The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-29
aovERNnR Frs1rnAcK
Writes An Open Letter to President
Cleveland.


Writes An Open Letter to President
Cleveland.
aisinpi.is. Team. pslvsIi,,s5, &c, t;ovarrscs'
FiRhback of Arkansas las addressed the
following open letter 10 President cleye-
land;
10 the President;
penr slr--The developments incident to
the recent train robbery and murder Mt
Olyphnnt in this State renders II proper.
a. seems to me. 10 call your 2ttcntion to
the dangerous relation which the Indian
refrltory west OF IN occupies TO the states
OF the Union, and especially TO the ad-
Jacent states Of ArlkenRas, Kansas, Texas
and Okmhomn Territory. Upon the per
son of one Of the captured robbers wns
found d map OF the route they had taken
from tho Indian Territory, l75 miles to
the scene Of the robbery, aud also map
OF the country around Chnttanooga, Tenn,
showing that another robbery was cons
itcmplated at or near That city IL also
appears that the captured leaders ure
noted characters in this business. and In
weighed some very respectable citi2ons
along the border into the robbery have
good reneon TO suspect that a very large
percentage OF the bank and train ROB
hei1ea which take place west Of the Allie
ghenies and enAt OF the Rocky Mountains
are organized or originate IN the Indian
Territory. Let me also add that the re-
l5fuge which this Hpnraely settled rendez-
/ stolN p1 OutittW6 ttit0iHH W AtfbtiAitp ~ ~
constant temptation 10 crime In all tho
country around
| During iiiu past twelve months there
have iss1ed from the States of ArkanHas
Texas. kHnsne and Oklahoma Territory
slxts-.one rcuuisitions upon the Indian
Territory authorities for fueItiyes while
We have reason To heleve thnt az niany
mora ARE hiding among tlietr comrades
III crime IN this asylum Of criminals. 1'nnsc
criminals who find refuge IN this territory
are rapidly converting the Indian country
into q school Of crime. They ARE deinor-
allzing thn Indians and are especially stir
ring up the young Indians 10 deeds Of
blood and theft Young Henry Starr, for
example. although less thun 70 years Of
age md OF fine capacities. has been
charged with almost every crime In the
catalogue, and Is now under sentence OF
death for murder. The records Of the
Fedefai courts Of Paris and Fort Smith
reveal o startling story IN this direction,
yet they do not ten one-tcnth Of tiie whole
story.
Prior TO the late civil war / resided IN
the city Of Fort Smith on the border Of
the territory. The merchants Of the place
Cid s510D10 worth of business In that coun-
try every year rh.ir clerks would make
periodical collections. travelling openly and
known 10 hive large aumB Of money with
them. vet nobody WAS eyer molested--
travoi was safer than IN the States Now,
according TO the estimates of one of
the newspapers published n year or two
aimee In MuHkogee, the number Of muir
ders reached the appalling figure OF 200
I'm one year that were not cognizabIe In
the Federal courts. The Federal Jail ut
Fort Smith Is. at MI seasons. nearly flill
Of prisoners from this Territory, and The
Federal court holds sessions continuing
throughout nearly every month Of the
year. This ftate pf aemiehaos ana the
faroea OF government which exist in this
territory, rendering It Il constant menace
to the peace and order OF all the States
OF the Mississippi valley, suggests the
very serious question whether the time
has not arrived for the Federal govern
ment TO assert it's right Of eminent do
main over this part II the National do
min and to change rs political relations
with The United States l can thinker no
valid reason upon which 70 base the apin-
ION that an Indians rights. either or per
son or Of property. are any more sacred
than those of The white man, whirh IL IS
conceded must give wuy 70 the public
good, IN this case not only the public
good. but public safety, as well as the
best interests Of the Indian himself. de-
mand the suggested change Very res-
peetfulIy. W NJ. Fishbaeh
Governor Of Arkansas.