The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-02
PRICE FIVE CENTS

listing with several of the Indian tribes ex.
pressly declare that they arc moi 10 be suh-
jected TO state government, 90 that 10 ID
quite ont Of the question 10 endaavOr 10
extend this Jurisdiction of Oklahoma over
them without their consent.
II pt ptoposes TO the five tribes state ol theiS
own. The plan II presumably hascd up0n
the snpposition that tho Ave civilized tribes
will not consent to be merged In OklahO-
ma, where they would form only small
fraction OF tha aggregate population. and
would, therefore, bs In danger of having
their interests neglected or imposed upon
by being outvoted. The new plan offsrs
the civilized tribea their covetsd privilege
OF local self government, strengthened ~
combination with each other and with the
further and final guarantee provided "
statehood.
1t ID doubtful. however. whether tho IN
dians will accept tho proposal, and 10 IL noo
wholly clear whether their Immediate ID
mission As separate state would b0 tho
best solution Of tho problem. Tho grsAtss
part Of the five civilized tribes olina "a
their custom Of holding lands III common
and to tribal allegiance. IL Ia the policy of
their chief men. for scltish reasons, 10 en-
courage these race prsjudices. a. they are
thus enabled 70 procure for themselves, on
their own terms, the use Of the communist
lands for grazing or tillinR and also 70
keep control over the tribes. IL 10 doubt
full whether they will SEQ In citizenship and
in admission to the union. with rsprsssnta-
ton in congress. an equivalent for what
they would have to give mp. They already
have sy stems OF laws and local offices, aa
we'll as representative government. They
would find their communities thrown opsn
to the whites, since the constitution dc.
clares that the citizens OF each state shall
be entitled to all privileges and immsnitiss
of citizens in the several states.
hv,l vvkt l. Ahou oh mil IL. Ak~
cess OF the present measure very doubtfui,
supposing that the commissioners should
be appointed, it must also be more or lsas
of question whether il would be we'll 10
admit into the union what would be 80 dis
| tinctively an Indian state. II with delay
and the education of the race to citizen
ship the tribes would eventually consent to
| join their fortune with Oklahoma. thst
might be better than their hasty admission
into the union as separate state. Whether
the interests of the country should bo put
to the risk OF practical decision UPON
them by state such as the Indian Terri
tory would be. as in the supposable instance
| of its holding the balance of power In the
senate or in the electoral vote, is a question
for oarsful consideration.
There is little doubt that II statehood
were practicable it would have o decided
influence in the development Of these
tribes, and in fitting them for civilization.
| The probability Ia, however, that the In
dams will not consent to take q step OF such
importance without years of consideration.
The present bill, should IL result in the ap-
pointment of q commission. might hardly
accomplish more than negotiations over
the subject OF severalty allotment In ttat
matter the chances are against its success,
becnuse the Indians are perfectly well aware
that they are exempted by law from the
necessity Of making such IN allotment. ana
no induoemeut seems to DO offered for the
voluntary adoption of such a system. u
should be added, however that the bill en-
powers the proposed commissioMeFs to make
separate ag eements with the individual
tribes. and since tho tribes are not bound
TO each other, something may be accom-
| plished in this way for the allotment
soheme which is said to have advocates in
one or two OF the tribes, some of the local
newspapers advocating ths policy M hold
| ing lands in acvernlty. W # '~ Ts s8' -