The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-05
INDIAN TERRITORY CRISIS

From the Philadelphia Record.
y crisis has certainly arrived in the
status of the Indian territory, social
| ed. The latest report of Secretary of
| the Interior Hoke Smith affords TN
| miStakable evidence of the awakened
determination of the federal govern
| ment to put an end to the existing I'M
! bridled reign of lawnessness within
| its boundaries. There can be scarce
ly any doubt" declares Secretary
Smith, that the time has about been
reached when the United States must
preserve law and order throughout the
Indian territory; and if the right TO
do this cannot be obtained by agree
ment with the tribes, it must be en-
forced as a matter of duty without re-
gard to the wishes of those who control
in the respective tribes" The secre-
tary is unprepared to recommend the
organization of the tribal lands as a
territory, although the ultimate ad-
option of such a policy by the interior
department would seem to be fore
Swallowed in his discussion OF the safe
application of the severalty law.
The obstacles to such an immediate
course can be readily discovered in the
joint memorial Of the Five Civilized
Tribes, which the Cherokees, Choctaws,
Chickasaws and Creeks, assembled in
international council, laid before the
recent session of congress. This me-
mortal is an emphatic protest against
the acceptance Of either horn Of the di-
lemma-the division Of lands in sever
atty or the adoption of a Territorial
Government in lieu Of the separate sys-
TEN OF today. The Indians not only
refer to the cOmpacts by treaties, but
also declare that the progress of the
Five Nations is inseparably connected
with the present form of government.
60 convinced a ThaT- nT rha efficacy af
the communal relations that they see
in an allotment in severalty the threat
OF the Subservience of the masses to
the Craftier few 1t is. however, irnpoS-
siSle not 10 suspect that such is the real
condition of tribal affairs today, and
that this memorial itself is SIM
ply the cOncocted scheme Of the richer
and more influential Indians, who now
enjoy the monopoly Of the leases. 10
retain their lucrative positions The
Government has probably not aban-
dOned all hope Of yet convincing the
tribes. as a whole. and may succeed in
effecting a compromise.
There is no just reason why the re-
Cion should not he incorporated into a
true territory, in strict accord with
its name. It's population already ex-
ceedS that OF ten existing states and
territories. Agent Wisdom has re-
vealed the pith OF the matter in char
acterizing Il as grave mistake that
such q population OF over 225, 900 peo-
pie. Of whom only One-thiTd are cit
liens OF the Five Tribes. should be de-
prived OF rights that are regarded as
fundamental under our constitution
and laws. The dangerous intruders
have enjoyed a carnival OF disorder
for many years. Certainly one feat
ure OF Secretary Smiths report should
have immediate attention from con-
gress. I do feel sure. he states, that
q Z least jurisdiction. without regard 10
citizenship. OF the United States courts
should be extended over the region
/ Go Rot mean that this should take
place with the courts held. as they are
now in Arkansas and Texas. for. II
nothing more De done, the courts should
- located within The territory