Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-11-29
THE DAWES REPORT.
Continued from First page ]

lp and their passengers robbed
within a few miles OF populous
towns, and the plumber carried off
with impunity in the very pres
ence of those in authority. A
reign of terror exists and barbar.
Gus outraees, almost impossible of
belief, are enacted, and the per-
petrators hardly find it necessary
to shun daily intercourse with
their victims.
WHOLESALE MURDERS.
at is stated, it is thought truth
fully, that there were fify-three
murders in one of these tribes
during the month of September
and the first twenty-four days of
October last, and one brought to
justice therefor.
"The tribal governments have
fallen into the hands of able and
cunning politicians, who admin
lister them almost wholly in the
interest of their own enterprises
and holdings, and the real Indian
participates but little in their
management, except under the
directions and influences Of those
who control public affairs, upon
whom they are largely dependent,
whose will they register at the
polls, and with whose bidding
they in a large measure comply
without a question. These men
set in power, oppose any change
and ask only to be let alone.
COMPLAINTS OF FRAUD.
Large payments of moneys to
these Indians within the last few
years have been attended 10y many
and apparently we'll authenticated
complaints of fraud, and those
making such payments, with
others associated with them. have,
by unfair means aud improper
use of the advantages thus afford, d
them, acquired large f1rtun, S,
while many private persons en-.
titled to payments have received
but little benefit therefrom. And
worse still is the fact that the
places of payments were thronged
with evil characters of every pos
sible caste, by whom the people
were swindled, defrauded, robbed
and grossly debauchsd. In case
Of further payments OF money TO
them, the government should
make them directly to these psO-
pie through one of its own officers.
"Any measures looking to a
change of affairs in the territory
should embrace effective provis-
ions for the protection of the In.
dians against the introduction,
manufacture or sale of intoxicants.
A failure TO do so will work extinc
tion of the Indian.
Thousands of white children
in the territory are almost wholly
without the means of education,
and are growing up with no fitting
preparation for useful citizenship
"The treaties with the various
tribes provide for the adoption oi
the former slaves of the Indians
as citizens Of the tribes, with all
rights and privileges as such
These provisions have in some in
stances been partially complied
with in form and in others almost
wholly ignored. The freedmen
who are generally. peaceAble, law
abiding citizens and hard working
people, are almost entirely with.
out means Of educating their chill
dren, and have few rights which
are respected by those among
whom they dwell, and to whose
wealth their industry contributes
an essential part.
The report concludes as follow
"Ihe United States put the it'll,
TO a domain and its counties.
wealth and unmeasured resource,
in these several tribes or national
tiles, but it was a conveyance il
trust for specific uses, clearly in.
dicated ia the treaties themselves
and for no other purpose. II wal
for the use and enjoyment in com
mon OF each and every citizen o
his tribe of each and every part o
the territory as thus tersely ex.
pressed in one of the treaties, 'tC
be held in common so that eacl
and every member Of either tribe
shall have an equal undivided in,
terest to the whole. The tribe,
can make no other use oft. They
have no power to grant unto any
one or to grant to anyone an ex
elusive use Of any portion Of it
The tribal governments hav,
wholly perverted their high trus,
and it is the plain duty of thu
United States to enforce the trusI
il has so created and recover for its
original users the domain and al
the gain derived in the perversior
of the trust to discharge the trus
tees.
"The United States also granted
to these tribes the power of self
government not TO conflict with thu
constitution. They have demon
strated their incapacity to so gov
ern themselves and no highe
duty can rest upon the government
that granted this authority than t.
revoke it when it has so lamenta
bly, failed"