Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-12-07

Jury upon them In their unpropared
situation. This latter IL the case with
regard to the Indian Territory, concern.
ing which bill has been introduced
into Congress by Senator Berry.
BY the provisions Of the bill, the
Indian Territory ls 20 be designated o.
Iudianola-a pretty and appropriate
appellation. IL l8 also arranged that a
governor, secretary and legislature shall
be designated 10 the form usual with
territories. The legislature Is 20 be
composed Of a council OF n member
ami house Of representatives, Of "
members, ana is TO hold slxty'aay
sessions biennlally. The territory Is to
be divided into n counties. The leg
stature is prohibited rom passing any
iaw interfering with the primary dis
posnl Of the s1ll, or with the titles Of
the indians or Of the various tribes, OF
Of their manner Of holding the same.
Indian hOuesteads are made lnalieu-
able, anu are exempt from taxation.
All treaties except those which relate
to land titles are abtogatoI, tribal gov
ernments abolished, aud lauds now
held in common are to be divided 10
hometteaIs VI 100 hcres-lhe residue
TO be- sold and tue proceeds divided
among tho Indians. a complete judi
clal system Is provided for, and many
Of the laws Of the state Of Arhansas
are adopted. All male citizens Of the
United states who are actual residents
and over q years Of age arc to have
the right TO vote, a. are also all male
Indians who are citizens Of any tribe
ia tho Territory.
At nut gIauce it would seem that
such law would give 70 tho Indians
ample protection in their Tights, and
should be- hailed with delight by the
more progrcsslvo among them. The
contrary, however, is said 10 be the al.
most universal sentiment. They looE
upon the proposed measure, no the
announcement comes, - a scheme 10
practically deprive them OF their rights,
aud therefore they are averso ~ H.
Neither tho civilized tribes nor tue
"blankep or wild Indians want the
enlarged form OF territorial govern.
ment which tuis bill proposes to crowd
upon them.
This sntagonism does not spring
from any lack VI a dosife 10 be pro.
gressive, or because the Indians regard
with satisfaction their present admin.
istration Of affairs; It has = deeper
foundation than even the character.
istio suspicion with which the red mau
looks upon any change suggested by
his pale-iaoed brother. Many OF the
provisions Of the law are acceptable, and
would DO boon 10 the indians. but
for others, and some OF these the most
important, the aborigino recognizes
that lac IL far from being Prepared.
That IL the basis Of his objection. lie
is not even ready for the allotment
scheme therein proposed, and for the
sale OF excess lands which virtually
would be hn escheat In favor Of the
white man. Beyond this, he 10 not
anxious to be- deprived VI the control
over his local affairs which at present
he is able TO exercise.
The voting provision alone plac.
ticAlly would make Of the Indians
seris to the white settlers who,
TO large extent In tho In.
dian Territory, arc not Of the
most desirable class. Some Of
them are very hne people, but this
rule cannot be- asid to reach to
majority. Tho white residents far
oulnumber the Indian men, anu
therefore would outvoto them on
every hand. by tue political
methods known 10 interruptions adj
vonturers, the Indian vote would be
rendered nugatory. From the position
Of regulating their own affairs the
natives would be bhorn Of all power
would become the doienselsss victims
Of rapaclty ana greed. While there
would be- a legal provision making
their lands inalienRble az to tillg, they
would DO dispossessei by being COM
PEELED 10 lease TO white men, as " the
onse Ia too many instances today. Tho
Intelligent Indian sees all tins and
much more Of peril to his race, and he
preiers TO trust to present conditions
aud the administrations Of the general
government rather than to the local
control OF those whose acquaintance he
has gained as opprossorB and anlas.
Ouihls.
The steady Advancement Of tho In
dian towards civilization lie as essential
to the government as Il is 20 tue In.
dian himaeli but 10 attempt to crowd
matters beyond natural capacity
would be- disastrous, This Is what the
Berry bill would seem TO do, notwlth-
standing the precautions taken In
framing It, Il crowds the rol man
too fas, for his conditions, aud while,
perhaps, Il might be- modified 80 as to
operate fairly well In the hands Of just
anu honorable men, II really appears
that any measure which would e..
lablish a general territorial form VI
government In the Indian Territory
40 present would be OF doubtful tNpe.