The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-13

Hoke Smith and tho Choctaws.
Does Governor JONES. Chief Of the Choc-
taw Nation, propose to defy and contemn
HoKE SMITH. GROVER CLEVELAND, and even
Uncle SAM himself?
Ever since the present Secretary Of the
Interior took charge Of the Indians the
Chief Magistrate Of the Choctaws has been
worrying him. The trouble goes back still
further. to last summer. when. after q hot
canvass between JONES and JACKSON for the
Governorship. the former was reelected.
In the moment OF defeat some chagrlned
Jacksonites fell upon sundry supporters Of
JONES and assassinated them. They were
surrendered and duly tried and sentenced to
death; but Governor JONES was not satisfied
with this vindication Of the law. and began
securing the community for other victims
He seems to have taken the ground that
there was conspiracy: and having raised
and armed a body Of militia. he sent them
out to seize some OF his political opponents
charged with completely in the crime.
Out OF this expedition came the fight at
Antlers a few months ago. The militia
proceeded to the home OF LOCKE, a leading
anti-JONEs man. who gathered his friends
about him and intrenched himself. after
sharp skirmish with the militia. The Gov
eminent was forced to intervene, and troops
were sent to the scene. The Government
agent reported that JONES and his militia
were at fault 1t appeared that they were
trying to arrest men for whom they held
no warrants. and were disposed to ride
roughshod over the JACKSON men.
The latter were indignant at this per-
nicious partisanship on the part OF Gov
ernor JONES. and also at the payment Of
his militia with tribal funds. The Gov
ernment agent. In the midst Of these per-
formances. has been superseded. and the
ground is reported to be that he had criti-
cised the Choctaw policy of the Hon. HoKE
SMITH as not rising to the occasion. Yet.
that policy has certainly not lacked ag-
gressiveness. The Secretary. on June 30.
instructed Inspector FA1soN to call upon
Governor JONES and advise him that
"the proposed execution Of so large
q number. recently convicted In the
Choctaw courts, does not meet with
approval by the authorities here. Ex-
ecutive clemency should be extended to
the majority. IL not to all. of those sentenced
to death. A suspension Of the sentence for
the present. or reduction Of the sentence
to imprisonment. should be applied to all.
with the exception, possibly. Of one or two
Of the leaders. This letter is written with
the knowledge and approval OF the Presi-
dent OF the United States" Thereupon
Governor JONES called his Cabinet together,
and granted reprieve to those prisoners
who were to have been executed.
Now 1t Is reported that. as Secretary
HOKE SMITH has caused a writ OF habeas
corpus to be obtained for the protection Of
the prisoners, Governor JONES resents this
interference with Choctaw autonomy, and
says he will execute the men. even II he has to
call out all his militia for the purpose. But
tho acting Indian Commissioner doubts
this story. and thinks that Governor JONES
has had no idea Of executing those under
sentence, except possibly one or two ring
leaders.
The regulars. who are still In the Choctaw
territory. can easily dispose of Governor
JoNEs's militia. and meanwhile the Hon.
HoKE SMITH is determined to have no rebel
lion against the United States Government
its Constitution. and laws. He can safely
leave the enforcement of his mandates and
those Of Judge STEWART to the troops.
Tho moral Of it all Is that our Choctaw
friends should. with the other tribes of the |
Indian Territory. accept the invitation re-
Gently extended to them by Congress. to |
come into the Union under State Govern
ment OF their own. Their autonomy Just |
now Is somewhat Of sham. They are al |
lowed to take care Of themselves until |
occurs to which the Washington |
authorities object. and then they have no |
State rights to fall back upon. Their |
treaties are so worded as to give occasion |
for sending the army among them to main |
tain order. and more thun once disputed |
election among these tribes has been re-
ferred to Washington for adjudication. |
Once In the Union as American citizens.
their party lines will BIO readjusted. and
victors and vanquished can take the result
Of appeals to the ballot box In good part,
without adding q crop OF assassinations or
Of vindictive political executions.