The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-27
Az INDIAN STATE.
The Proposal TO Admit the Five Civilized
Tribes Into che Iul0u.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2G.-Just before the nd
journment OF Congress for the holidays Mr.
Dawes made n favorable report upon the ill
introduced by Mr.. Berry for creating a state
out OF what is now the Indian Territory. This
bill provides for appointing Commissioners
who shall open negotiations for the purpose
indicated with the Cherokoes. Choctaws.
Chickasaws. Creeks, Seminolos. and tho
smaller tribes and bands around them. Tho
Commissioners are first. II possible. to procure
ailotments OF the lands OF these tribes in sew
crafty. since. as Is we'll known. they are now
expressly exempt from tho operation OF tho
severalty law. Then they arc to arrange, IL
Sossible Tor the sale Of surplus lands pbove
tho allotment to the United States. Finally
they are to confer upon tho creation Of a
regular Territory OF the United States. with
view to tho admission Of the same as a State
of tho Union"
The idea has prevailed In some quarters
that Oklahoma would eventually absorb the
i've civilized tribes rs part Of its citizens. The
whole western part OF what was formerly tho
Indian Territory has been included in the area
o! oklahoma. leaving the eastern portion tom
nntsu by tho five civilized tribes and their
hcighbors and constituting the present Indian
Territory. If tho Cherokee Strip is purchased
under tho pending agreement. it also will 10
added to Oklahoma. But tho treaties existing
with several OF tho Indian tribes expressly do.
clare that they are not 10 be subjected to
state government. so That it is quite out o; the
consent.
The popularity OF tho urcsont bill Is that it
proposes to the live tribes, a Stnte Of their
own, Ihe plan Is presumably based npon the
they would form only u small fraction OF the
n;sG;reEa,e population: and would therefore DO
or imposed upon ~ being outVoted. THO new
plan oilers the civilized tribes their coveted
a pp,SdIeGe OF Local .Eoysrnment strength;
w, m,tn =, ne further and final guarantee provided
-, II is doubtful. however. whether the Indians
VIII accept this proposal aud it is not wholly
s.rar whether their Immediate admission as
NE problem. The greater rart OF the live civ
i;iizYl tribes cling to their custom Of holding
iahHs In common and to,tribal allegiance. It
reasons. to encourage these race prejudices
Us they are thus enabled TO procure for them.
munal lands for grazing or filling. and also to
nsap control oyer the tribes It is doubtful
Congress Congress. an equivalent Tor what they would
y, na ,n to give UP. They already have systems
i've government. They would find their COM
munitics thrown open to the whites. since tho
state shall be entitled to ali privileges and i'm.
munities of citizens in the several States.
Anu Wnlle these obstacles render the Sue
cess OF the present measure very doubtful,
supposinE that the Commissioners she uld be-
appointed 1t must also no more or less Of Il
question whether it would be we'll TO admit
into the Union what would be- so iistnctively
I'm Indian State. II with delay an d the eluca.
ton OF the race to eli izenship the tribes would
eventually consent to Join their fortune with
oklahoma. that might be better than their
haSty admission into the Union as IL SEPARATE
state; Whether tho interests OF the country
should be put ut tho risk OF u practical de.
cision upon them by Il State such as tho In
instance OF its holding tho balance of power in
the Senate or IN the electoral vote. is u Ques-
ton Tor careful consideration.
There is little doubt that il Statehood were
practicable it would have II decided in.
lNcnee in the development of these tribes.
and in fitting them for civilization. The prob.
ability is. however. that tho Indians will not
without years OF consideration. The present
bill. shoul III it result in the appointment OF Il
Commission. might hardly accomplish more
than negotiations over tho subject of sever.
atty allotment. In that matter the chances
also are against its success. because the In
diens arc perfectly well aware that they arc
exempted by law from the necessity OF max
seems to To offered for the voluntary adoption
OF such n system. 1t should be added. how
ever. that the bill empowers the proposed
tommi ssioners to make separate agreements
with the individual tribes. and since the tribes
are not bound to each other something NAV
be accomrlis she'd in this way for the allotment
scheme. which is said to have advocates in
one or two of the tribes. some Of the local
newspapers a6vocatin. the policy OF holding
lands in Scycralty,