The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-24
INDIAN TERRITORY.
The CondltIon OF The Five Civilized "NntIons.v


BY far the clearest and most comprehensive
statement regarding the condition of the five
civilized tribes in Indian Territory that has
been made for years is embodied in the annual
report of Mr.. Leo Bennett United States In-
dian Agent at Muskogee in Indian Territory,
which was received at tho Interior Department
few days ago. Mr. Bennett says:
"For years and years the Indian Territory
has been harbor and asylum against civil and
criminal process for horde Of yiolators of the
law. There are $4,000 people living in the
limits of this Agency who have no legal or
moral right to remain in the country. They
are fugitives from the States outlaws of every
class murdcrers, thieves, whisky peddleTs and
gamblers. Their Influence is corrupting, their
touch is poluting aud their example is de-
moraizng. TO their maeyolent influence
in this country. Some means of supprcssing
this great and growing evil should be con-
ferred upon our United States courts.
Z" j say growing evil, for tho thousands of
children of these intruding criminals are nur-
tured in crime and do not know the right from
the wrong. They are born in iniquity and
reared in uurighteousness and sin, without
schools, without religion aud without any re-
straining influences. There are over $4,000
intruders in this country, many Of whom are
outlaws Of the lowest class. IL would require
a regiment of soldiers to remove these people
and keep them out. Certain it is that the
Indian Office has never been equal to the
necessities of the case"
LOSING THEIR LANDS.
The agent continues that the interest OF the
Indians in the soil is less every day, and the in
terests of the adopted citizens, white and negro
are rapidly growing. The full Indians are de-
creasing in number, while the whites and
negroes are increasing. Railway and mining
corporations in the Territory are introducing u
large class of non-citiZcns, together with their
families, and these necessarily have TO be domi-
Cled upon Indian soil.
" II is an unquestionable fact, says the agent,
" that these five nations have in their anoma
lous and undetermined political status and the
instability of their property rights a great i'm
pediment to their progress, and one which af
fects their moral rs well rs their industrial
development. The citizens of nations within
this country comprise every degree of color and
blood and many are so intermixed that it is
not possible TO describe their extraction"
EDUCATION.
Upon tho subject of education tho report
states that in no community Of the United
States does the education of young men and
women receive greater encouragement than
among the five tribes which compose the Union.
Tho Cberolees have 40 primary schools, an
orphan asylum and male and female seminary
for the more advanced pupils. There are
also various mission schools and academies in
the Choetaw Nation. There are 40 common
schools, one seminary, one academy, and two
orphan asylums. There are also q number Of
private schools under the direction of mission
airy aud church societies. There are SO day
schools and several larger educational institu-
tions in tho Creek and Seminole nations. The
condition of education among the Chickasaws
Is not so satisfactory rs in the other nations.
They support only Is common schools and only
four advanced institutions. The Chiekasaws
refuse TO provide schools for their freedmen,
who are growing up in ignorance.
RELIGION.
Considerable progress is noted In religious
matters in the Five Nations. The Alethodists.
Baptists, PrcsbyteTiaus aud Roman Catholics
are all strongly represented within the agency.
The Methodists have LA preachers aud a total
membership of 1851, of whom 4.9i5 are
Indian. This Church also has the direction
Of fvo educational institutions. The Bap
lists are principally confined To the Choctaw
aud Chick asaw nations. where they have s.
churches, 3,1i0 members and two missionary
schools. The Presbyterian has so parishes
l,G65 members and % ministers. This church
has also - mission schools throughout tho sew
eral nations The Roman Catholics have eight
churches and four schools. Each Protestant
denomination has Sabbath schools at various
points. All aro reported TO BIO tn n aourishng
condition.