The sun., 1891-01-23
INDIAN TERRITORY ryrnuDERs.
The Color Line In Citisenship ana IN Prop
erty Molding Rights.

Tn0 C0IOr Limo In CNtuEeUanNp nO0 IN Prop
erty Nolding Rights.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 22-Ths Cherokses, Choe-
taws. and Chickasaws are much concerned with
the question OF what to do with a great army
OF white and mixed-blood residents who for
many years have been amonG them. Gov. W. L.
Byrd, who, at the Chickasaw election last sum
mer triumphed over Paul. who was favored
by tho souaw mon, or white husbands OF In
dian women, has just sent Commissioner to
Washington. asking for Government aid to
eject all citizens from the Chickasaw
lands Chief j. B. Mayes OF the Cherokees
nearly q year ago sent to Secretary Noble a
similar request
OF the number Of these carpet bnRgers the
details OF the census will perhaps. ultimately
inform us. Tho number OF whites alone on
the several reservations in the Indian Terri
tory aggregates. according to the census
107.9S7. In 1880 tho agent for the five
tribes officially reported that the iu-
truders included 1000 claimants OF In
dian citizenship. 5000 sojourners and vis-
itors, and $4,000 other persons. principally
refugees with their families from the border
States, whose Influence 10 corrupting and thor
example demorslizinR." 1t appears that this
last class docs not give 80 much political
trouble as those that claim citizenship By vir-
tue OF having married Indian women, or Of
blood. who insist that they have full right to
the franchise and to share In the Indian lands
should they be allotted in severalty.
Indeed the prospect Of such an allotment
and the growing value OF landed and other
property among the five civilized tribes has
mnde important the determination OF tho
status OF whites and persons OF mixed blood.
In the case Of the Cherokees large proper
ton OF the intruders urge that they are OF
Cherokee blood while among tho Chickasaws
the great number Of in,ruders and tho "des-
perate character OF somo OF them.' according
to Commissioner Morgan render the problem
difficult OF solution. Among the Choctaws. out
are regarded as intruders. and their claims to
citizenship are now under consideration BY
%ash II sss ,roub. among til.
Aye civilized tribes M e has been due 70 th, Indians
BY the esy Of sS The
may be necessary for the government and pro.
their own country, belonging to their people
or such persons "a have connect themselves
Shs to sss inss IN .ss an ~
without their consent should be removed BY
hs p e5a pc 81 the United States his
who are c.siSens. At ole time they Invited the he
in fact; many did so. including Cherokees from rom
Georgia and ~. tennessee. Tho were carried on
Ine fOllS OF the NOrtn. carolina ChcroKeo0
claimants to Cherokee citizenship. They were
allowed to settle down and OCCUPY anu culti-
vate land pending action upon their claims.
United s.atos extnsuished these claim Claims e, Of the the
Eastern Cherokees 10 citizenship and to share
in the Cherokee Trust Fund. holding that they
must look for oil such rights to the action OF
ment, which about ten years ago slthorized
these persons to remain until their rights could
be legally Determined. thereupon refused to
grant any more permits. and these ,newcom-
the Cnerokees. in 1886. on the strength OF this
decision. provided commission to PASS upon
claims TO- citizenship. Those whose claims
were admitted we're regularly received into the
pose OF their improvements npon property
within ninety days and remove from the coun-
try Then the Interior Derartment interfered
in their behalf ia ing the ground that the very
over the property OF their own citizens de:
prived them OF authority over the properly Of
others; and 1t would not permit anything like
8, oiation. resulting from the expulsion OF the
aliens. with too summary procedures.
The general principles govern in. the Ques-
! tion are therefore clear. First. the Indian ma
tions may determine for themselves the uues-
ton Of citizenship. Next even II the Interior
Department protects tho property rights OF
those who become intruders through failure to
procure citizenship, it is bound within q rea-
stipnlntions Finally, tho Government is itself
tecom nR disgustsu with the in;ruders. since
In the fall OF 1888 1t notified them all to move
within SIX months. and ut the latest returns
STAY and enjoy land Tree. without p' Jing taxes.
Accordingly. when the more urgent Indian
| troubles elsewhere are settled. and when the
Che'oke1 @ pHtet & is tnreh"seId:d Inde me irtrndea
| sioner Morgan has already requested the aid OF
| troops for this purpose.