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


refuge there, actually despislng the futile
Indisn police regulations, and ususlly
safe from criminal processes Of the fed
eral courts, on account of the spsrsely
settled condition OF the country and OF
the aiders and abettors of criminal6 In
the territory. Scores Of murders
were committed there during
the past Yesr. Some GuthorIti place
the number OF lives lost ss hieh ss 800
The killing Of United States ctfisers while
in The discharge OF thsir duties would
SEES N to be, from the num5er g sacri-
icec, rather 8 2, slime than crime.
The almc 81 total absence Of civil juris
diction cripples the email trade, which
might be Increased we're II not that all
clssses Ct business are uncertain and
hazardous. Even those tribes which are
called civilized are approaching our
standard Of development slowly, II st all.
r zee distinctions in these tribes OF In
diens are 1sst dying out. The absorption
ci the frGe.dmsr and the smalgsmstion
aud intermsrrisge with other persons OF
! African descent AID "sguaw men" have
left but comparatively few individuals Of
the original pure I0diAn source. OF the
three processes, amslgsmation. sunihi!s-
tor ard civilization, the former two have
the maetery and are fast deciding the
| melancholy destiny Of that race,
Itt5e government proposes TO consider
olly tie welfare Of the Iodisns, we must
Insist shE: comprehensive plan for or
gaming the whole territory under laws
IN harmony with those governing the bal
sncs CT the country is demanded by
every sentiment Of rational philanthro-
ply and every principle OF common
seIse and Justice. That this will be done
is certsin, II g full knowledge of sill the
facts, conditions, and circumstances were
available before the lsw-mskipg power Of
this nation. The Vaccinations, the
Iptrigues, and the influence OF interested
| leaders, beuedciaries Of monopoly con-
tracts, and "squaw men" have obscured
the truth az to the wishes Of the main
body Of Indians. These Ipersons have
control and many sources of profit and
power, which they are determined not to
surrender; If they who have opposed all
attempts for the correction OF the evils of
ISOLATION and degradation; II Is they who
are opposed to every form Of civil cation
which mSy protect and elevate the great
mass Of these people.
There is q strong under-current of
favor Of throwing themselves upon the
protection and power of the white mans
laws. This feeling does not hud public
expression because OF the reign Of terror
which pervsdes the nation under the in
timidating snd crushing power of the
dominating influences heretofore men
toned. AS long as the government oesls
exclusively with the chiefs, "squNw
mo Nd int 20 NJ Inc he 20
of monopoly and power, nothing csn be
done. That the Indians, as individuals,
would be vastly benefited By Organizing
the Territory under systematic govern
ment, no one who is practically informed
will deny. The money obtained from the
sale of their surplus lands would make
than { ose of any state in
the Uaion. Their individual land hold
inss In seyerslty would be guaranteed to
them, ard with the privileges and re-
sponsibilities Of citizenship they would
rapidly and without social friction az
sumo the benefits of independence, in
dustry, culture ana prosperity. The only
losers would be the cunning privileged
classes who are preying upon their SIM
plicity, guperstitions and ignorance.
that individual Indians, when brought in
direct contact and kept within the direct
influence Of white men, are industrious,
temperate and frugal. To think OF pre-
serving the present relations between the
United States ard its Indians, under the
plea Of guarding the rights of the weaker
race, is an evidence OF unthinking senti-
meHtslism. The present relations are
wholly wrong, and the Indian is the
sufferer.
OF the extent to which the government
has power TO change present conditions
in tue Territory it is not our province to
speak. The power to reorgsnize with the
consent of the Indian Is self evident; aud
sc hold that IL is the plain duty of the
government to exercise that power with
out delay, to the fullest extent, as s
means to settle what may be dangerous
agitation to the people Of the country at
large, to preserve the Indians from the
evil and destructive influences by which
they are surrounded, and to advance the
cause Of good government and higher
civilization. II the motive Of the govern
msnt we're TO secure the greatest benefit
to the lsboring white man Of the country,
the honest seekers of homes
IA this fertile and yet unproductlve
domain, the question would be Of
easy and rapid solution.
While everywhere the American is
known to be the gentlest and kindesr OF
msn, IN the great west he prides himself
upon being q fsir man and q practical
one. he knows that the fertile public
lands are about exhausted. The pioneer
settler, who has overcome every obstacle
and laid he foundation of every state In
the Union, is still looking for home for
himself and family upon the public l8nds.
He approaches the borders OF this vast,
itch, and unproductiVe territory, from
which, if be be an honest man, with de-
pendent family, he Is excluded. He looks
scrogs the dividing line and sees millions
Of acres Of the most productive soil on
The continent untouched by the plow. he
secs tracts of thousands of un-
TILED sores controlled by a "squsw
man," he learns that vast tracts
are fsrped out DY chiefs 70 cattle grow
ers; Ae would not, IL he could, leave his
family and enter this territory as 8
"sgnSwman; - he would not surrender his
strong Aoglo-Ssxon pride of race to enter
anywhere, for land or gold; he learns
that the government has bought at least 5
portion OF this land fjr purposes 20 which
it has never been and never can be ap-
piled. There Is where ne will pre-empt;
L. ~, II