The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-19
WORSE THAN EVER.
Condition of the Indians Told
by Mr.. Dawes.
Treaties With the Tribes Are a
Lamentable Failure.
al WHITE OLIGARCHY.
The Country is ReallyCoptrolled
by White Men.

WAsH1SeroS, Dec 19-Ex- Senator
Dawes, who was member Of the
commission appointed to negotiate
with the FIVE civilized tribes Of Indians
to secure a better government for
the Indian territory, appeared be-
fore the house judiciary committee
yesterday to argue Ia behalf of legis-
latiOn to bring about that end Mr.
Dawes gives a dark picture Of the
condition of affairs now in the Indian
territory. The country is really in
the hands of the white oligarchy.
'rrhe real Indians. Mr.. Dawes says,
alive in the sterile tim Der country
and ehe out an existence far from the
whites and all civilizing inHue noes
The mountains and thickets along
The water courses afford a refuge and
abiding place for cri minais and out
laws. whence they sally in their
foravs ON the Surrounding country
and states. and to which they return
when pursued The immunity thus
afforded from arrest and punish ment
encourages lawlessness. and only the
presence OF large bodies of armed
men or the settlement of the country
can extirpate this evil
Indians living in the woods are, by
the admission of their wis st men.
less civilized and fit for citizenship
than they were twenty years ago.
Theirs is a case of arrested progress,
and il is believed that the only hope
of civilizing them is 10 induce them to
settle on the fertile lands, rent pOr-
tions to the whites, mlngle freely
with them. attending the same
churches and schools
Mr.. Dawes said that the barrier OPP
posed at all times by those in author
itv in the tribes. and assuming to
tT. q .4t-.
existing conditions, is what they
claim To be THE treaty situation"
They mean by this term that the
United States rs under treaty obliga-
tions not to Interfere in their inter
nal policy, but mas guaranteed to
them self-g cvernmen and absolute
exclusion of white citizens from any
bode among them: that the
United States is bound to isolate
them absolutely. While this was
substantially the orig nal governing
idea ia estab fishing the five trl Des in
the Indian Territory these tribes
were to hold this territory for the
use and enjoyment of all India be-
longing 10 their respective tribes. 50
that every Indian as is expressed in
some of the treaties, shall have an
equal right with every other Indian
in each and every p rtion of the ter
ritory." aud the further stipula ton
that their laws shall not conflict with
the constitution of the United States
These executOrv provisions have
not been observed bv either side
The executory cOnd itions contained
in the treaties have become i'm possible i
of execution 1T lis no longer possible
for the United States to keep its
citizens out If the territory. Nor is
Ak now possible for the indians to
secure to each individual Indian his
FUN enjoyment in common with other
Indians Of the common property Of
The territory. These executory con-
ditiOns are not only impossible or
execution, but have ceased to be
applica BILE or desirable. 1t has been
de monstrated that isolation is an inn
possibility and that If possible it could
never result in the elevation or civili-
zation of the Indian 1t has been
made clear that under its opera tiOnS
imperfectly as it has been carried out.
its effect has been to retard rather
than to promote civilization. to i'm
pair rather than strengthen the OBJ
servance of law and order, and regard
for human life and rights or the pro-
lection or promotion Of a virtuOus
life
..To such a degree has this SAD de-
terioration become evident that to-day
a most deplorable and dangerous CON !
ditiOn of affairs exists in the terri
tory. causing widespread alarm and
demanding most serious cOnsid era-
ton ALI the functions of the sO-
called govern nts of these five tribes 7
have become powerless to protect the I
life Of property rights Of the citi-
zens. The courts Of justice have
become helpless and paralyzed-
Violence. robbery and murder are
almost Of daily occurrence, and no
effective measures of restraint or
punishment are put forth to suppress /
crime Within the territory Of one
of these tribes there were fifty three
murders during the month of Sep
tenn Der and the first twenty four days
of October. and not a single person
brought to trial
In every respect the present con |
diti0n of affairs demonstrates the
pc Emission to govern themselves /
under the constitution of the United
States. which was originally en-
br aced in the treaty. has proven q
failure. So likewise has the provis-
ion that requires the United States /
so exclude white citizens from the
territory
Mr.. Dawes therefore thought that
the government should consider the /
treaties nugator to such an exte mt I
as is necessary to bring about a re-
sponsible and effective government ia /
THE territory. The comm lttees J
seemed favora bly, impressed with Mr.. /
Dawes argument
More Charges Against Taylor.