Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-27
INDIAN TERRITORY.

INDIAN TERRITORY.
A Representative Convention Held It Bax-
Cor Springs, Manifestations Advocat-
ing the Opening Of theTerritOry.
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan, Dec. 1.-THE
Indian Terri. orial convention met in the
city hail yesterday and passed set Of
strong reso utlons favorng the immediate
open ng o. the entire Indian Territory to
white se tie 8, aid the allotment OF land
in severaIty to Indians. Good lie. egations
were present ON many Of the principal
cities OF Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas,
an l a liberal represen alton from many OF
the Indian tribes. Governor T. T. Critten-
den. of Missouri, was elect perma rent
chairman, and G. w. Daniels. of Baxter
Springs; seer. tary. 1t was generally con-
coded that this convention brought out
m re of he influential men Of the country
and more brains than any meeting that
has bee held on this subject.
An interesting and important feature OF
the convention and one that must have
weight with the country at large. was the
attendance and outspoken sentiments OF
the indians themselves. GU to number
of chiefs and influent al men of the various
Indian tribes came out strongly in favor
of allotment of lands, of the individual re-
epons bIities of CT izenship and The pro-
lection of the neral Government They
evidently wish to have an opportunity to
compete with the white race, and many of
them are tired of the present mode Of
life and dependence upon the Government.
Chiefs John Early. Of the Ottawa Ma
ton; Thomas Rishardville, of the Miami
Nation. and William Lebadie, of the Pc
oria Nation. made stirring speeches in
dorsing the measures advanced by the
convention.
Judging from the remarks and general
conversation, there is a strong undertone
throughout nearly all the TRIES of the
Territory favoring a change in the pres
emit In dian policy and abolishing the tribal
relations.
Ex-Governor Crittenden delivered an
eloquent address, and was followed by
Judge Emery, of Lawrence, KAN; Hon.
L. L. Bridges, of s dalia; Colonel Ben T.
Duval, Of Fort Smith: L. E. Irwin, Of Kan
sas City, and others. The sentiment OF
the convention was in favor Of giving the
Indians all their land, if necessary, but
TO divide them in severaity, make them
citizens Of the United States, and to make
of the Indian Territory one Of the pros
porous States of the Union.
The TesOlus ions as agreed on by the conn
mittee Wore then read and adopted with
out debate and immedia ely afterward the
convention adjourned and the delegates
travelling by special trains at once repaired
to their cars and took their departure.
The committees report is very lengthy.
1t consi It's of memorial to Congress in
which the decla alton is made: "The
PEG le of Missouri. Kan >as, Arkansas and
the Ind an Territory in convention as
sembled at Bax or Springs, Kan, do
make the 70. lowing declarations: 1--WE
realize that the time has come
when change of policy is
imperatively demanded in Indian affairs,
believing that a further postponement will
be at the risk OF mourning disorder and
evils not W thin the reach Of moderate
remedies. We know that the Territory is
fast becoming a hotbed of d sturbance, of
wastefuness, of idleness and vice, a refuge
for criminals and fugitives from justice,
thereby endangering the lives and prop
erty of citizens of adjoining States. It is a
large expense to the Government, burden
to the eOple OF the entire country, q men,
ace to the good order of the surrounding
States, an impeachment to commerce and
a disgrace to our civilization and Ma
ton. We maintain that the highest
obligation of q Government towards a
conquered and helpless people, penned in
a tract of cOun ry every boundary OF
which touches agEre sive and highly or
ganized civilizat on of wholly antagon-
which they alone can endure and to infuse
into them the spirit of self-rel ance and
industry which under les all villa ion
and all permanent prosperity. The Indian
Territory lies in the center Of South
ives ern c,vi ization, an obstac 9 to
trade development and an injury
to every State which borders upon
it. TIE continuity of commerce
is broken; the progress of busine S
-
Kansas is separated from Texas and
Texas and Colo ado from New Mexico.
That the Indians individuals would be
vastly neaitei by organizing the Ter i
tory under q systematic government, NO
one who is practically informed will deny.
The money obtained from the sale of their
surplus lands would make them a richer
people. per capita, than those of any State
in the Union. Their individual and hold
ings in severalty would be guaranteed to
them and with the privileges and response
bilities of citizenship they would rapidly
and without social friction assume the
benefits of independence, industry, culture
and prosperity"
The resolutions emphasize and amplify
the above d, claration; urge that Congress
siOnal act on be taken at once; that the
Indians be 9th ed with the RIG hit of CT
zen>hip; demand that al leg ion look
ing to the settlement Of the T. RI tory or any
part OF it shall prov de that the lands sha
be secure to actual and permanent set.
tle,s, Civ ng preference in every case to
those at the ime occupying the lands for
home and The lands shall yer b. a.
lowed to become merely subjects of specu-
lation and traffic; and conclude: ''Being
rs are in favor of opening up in
the entire In,lian Territory and No
, Man's-Land to ttiement subject to the
past yes ed rig hts Of the Indians occupy
Ing he SO we favor as a means to that
end the passage of the bills nding in
Congress TO open parts of the said 1 erri-
tory and we urge our repre- entatives in
Congress to use all honoral lie means to
procure the passage Of said b u.s."