The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-06

the individual of every incentive to the exer-
e,se OF tnr,iI ana the annuity mas contriPuoea
nrmed nauperism. Our treaty stipu atoms
should BE- observed with fidelity, and our
| the best interests OF an ignorant and helpless
people. The reservations are now generally
surroun n1,sb py wniie settlements we can no
ness, and it remains only, by every sui ablo
agency, to push him upward into the estate OK
For the adult the first step is to
locate him upon farm, and for, the
school attendance should be promoted by every s,
moral agency, and those failing, should be
compelled. The national schools for Indians
| have been very successful and should be multi
piled and as far as possible, should be or
| ganzed and conducted as to facilitate the
transfer of the schools to the states or terri
tories in which they. are located. when the
Indians in neighborhood have accepted
citizenship and have become otherwise fitted
| for such transfer. This condition of things
will be obtained slowly, but il will be fastened
by keeping il in mind, and in the meantime
| that cooperation between the government and
good should be cordially and impartially sus-
tanned. The last congress enacted two distinct
laws relating TO negotiations with the Sioux
| Indians of Dakota for REIMBURSEMENT OF 3
portion of their lands to the United States, and
| for dividing the remainder into separate reser-
yations Both were approved on the same day,
| March z The one submitted to the Indians
specific proposition, the other section 3 OF the
Indian approximation act, authorized the
| President TO appoint commissioners TO negotiate
with the Indians for the accomplishment OF
same general purpose and required that any
| agreements made should be submitted to con-
| gress for ratification
| The Indian Commissions.
On the 10Th day of April last appointed
hon: Charles Foster, of Ohio; Hon; William
commissioners under the last named law.
They We're however, authorized and directed
| first TO submit to the Indians the definite
| DrODOsltiOn made
| mentioned. and only in the event of failure
| to secure the assent of the requisite number
modified terms under the other act. The work
| OF the commission was prolonged and ardu-
PUT 5hs ths IN ts
| proposition made by congress, though the re-
port OF the commission has not yet been sub
mitted. In view of these facts shall not as
| at present advis d. deem it necessary to sub
| init the agreement to congress- qualification,
but it will in due course be submitted for in
| formation. This agre ment releases to the
United States about 100000 acres of land.
The commission provided for by section "A, of
with the Cherokee Indians. and all other In
dams owning or claiming lands lying west of
bs ssss,6D 10 fgs n Of
all such lands was constituted by the
appointment of Hon Lucius Fairchild Of Wis
vania and Hon, Alfred NJ Wilson of Arkan-
sas and organized on June 20, last. Their first
c9nferelse with the Representatives Of the
| =
with no definite results Gen. Jno. f. Hart
ranft; of Pennsylvania, was prevented by i'll
| healt from taking part in the Conference. His
death which occurred recently is justly and
| gem rally lamented by people he had served
VIII coanspcuo9s gailantry in war and with
Grated was filled. by the appointment of Hon.
Warren G. Sayre of Indiana.
| Obs,ruc bv the Cattle Syndicate.
| A second conference between the commits
sion and the Cherokees was begun November
| b.
isit believed that conclusion can be i'm
mediately exp ctei. The cattle syndicate
| is clearly one of the agencies responsible for
the obstruction OF our negotiations with the
lands Constituting what is known as sChero-
kee outlet" ought not to be and cannot long
be held for grazing and for the advantage Of a
| themselves. The United States has now under
the treaties certain rights in these lands.
These will not be used oppressively, but it
| cannot be allowed that those who by suffer-
| ance occupy these lands shall interpose to de-
feat the wis, and benefcent purpose of tho
| government. cannot but believe that the
| advantageous character of the offer made by
! the United States to the Cherokee nation for
full release of these lands. as compared
tn other suggestions now made to them,
| will yet obtain for 1T a favorable considera-
| ton.
More Indian Lands Acquired.
Under the agreement made between the
United States and the Muskogee Tor Creek
nation of Indians the 18th day of January,
| 1883, an absolute title was secured by the
United States to about three and half mil
| lions OF acres of land.
Section the general d,d Indian apProprs
States from the Seminole tribe of
certain portion of their Ian. lands The
OF To Se
to act in that behalf delivered proper release
and conveyance to the United States of all the
land mentioned ,l in the act which was aG-
| ance with the statute. BY the terms of both
the acts referred to. all the lands SO purchased
main and open to settlement under the home-
| stead law. But of the land embraced in those
purchases being in the aggregate about FIVE
million acres had already under the terms of
the treaty I 1866. been acquired by the United
tribes thereon and had been appropriated to
that purpose The land remaining and avail
able for settlement consisted of l,Ss7 !96 acres.
pancy of Indian tribes. Congress had pro-
vided no civil government for the people who
settle upon these lands, except as the new
court which had been established at Muscogee
or the United States court in some of the ad-
general laws of the United States. In this
conditions of things l was quite reluctant to.
open the lands to settlement.
The Oklahoma Proclamation.
But in view of the fact that several thousand.
persons, many of them with their families, had
gathered upon the borders of the Indian Terri
tory with view of securing homesteads on the
coded lands and that delay would involve them
in much loss and suffering, did, on the 23d day
of March last, issue proclamation, declaring
that the lands therein described would be open
to settlement under the provisions of the law
on the I'D day of April following, at IL o'clock,
noon. Two land districts had been established
and the offices were open for the transaction OF
business when the appointed time arrived. 1t
is much to the credit of the settlers that they
very generally observed the limitation as to
time when they might enter the territory. Care
will be taken that those who entered in VIOLA
ton of the law do not secure the advantage they
unfairly sought. There was good deal of ap-
prehenson that the strife for locations would
result i'm much violence and bloodshed, but
happily these anticpations were not realized.
1t Is estimated there are now in the territory
about 10000 people and several considerable
towns have sprung up, for which temporary
municipal governments have been organized.
Guthrie is said to have now population of al
most 5000, eleven schools and nine churches
have been established, and three daily and five
weekly newspapers are published IN this city
whose charter and ordinances have only the
voluntary acquiescence of the people from day
to day. Oklahama City has n population of
1000 and is proportionately as we'll provided as
Guthrie with churches, schools and newspa-
pers. Other towns and villages having repula-
tons of from 100 to 200 are scattered over the
territory
Troops ia Preserve Order
In order TO secure the peace of this new CON-