Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-12-15

negotiations which have been proceed
ing with the tribes for reduction of the
reservations. with the incident labor of
making allotments, and never was more
carefully conducted. The provision Of
adequate school facilities for Indian chill
dren and the locating of adult Indians
upon farms involve the solution of the
'Indian question" 1t will be noticed
from the report of the commissioner of
Indian affairs that already some con-
tracts have been made with district
schools for the education of Indian chill
dren. There is great advantage. think,
in bringing the Indian children into
mixed schools.
The Outbreak Among the Sioux,
which occurred in December last, as to
its causes and incidents was fully report
ed upon by the war department and the
! department of the interior. That these
! Indians had some just complaints, es-
| pecially in the matter of the reduction of
the appropriation for rations and in the
delays attending the enactment of laws to
| enable the department to perform the en-
! gagements entered into with them, is
probably true; but the Sioux tribes are
naturally warlike and turbulent, and
their warriors were excited by their med
icine men and chiefs, who preached the
coming of an Indian Messiah, who was to
give them power to destroy their enemies.
In view OF the alarm that prevailed among
the white settlers near the reservation, and
of the fatal consequences that would have
resulted from an Indian incurSiOn, |
placed at the disposal of General Miles,
commanding the division, the arms that
were thought by him to be required He
is entitled to the credit of having given
thorough protection to the settlers and Of
bringing the hOstiles into subsection with
the least possible loss of life.
The relation of the five civilized tribes
now occupying the Indian Territory, to
the United States, | believe that best cal
culated to promote the highest advance
ment OF these Indians. That there should be
within our borders five independent states
having no relations excepting those grow
ing out of treaties with the government
Of the United States, no representation in
the nations legislature, it's people not
citizens, is startling anomaly. 1t seems
to me to be inc vitable that there shall be
before long some organic changes in the
relation of these people to the United
States. The good work of reducing the
larger Indian reservations by allotments
in severaluy to the Indians, and the cession
OF the remaining lands TO the United
States for disposition under
The Homestead Law,
has been prosecuted during the year with
energy and success. In September last
was enabled TO open to settlement in the
territory of Oklahoma, 100000 acres of
land, all of which was taken up by set
tiers in u single day. The rush for these
lands was accompanied by great deal of
excitement, but was, happily free from in
cldeptS of violence.
1t was source of great regret that |
was not able TO open at the sar.e time the
surplus land of the Cheyenne and Arapa-
hoe rpSprVatiOn nmOuntinp To abOnt thrpa
million acres, by reason of the insufficient
cy of the appropriation for making the
allotments. Deserving and impatient set
tiers are waiting to occupy these lands,
and l urgently recommend that special
deficiency appropriation be promptly made
OF the small amount needed, SO that the
aliotments may be completed and the sur
plus lands opened in time to permit the
settlers to get upon their homesteadS in
the early spring
During the past summer the Cherokee
commission have completed arrangements
with the Wichita, Kickapoo and Tonkaa
tribes, whereby ii the arrangements are
ratified by congress, over 100000 addition
al acres will be opened to settlement in
Oklahoma.
The negotiation for the release by the
Cherokees OF their claim to the Cherokee
Strip has made no substantial progress,
so Tar as the department is officially
advised but it is still hoped that the
cession of this large and valuable tract
may be secured. The price which the
commission was authorized TO offer-Sl.25
per acre-is, in my judgment, when all
The circumstances as TO the title and the
character OF the lands are considered,
fair anu adequate one and should have
been accepted by the Indians
Since March t, 1889, about 23,000,000
acres have been separated from Indian
reservations and added to the public do
main for the use OF those who wished t.,