The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-25
CIVILIZATION
Speaks, and Its Voice Must Be Heard
The Fort Smith Territorial Conven-
tion Called to Order.
The Purpose of It Is to Open Up
the Indian Territory
To Settlement by ANY and All Citi-
zens OF the Unitod States,
To Wipe Out of Existence the Great
Asylum for the Criminal,
To Make It One of the Richest States
OF the Federal Government.
Judge ]. w. Clapp. of Memphis, Is Made
Temporary Chairman and Makes a
Learned and Eloquent Speech,
Carrying the Convention
With Him - Preamble
and Resolutions
Presented.
To Make II One of the Richest States
OF the Federal Government.
AZ corc.pondoncs Of Tho Anne,l.

STAFF Correspondence Of Tho Appeal.
FoRT SMITH, Ark, Jan. 2I.--The con-
vention called TO devise ways and means
TO open up the Indian Territory to settle
ment by the white man assembled at the
opera-house at 2:30 O'Clock this afternoon.
There were some $50 delegates present, OF
which number two were from Memphis,
ten from St. Louis, and others from
Omaha, Ncb.; Chcsterton, Ind; New
York City; Cherry Vale, Kas.; Paris, Tex;
Baxter Springs, kas, Springfield, Mo-; Sc
dalia, No.; Chetopa, Kas.; Indian Terri
tory, and the remainder from Fort Smith.
VanBuren, Fayetteville and various points
in Arkansas. Little Rock sent one dele
gate.
Judge ]. W. Clapp, Of Memphis, was
elected temporary chairman by acclama-
tion, and in assuming the chair stated the
object OF the meeting in u speech Of which
Memphians have cause TO be proud II
was fluent, graceful, full Of information
AUTOMATICALLY happy in diction and SEN
timenL Judge Clapp drew a round OF en-
thusiastic applause 10y the announcement
that II the citizens Of Memphis had
thought that the purpose OF the conyen.
tor was TO deprive the Indian Of any legal
right, or 10 impose any hardship upon
him, or to treat him In any manner con-
trary TO the principles Of justice and
iair dealing, they would have selected
some other person than himself 10 repre-
sent them IN the convention. lie then
drew rapid but comprehensive picture Of
the Indian and his history, and demon
stmied how his separation from other
people was driving him down iu the scale
oi civilization. ~ Il would do in the case
ol any other race Of similar inieriority %
the white race. lie instanccd the ease Of
the negro, who, he said, had been elevated
and improved by association with the
white mue even ~ condition Of slavery.
lie showed how low ihe negro could sink
when left 30 himself by reference 10 the
human sacrifices recently offered up in
llayii. and urged that the elevation OF the
Indian depended upon his being admitted
90 citizenship through the usual territorial
process
The judge was frequently applaudcd
and certainly made hit for Memphis. VI.
u. Hunter, Of IL. Smith, was elected tom
porary secretary.
A committee on permanent organization
was appointed, and after brief debate, ~.
ported a. follows Gov. X. 4. Campbell,
of -. Louis, permanent chairman; j. W.
Ilapp, u Memphis. !, B. Cook, Chctopl.
kns, Col. GHf Pfather. ~. Louis; James
Abbott, Springfield, Mo; Judge Mylic,
Cherokee Nation. H. u. Williams, Little
Rock; G. 4. Richardsvillc, Miami Nation,
vicc-prcsilcnis VI. u. Hunter, permanent
secretary, George VI. Bernard aud Hugh
i. Reagan, assistants.
The rcport was unanimously adopted.
Pending the absence Of the Committee
on Credentials and Permanent OfganHi-
tion, speeches were made by Col. J. II.
Clcndcnnng. president VI the Chamber Of
Commerce, r. &. B0udinot, :. H. Bcngc,
halibfrcd Of thc Cherokee Nation, aud
&. W. Daniels. president Of the Baxter
Sprngs Chamber u Commerce. The
speech Of Mr.. Bcnge was an earnest and
eloquent statement oi the Indians side Of
the case, protesting against any Interior
Cncc and asking that the Indian be lot
alone 20 work out his own salvation.
Tho following resolution, offered by
Delegate Bryant, Of Fort smith, b. graphic
statement oi those Who organized this
movement
where's, Tho Indian Territory Is an
anomaly in the United States, and iis po-
liical Ind tribal Status is an obstruction ~
civilization aud detrimental 10 the Indians,
rendering their land tenure insecure and
their condition one oi somi. harbaily. Tho
country is au asylum Tor criminals u every
kind whose deeds Of crime AMI violence
make iis name 'byword aud q rcpf0ach,
and the Indians arr thU victims Of design
ing whites who carry with them the
vices without the virtues Of civilization
aud obthining the rights oi residence by
permit itoroi citizenship marriagy, having
grown rich and powerful through the in
ilucucg thus obtained, exert the real power
IN the councils among The people.
"Ihc Total population Of the lnlin Ter
nlory exceeds 10000 Of which ~,
nrr citizens. and oi that number over hal
arc mixcl.bloods adopted whites an'
nCgfOCA Tho population ui thC CIvillzn,
tribrs IN 1874 Was Fullbluols. no. 400
mixed %. 400 adopted whites. j.OJJ. ne
grocs. S.OJD total, hi, 900. There are nov
$1,000 in the civilized tribes and the pro
portion oi whites have largely increased
The report Of the Indian Agents sep
tcmLcf. 1857, gives the number II white.
not citizens in the Eve civilized tribes, 30,
Goo An Indian oi intelligence gives th
number Of white males. not citizens, a
this date, in the five civilized tribes, q
1900 In the Co1wCCsccoouco district
one Of the ten Of the Cherokee Nation
with au adult male Indian population
bi 200, thorc are $500 adult white.
males, not cItlyOus, culuyaiing land undc
permit from tho Indian authorities foui
hnhs ni The crimes committed Ia thc ~
dian Territory. as shown by the records
the United Sift Court m Fort Smith, ~
committed by whites aud npgrocs ThI
court hus iho largest criminal docket }
thc world, aud table Of thc cases trie
Ia lSsS, prepared by the clerks show