs after 1t Is open to settlement one Of
the wea1thiest of territories.
The consuming capacity Of such coun-
try would be enormous. The eEsct upon
manufactures and rade would De felt In
all parts OF the country In fine creation Of
new market OF large demands.
The mineral resources of this country
are just beginning to be understood.
Coal Of s superior quality is found in
abundance; lead has been discovered IN
many places, and silver is known to exist
10 the western part.
A few railroads and other corporations
and agencies, with no claim upon the
bounty Of The government, are securing
the benefits TO accrue from these coal
lsnds, aud Adventures all over the Ter
ritory are striving to obtain leases which
will give them control Of these rich miu-
ersl resources.
The lands cultivated are almost exclu-
slvely in the hands of helf-breeds and So
called GIsouRw men ~ whose holdings are