New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-26
A REFUGE FOR OUTLA WS.
GOVERNOR FISHBACK'S COMPLAINT OF THE
INDIAN TERRITORY.
AN APPALLING RECORD OF CRIME-THE Ar
KANSAS EXECUTIVE WRITES TO THE
PRESIDENT THAT THE TINE HAS
ARRIVED FOR THE NATION


TO ASSERT ITS POWER.
Memphis, Tenn. Dec. Ex-Governor F1shback'
of Arkansas has addressed the following open
letter to President Cleveland:
To the President. - ,,o 70.
Dear 'r The Developments incident to the bs be
State render it proper II seems to me- that l eau
your attention to the dangerous relation Wen ns
Irdian Territory west oi us OCCUPIES 70 ee States
OF the Union and especially to the adjacent states
OF Arkansas. Kansas Texas ana Vhsnonaa ian nn,nred
rtory Upon the person OF one OF the & Gapeunl ed u
robbers was found the map OF the route they mao mao
taken from the Indian Territory l'o i,es ne 10 trv
around Chattanooga. Tenn. showing that another
T nsn that the captured leaders are noted
characters in this business and nvegeled some very
respectable citizens along the border INTO 'his
| have good reason to suspect that very large g,
percentage Of the bank and train robberies wnich
takes place of the Alleghanes and east OF the
Rocky Mountains is organized and originates IN tne
which this sparsely settled rendezvous OF outlaws
affords TO criminals is constant temptation to crime
months there have issued from the States of Ar
kansas Texas Kansas and oklahoma Territory
ant6opiiies for fugitives. while we have to
believe that as many more are hiding among their
comrades In crime in this asylum or criminals
Those criminals who md refuge in this Territory
are rapidly converting the lndisn country into a
and are especially stirring, W, the Young Indians
to deeds Of blood and theft Young Henry Starr;
|
age and 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 Federal courts of Paris and Fort Smith re-
veal a startling story in this direction, yet they do
not tell oue-tenth Of the whole story.
Prior TO the late Civil War / resided In the city
of Fort Smith on the border OF this Territory.
The merchants OF the place did half million dol
lars worth of business that country every year.
Their clerks would make periodical collections.
travelling openly and known TO have large sums
of money with them; yet nobody was ever mo-
Tested: travel safer than In the states. NOW.
according 10 the estimates or one OF the news
papers published n year or two since In Muskogee.
the number of murders reached the appalling figure
Of 200 in one year that not cognizable In the
Fe5erai courts The Federal ian at Fort Smith Is,
n ali seasons nearly full of prisoners from this
| TERRITORY and the Federal court holds sessions
continuing through nearly every month OF the year.
This state OF semi-chaos and the farces OF gov
ernments which exist in this Territory rendering II
a constant menace to the peace and order OF all the
| States OF the Mississippi Valley. suggest the vesy
| serious question whether the time has not arrived
for the Federal Government; to assert its right OF
eminent domain this part OF the National do
main and to change its political relations with the
| United States.
7 can think of no valid reason upon which to base
ba oninon that Indians rights. either OF person
or NJ uroperty. any more sacred than those oil
the white man. which it is conceded must give way
| TO the public good , 49,. ,,,,,
,f,v as well as the highest interests OF the Indian
| himself demand the suggested change. Very re-
| sp''''W " NJ. FISHBACK. Governor OF Arkansas.