The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-16

Strip Chickasha
Chat = Minor
Mention.
MUsKoGEE, I. T., Feb. l5-The United
States commission to treat with the hye
tribes has issued an address 10 the In
diaus, which it sent to tbs chiefs and
Lending men of the several nations. and
handed tosthe press. 1t Is forcible expo
sition of the conditions in the Territory.
and strong appeal to the better Judg-
ment Of the Indians. 1t says, among
other things:
'The conditions existing in the Territory
occupied by the Eve civilized tribes are not
satisfactory to the government of the
United States. For several years sugges-
tIons have been made in congress looking
TO II change of these conditions. Matters
have been steadily growing worse, until
now we believe that the government has
fully decided that this Territory must BE-
recognized. IL is too late now to inqu ire
who is to blame. The one thing the coun-
~ is Interested in Is TO fad Il re IL ely.
The steps necessary in efscting this
change are:
"First-Allotment of the lands among
the owners, SO that each Will hold his share
in severalty.
''Second-Au abandonment of the tribal
organ iZations.
''Third-The organization of a territorial
government. or a union with Oklahoma.
I'VE believe these steps will inevitably
be taken in the near future, and the ques-
tiOn is not whether there shall be divis-
ion of land among the owners, but in what
method it shall be done. 1t is true that
treaties made years since provided that
the tribal governments aud land-hOlding
in common should be continued indefuite-
ly. The United States government is al
ways anxious to observe its treaties, and
always does so unless changed conditions
make it necessary to ignore them for the
interests of both parties. When these
treaties were made this Territory was far
from the habitations of white men, aud it
could scarcely be anticipated that the
tribes would bs surrounded by settlements,
as now. and that the time would come
when there would be In the Territory two
white men to one Indian, and that the
Territory would become refuge for Grim
inals, preying on the surrouding commun
tiles, and that the indians would be so
Well qualified for citizenship as they are
now. Iuc uEF6lOpLllcuL vi tuC COuutEJt Uuo
progress of the world, and the changed
conditions of the people make it necessary
to amend constitutions aud laws or repeal
them and euact others better suited TO the
new conditions aud the interests of the
people, Believe US when we tell you that
the present anomalous condition existing
in the five tribes cannot last"
The commission here refers to the ex-
penses and unsatisfactory effort of the Ju-
iii nd Tn hp lack of nal fncl-
ties, stating that many OF the children are
growing up in enforced ignorance aud
without moral and religious instruction,
and adds:
This is the road to barbarsm, and tho
United States can not allow its people To
travel this path without making all possi-
Bile efforts TO prevent IL. Iudeed, 1t Is under
the highest possible obligations to exert all
its powers to prevent 1t.
The commission criticises as unjust and
inhuInan the land monopoly the Indian
governments admit Of Etcn days delay,
it says. adds To the Difficulty of division,
and that to adj just the inequalities grow
ing out of this situation Is already Well
nIg h imposs bic. Involving great labor and
it continually growing greater. In this
manner it lays down its policy:
Division of the common lauds and
abandonment of tribal autonomy would
be succeeded by u territorial government
created by congress. In this there would
he governor, secretary and superior
judges appointed by the president. The
legislature (smiiar to those you now have)
and the county and township officers
would be elected by the qualified voters
The government usually pays the governor
the secretary, the judges and the iegisia-
Jure, and the EXPENSES to be borne by
the taxation would be light. The aunui
ties already set apart for educational pur-
poses, to which might be added the money
arising from the sale of the sixteenth and
thirty second sections OF land. would make
common school fund, the Interest Of
which would place schools within the
reach Of all.
Some space is given TO setting forth the
advantages and justice of individual land
holdings, and the address continues:
I'VE come to you as friends, aud, il we
know our hearts, with tue single purpose
to help you to "A better life But If you
shall refuse to enter into agreement with
US to voluntarily aiot your lands and ac-
cept citizenship. in the republic we are
convinced that IL will come through an
enactment of congress in "A shape IN which
you would probably be denied many ad-
vaniages which may be secured by agree
ment. Some lawyers among you, prob
ably in the pay of large landholders, are
telling you that Congress has no power 10
III uucSIiou " pc
regarded as settled by ths repeated d~cis-
ions of the supreme court of the United
States.
Here legal authority is cited that the
treaties may be aGnuled AT pleasure, and,
the address states that III the event tue
United States must arbitrarily make the
change then it will also take charge OF
citizenship and other claims that are now
gwen to Indians. When IL shall have
kaa 6.-t.. ne ron m I.sf
allotment shall be made. Then would come
the question whether u part shall tie alios-
tel aud the residue ceded TO the DIted
States, to be disposed Of.
While it is the opinion of the commits
sson that il would be best for the Choc-
taws and Chickasaws 10 take By allotment
lands sufficient for II good home, aed ccde
that remaining TO the United States, TO
be sold for their benefit, the commission
would not insist gu this II, after full aud
careful consideration and discussion, the
owners prefer 10 divide aud retain all
/ heir lands. As TO tue other tribes they
probably nave not a greater quantity than
they would require for their own Use
As TO town-sites and leases ot coal miues,
this commission would only Insist upon
their sale or division Ia such niannsr ~
would Oe Just aud eqQitEble 10 ali. Nhere
have been made IN towns.
IL wouId seem that there ought to be Az
ot Improvements aud the
iauds on which they stand. and ;he
owner OF improvements either paid for
them or allowed to purchase the ground
on which they stand at its fair appraised
value. These are matters. however, ol
detail u be sestled IL spirit c; equity
to ali.
POINTERS FROM FERRY
PEREy, o T. Fro. i5~-ISpcc.sl The
conncii O. this city. at IFS regular n5eetlng
0n Tuesday evening, psssed an ordinance
extending the area u The :o~nslte 50 AZ 10
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