Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-12-28

Relating to the Condition OF AT
fairs IN thfs Country.

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Relating to the Condition of AT
fairs In this Country.
!
Governor Fishback, Of Arkan
sas, has written the following let
ter 10 President Cleveland:
Executive Office, Little Rock
Dec. %. ITO the president: Dear
Sir--The developments incident tc
the recent train robbery and mur.
der at Olyphant in this state
renders IL proper, 1t seems to me,
that call your attention to tn
dangerous relation which the In
dian Territory west of us occupies
to the states of the union, and es-
pecially TO the adjacent states OF
Arkansas, Kansas, Texas and Ok
lahoma Territory.
Upon the person of one Of the
captured robbers was found map
Of the route they had taken from
toe Indian Territory, 175 miles,
TO the scene of the robbery, and
also a map of the country around
Chattanooga, Tenn, showing that
another robbery was contemplated
at OF near that city.
1t also appears that the captured
leaders are noted characters in this
business and inveigled some very
respectable citizens along the
border into this robbery.
/ have good reason to suspect
that a very large percentage of the
bank and train robberies which
take place west Of the Alleghanies
and east of the Rocky mountains
are organized or originate in this
Indian Territory.
Let me also add that the refuge
which this sparsely settled rendez-
vous of outlaws affords to crimi-
nails is constant temptation to
crime in all the country around.
During the past IL months there
have issued from the states of Ar
kansas, Texas, Kansas and Okla
homa Territory, 81 acquisitions
upon the Indian Territory author
tiles for fugitives, while we have
reason to believe that as many
more are hiding among their COM
rades in crime in this asylum of
criminals.
These criminals who find a
refuge in this Territory are rapid
ly converting the Indian country
into a school OF crime. They are
demorallzing the Indians and are
especially stirring up the young
Indians to deeds Of blood and
theft. Young Starr, for example,
although less than 20 years of age
and of fine capacities, has been
charged with almost every crime
in the catalogue and is now sent
enced to death for murder. The
records OF the federal courts of
Paris and Ft. Smith reveal a start
ling story in this direction, yet
they do not tell one-tenth of the
whole story.
Prior to the late civil war re-
sided in Ft. Smith, on the border
OF this Territory. The merchants
of this place did $500, 600 worth of
business in that country every
year. Their clerks would make
periodical collections, travelling
openly and known to have large
sums of money with them, vet
was ever molested-travel
was safer than in the states.
Now, according to an estimate
OF one OF the newspapers publish
ed ayear or two since in Musko.
gee, the number of murders
reached the appalling figure of 200
in one year that were not cogniza-
BILE in the Federal courts. The
federal Jail at Ft. Smith is at all
seasons nearly full of prisoners
from this Territory and the feder-
al court holds sessions continuing
nearly every month in the year.
The state of semi chaos and
the farces OF government which
exist in this Territory, rendering
it a 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 feder-
al government to assert its right
of eminent domain over this part
of the national domain, aud TO
change its political relations with
the United States.
i can think of no valid reason
upon which to base the opinion
that an Indians rights. either OF
person or property, are any more
sacred than those of the white man
which, it is conceded, must give
way to the public good.
In this case not only the public
good but public safety, as well as
the highest interests of the Indian
himself, demands the suggested
change. Very respectfully,
W. NJ. FIsHBAcK,
Governor OF Arkansas.
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