The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-03-17
THE FIVE NATIONS.
Impossible For the rrese It Conditions to
Ortinue-An Imp ortant address

Impossible For the rrese It Conditions to
Cortinue-An Important Address
MCALEsTER, J. T., Earch 15.-So.nc
days ago a Washington dispatch re-
ferred to circular letter addressed to
the five civilized tribes by the delegates
lately convened in Washington. This
letter, or a copy of it, is now in the
hands each of the principal chiefs of
the five tribes and viii soon be made
public. This is the letter:
Hon. c. j. Harris, Principal Chief OF the Chero-
kee nation: Hon. Wiiiim Jones, Princip u
Chief OF the Caoctaw milton: Hoa Legus c.
Perryman Principal Chief OF the MIskoyce
nation; Hon. John F. Brown. Prncipll Chief
of the Seminole nation: Hon. Jonas Wolf,
Governor OF the Chickasaw nation:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 1916 entsenen:
We, the undersigned delegates AMI citizens b.
blood OF the nations you represent, AMI other
Indian people domiciied in the In Ian territory,
after repeated conferences and organized meet
ing5, wherein fu discussions were held. have
by an unanimous vote resolve that it was our
solemn AMI sacred duty TO advise you, the
principal chiefs and heads of governments,
and through you our people OF grave ding .rs
now threat eniug our political and property
rights Heretofore We have been threatened
with bills in congress, yiolative of our treaties
and 1t was only necessary to pre- se tn, conflict
with treaty rights
Now we find new condition in that our
treaty rights are adm tied, but being acknowl
edged, we are told on every hand, even from
men who have always been our friends, and
who are yet our friends. That the congress OF
the United States has the leg right to take
away our political rights as Indian nations;
that the supreme court OF the United States
has decided that political Fights granted b.
treaties may be repealed b. on act OF con gre5S
They do not esItend thu con yress may interfere
with our property rights and even declare that
congress Will not deprive US OF dollar
in properly, but as we know that our property
rights depend in great meas ire oa our polit
fcal rights. under our stem of laws any inter
rUption destruction Of these political rights as
Indian nations by federal legislation will cause
the most serious disturb Ince and possibly the
greatest injury to the property rights of
people. The reasons alleged in congress for this
great and sudden Change OF sentiment here is
stated by the senate committee on Indian af-
fairs in q unanimous report on the Cherokee
strip agreement to-wit:
The anomalous condition OF the five separate
Independent Indian governments within the
government of the United States must soon. in
the nature OF things. cease When these gov
ern ments were established and guaranteed &c
the extent that they were guaranteed by the
United States they were in mote section OF
the country far removed from other settle
mcnis with modern means of travel and COM
munication unknown, and without the slightest
anticipation OF the condition OF things
which now exists To-day they are surrounded
by settled states and territories white
citizans, by the permission of the Indians
themselves, have been admitted into their ter
ritory, until now the white PEOPLE domcied
within the borders OF the i've civilized tribes
outn imber the members of the tribes, and are
rapidly increasing and the general idea con-
tinulily advanced that the conditions under
which the treaties were made and the condi
tions they were to meet BY the United States
AMI the Indian nations longer exist: that
then the Indians were uneduca ted and untitled
for civilized life; that now they are educated
and prepared for American citizenship
The details will no doubt be furnished by the
parts, but the secretary of this convention of
reprcSen ,ative Indians has been instructed to
send you marked copies of the principal rec
ordS, reports and other documents showing the
facts so briefly alluded TO. We have not deemed
it wise to recommend anv method by which to
meet the danger that threatens, leaving the
question OF remedy and defense to your wis
dom and that Of our people.
ROBERT 1. OWEN,
Chairman.
The address is also sighed by w. w. Hast
ings and NJ v Beng. of the Cherokee del'gi-
ton; p. p. Porter and A. p. McKcllop, Creek
delegates: Oyerton Love, Chick lsaw dele ate;
J. Standby, II c. Harris. d. w. Hodges and
Green Curtain. Choctaw delegates: j. B jack
Of the Choctaw nation: +. c. Boudnot,
Leo w. Beng. Gideon Morgan, J. w. Duncan,
j W. Jordan, j. l.. Baugh and John Wad S
worth Peoria DELEGATES