Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-02-15
FROM THE osAaD COUNTRY.
A Not at All Satisfactory Condi-
tion of Affairs.

PAwHusKA, o T., Jan 30, '9i.
EDITOR CHIEFTAIN:.-I am sorry
to say that since the beginning of
the present fiscal year a sad, sad
change has taken place among our
friends and neighbors, the Osages.
The agency has changed hands
twice already and the U. S. com.
missioner has been removed at this
place. Consequently the poor In
dians who are being arrested daily
on charges of introducing whiskey
are dragged to Saltwater, a dis
tance OF 10 miles, to be examined
before the commissioner at that
place. During the recent storm
quite a number were badly frozen
while being conveyed as prisoners,
before reaching their destination,
some losing their feet and hands
and one dying from the effects of
the cold. The manner in which
all Of this is brought about is
disgrace to civilization and should
be branded as such by all honest
people. A mob of U. S. deputy
marshals connected with the Strip
settlers along the line induce the
Indians to cross the line and once
among them they treat the Indian
with apparent Kindness and on
his return home he is loaded with
fire. But he no sooner
reaches his home than he is over.
taken by his supposed friends who
but short time before had wished
him happy journey and who by
this time are changed from peace
able citizens to a stern set OF U. S
marshals who proceed at once to
search the person Of their victim.
Finding the vile stuff concealed on
his person he is arrested and then
commences the long journey to
Saltwater, there to be incarcerated
in jail, not TO await the coming of
justice but to await the coming of
money enough to satisfy all parties
concerned. In view of the above
facts many of the Indians who re
fused to talk to the commissioners
on allotment last year are now be-
ginning to regret it.
Oklahoma is the boogaboo in the
eyes OF these people. Their only
hope and wish is to become con-
solidated with the five civilized
tribes. The many hardships that
are being inflicted upon the allot-
| ting Indians of Oklahoma are too
plain in the eyes Of the Usage peo-
pie. No taxes were to be levied
upon those Indians of Oklahoma,
but now it seems that everything
is taxable but the land, and it may
be well for our people, the Chero.
KEGS as we'll as the other civilized
tribes, to look forward to an early
dissolution of our tribal organiza-
tions. understand the Dawes
commission is here clothed with
unlimited power from the U. S.
government to treat with US. Why
not have an Indian slate and keep
cut of the clutches of Oklahoma?
| know il would cause a feeling of
deep regret on the part OF many of
us TO do away with our ancient
laws and customs but | have cause
to believe the time is at hand when
a change in our national affairs is
just as essential as it has been in
private affairs. We must remem-
Der that when our good old grand
fathers kindled our council fire
and framed our present constitu-
tion we were largely a pastoral
people. As whole people our
wants were but few and simple.
The country around us was a howl
ing wilderness and barren plain
from the great Mississippi to the
golden coast Of the Pacific, and
consequently the scarcity Of land
was unthought Of. Now should
our grandsires be allowed to visit
US, great would be their surprise
from pastoral TO a strictly agri-
cultural people. And now the
question arises, what one thing is
the most essential to a farming
people? Our facilities are fine AS to
the cultivating Of the land. The
click Of the twine binder and the
whistle Of the steam thresher can
be heard throughout the length
and breadth Of the land. We may
be favorabiy compared to our
neighbors Of the adjoining states,
in the matter Of farming, except In
one thing and that 10 the most vi.
tai part Of a farmers fortune the
land title. Holding and farming
land without an individual title is
no good and a farmer without land
may be compared to fish without
water. As | said before, many Of
US are 10th 10 do away with our
ancient laws and customs but they