Western Kansas world., 1888-12-29
1neh Individual Indian, Mahing Them
C1sissns Of the United stasss-
The Hemorial aad
ResolueaonA

BAxTn Sr1MGs, KAN, Deeember H.
Tho committees report il very lsnsthy. Il
consists Of memorial 10 congress in which
tho declaration is made: ''Ths people. oi
Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and The Indian
territory in convention assembled at Baxter
Springs, Kan, do make tho following de-
claxations:
I'VE realize that the time has come vhen
Q change Of policy is imperatively demand
cd in Indian affairs, believing that further
postponement will be at the risk of incur
ring disorders and evlle not within the reach
Of moderate remedies. We know that the
territory is fast becoming q hotbed Of dis.
turbanoe. of wastefulness. Of idleness and
vice, q refuge for criminals and fugitives
from justice, thereby endangering tho lives
and property Of citizens of adjoining states.
It is large expense to the government, q
burden 70 the people Of tho entire country,
a menace to the good order Of the surround
ing states, an impediment to commerce and
q disgrace to our civilization and natisn.
We maintain that the highest obligation of
q government towards q conquered and
helpless people, penned in a tract of coun-
try every boundary of which touches aggres-
sive and highly organized civilization of a
wholly antagonistic character is to teach
them the arts by which they alone can en-
dure and to infuse into them the spirit of
relf-reliance and industry which underlies
all civilization and all permanent prosper
ity. The Indian territory lies in the center
of southwestern civilization, an obstacle to
trade development ana an injury to every
state which borders upon it. The continuity
of commerce is broken; the progress of
business organization toward Mexico is
blocked; Kansas is separated from Texas
and Colorado from New Mexico. That the
Indians as individuals would be benefited
by organizing the territory under q system
attic government, no one who is practically
informed viii deny. The money obtained
from the sale of their surplus lands would
make them richer people, per capita, than
those of any other state in the union. Their
individual land holdings in severalty would
be guaranteed to them and with the privi-
leges and respon Utilities of citizenship they
would rspidly and without social friction
assume the benefits of Independence, indus
try, culture and prosperity.
The resolutions emphasize and amplify
the above declaration; urge that congress
sional action be taken at once; that tho In
dians be clothed with the right of cltizen-
ship; demand that all legislation looking to
the settlement of the territory or any part
of it shall provide that the lands shall be
secured to actual and permanent settlers,
giving preference in every case to those at
The time occupying the lands for homes and
the lands shall never be allowed to become
merely subjects of speculation and traffic;
and concludes: "Being, as We are, in favor
of opening up in the entire Indian territory
md No-Man's-L Land to settlement subject |
70 the past vested rights of the Indians oc-
,upying tho soil, We favor a. q means to |
hat end the passage of the bills pending in |
congress- to open parts of the said territory |
md We urge our representatives in congress |
% use all honorable means to procure tho |
passage Of eaid bills"
After the adjournment of the convention
he representatives Of the Peoria and Miami |
ribes held an informal meeting, and it was /
agreed to send delegation to Washington
his winter to urge the passage OF bill al /
citing their lands in severalty with permis-
ion to sell the surplus