Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-01-18

OF semi chaos renders 1t constant
menace TO all the states of the Mis-
sissippi valley. This is the sum
OF his indictment against the In
dian and exhibits the reasons why
the sheep have become dangerous
to the dogs and wolves.
IL will be seen that most of the
governors fears are founded on
suspicion, and he iabors zealously
to create a belief that crime greatly
abounds and is on the increase in
the Indian Territory.
On this question few words of
explanation are appropriate. The
government and people of the
United States are deceived as to the
amount of crime in the Indian
Territory compared with other
states and communities, and it
happens in this way; The govern
ment is attempting by force to
maintain in the Indian Territory a
higher standard of morality than
is being attempted in the states.
1t therefore has greater number
of statutory crimes or offenses
which are unnoticed in the states
Do we ever hear of the crime of
introducing" in the states2 or of
selling intoxicating spirits to the |
Indians? BY the act ealarging the |
jurisdiction of the United States
court in the Indian Territory,
Chapter 40, the "criminal law"
of Arkansas, was extended over
the territory. This chapter is very
comprehensive and embraces many |
off'enses which in some other states
are not mentioned, being cohsid- |
cred frivolous. Under the Arkan-
sas law no prosecutions in courts
of justices of the peace, and other
inferior courts in cases less than !
felony (with certain exceptions)
can be instituted until bond for
costs with good security has been
given. This chapter, with addi-
ticnal federal statutes enumerating
other offenses peculiar to the terri
tory, is put in force by the gov
ernment without the Arkansas re-
strictions ana without regard to
costs. Whenever complaint is
made the government furnishes a
deputy marshal to promptly arrest
the offenders. These complaints,
under the facilities afforded by the
government, are very numerous
aad ali 20 to swell the numbers
denominated "criminal clses. In
this manner the number of so.
called crimes in the Indian Terri
tory is abnormally increased.
That there is, properly speaking,
more crime IN the Indian Terri
tory than in other adjoining states
is, to say the least, very doubtful.
So far as the Indian population
is concerned the history of the
last fifty years warrants us in
asserting that there has been
continual and encouraging i'm
provement both in morals and ed
ucation. His career has been
marked by a most honorable and
satisfactory progress. This is
amply testified to by the numerous
schools and churches, teachers,
missionaries and preachers scat
tered all over the territory.
That there is crime in the Indian
Territory is too true; that Grim
inals, refugees from justice and
people of exceptional character
resort hither will not be denied. /
Such a result is characteristic of
all new and sparsely populated
countries That an unusual num-
ber of such should crowd into the
Indian Territory Is not at all
strange, and the government is in
a large degree responsible for it.
The Indian nations under their
treaties have time and again re-
monstrated against the growing
number of intruders aud asked the
government to remove them; their
petitions have been unheeded.
But that the Indian has given
encouragement to criminals to re-
sort hither for concealment and
safety is proved to be untrue by
the very TACT contained in the ac-
cusation. That sixty-one requisi-
tions from the four states named
have been issued on the Indian
Territory authorities within the
last twelve months refules the
charge of harboring or conceal
ment. On the contrary it shows
that the Indian has disclosed their
places OF resort and assisted in
their arrest. How otherwise could
all these criminals have been 10.
Gated? No requisitions could have
been issued without information
first derived Of their whereabouts,
and this has come from the Indian.
And Governor Fishback thinks
the present condition of affairs in
the Indian Territory is a menace
to the peace and order Of the Mis-
sissippi valley and especially to
Arkansas, Texas, Kansas and Ok
lahoma.
Does he not himself remember
when Texas as resort Of criminals
had reputation more unenviable
even than the Indian Territory?
Does he not know that Kansas
with her Jayhawkers aud border
ruilians could at one time discount
largely all the crimes com uitted
in the Indian Territory? Does he
not know that Oklahoma, fresh
from the disorderly and criminal
experience Of the "opening" is
now bending all her energies to
become united to this same much
DETAINED territory believing as she
hnns ihnl IA will he an innrnrn