The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25
THE TIrE cIvILIzBD TRIBES.
The Obstacle. TO Changes In Their Land
Tenure aud In Tribal Allegiance.

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The Obstncie. TO Changes In Their Land
Tenure aud In Tribal Allegiance.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Everything indicates
that the Indian Territory has come to a turning
point in its history, and that Congress. at the
coming session, will be urged To make changes
In the laws for its government. Agent Wisdom
says that its population exceeds that of ten ex-
isting States and Territories; yet II has neither
q state nor a Territorial Government. lie
thinks IL a grave mistake that such n popula-
ton, which may. perhaps, by this time exceed
225,00o but only one-third part citizens of the
Ave tribes, should be deprived OF rights that are
regarded as under our Constitu-
ton and laws. The trouble, however, is that
the tribes do not want a different form OF Gov
eminent, while many of the residents are In
truders, under the law. IL there upon suffer-
ance, they should submit to the policy of the
tribes, and II their presence Is objected to. the
United states is under obligations TO turn them
out. Nevertheless, the disorders prevailing
through the Indian Territory cannot be ignored,
whether the remedy be that of a better system
Of government or q better system Of courts and
of administration of the laws.
A t the last session Of Congress the Joint me-
mortal of the Cherokees, Choctaws. Chickasaws,
and Creeks, assembled In international council,
was laid before that body, and IL proved to be u
strong protest against either accepting lands in
severalty or adopting an ordinary Territorial
Government In lieu of the present separate sys-
TEN Of governments for the Ave civilized tribes.
In support Of this protest the memorial referred
to the compacts made by the Government with
the tribes. and 1t may be supposed at the outset
that the treaties concedlng ownership and self
government, which were TO hold as long as grass
should grow and rivers run, settle the question
that ans proposed alterations should DO SUBJ
mitted to the tribes. Indeed, some of the
treaties provide that the Indians shall not be
placed under State and Territorial Governments.
But the memorial in question took more ad-
vanced ground than the treaty right OF the In
dams to decide upon their own form Of govern
ment. 1t insisted that the present system had
resulted in the progress of the five nations. and
for that reason should not be overthrown. 1t
noted that railroads traversed tho Territory,
that, stock raising, agriculture, mechanical
trades, aud the mining OF coal, lead, and zinc
went on there. 1t noted that the Cherokees
maintained two high schools, a seminary for
males and females, over 100 public schools. an
orphan asylum, and a colored high school; that
the Choctaws maintained four high schools,
two orphan asylums. and over $50 common
schools; the Creeks, eight high schools. an or
phan asylum, and sixty. five Common schools:
the Chickasaws. four high schools. an orphan
asylum. and twenty-five common schools. These
are exclusive OF missionary schools. and they
are maintained by the tribes, with no expense
whatever to the United States.
As to allotment in severalty, the argument
used by the Indians is that, while there Is "a dit
ference OF opinion among them as TO it's value,
TO the condition of their tribes. Holding the
lands in common, they say, gives them, under
the system OF grazing and coal leases, large rev.
enues, which are paid into the treasury, and en-
ables them to have school funds enough without
resorting to direct taxation. They do not deny
that the Rmartest men among them get those
leases; but they aver that all profit by the plan,
s saa dii up mak to p assist The .h e,h wes-'" Tbev iG insisf
that a change from tribal government and from
tenure OF land in common. will give the edu-
Gated and able Indians even better chances TO
control matters to suit themselves. aud they cite
the case OF the Indians In Kansas AS an example
1t is because of these views that the Commits
sioners who have been laborinR TO induce the In
dians to accept s~everalty allotment and a terri
torial or state government have found their task
hard. There Is reason to believe, OF course,
that the richer and more influential Indians
simply aim to retain their lucrative hold on
their respective tribes. A great part, OF the In;
some Of TN tSe nn' nearly na.lISn wh Ste f Then 0r t6ers f + a
system of adoption OF citizens In consequence OF
marriage, which gives a powerful element in
favor OF the existing forms OF government and
OF communal lands. Agent Wisdom says that
these whites have. since being, admitted 10
prlated TO their use thousands of acres, thus de-
priving the full-bloods OF their fair share OF the
The suggestion has sometimes been made that.
II the severalty allotment were not insisted
upon, some form OF Territorial government
might be accepted by the i've tribes; and that
such a compromise could fairly be made, be-
five tribes from its operation, because IL would
be u breach OF faith 10 enforce IL upon them.
still, Congress would probably be reluctant 10
make such a stipulation to the detTiment OF the
severalty allotment system, which Is properly
regarded as an element OF Importance. in the
education OF the Indians 20 full citizenship and
to individual self-support. Besides. there are
other problems involved, the most pressing
being that OF settling the status OF the
non-citizens in the Territory. Among the
constitute a very powerful body, some OF whom
claim citizenship under the laws or the customs
Of the tribes, although their claims are rejected
by the Indians. Among the Chickasaws there
are many intruders who maintain "A shadow OF
right of residence by herning cattle Ia the name
OF natives and nominally under leases. The
authority OF the United States has been again
aud again appealed 10 for the election OF these
intrudeTs. The status OF the freedmen Is still
another eleInrnt In the problem, especially
among the Chickasaws, where they exceed In
number the Indians themselves. but are not
recognized AS having any tribal rights,
These various obstacles to securing another
government for the Indian Territory may not he
easily overcome. IL would. however, be possible
To increase the jurisdiction Of the United States
Court in the Indian Territory by adding more
Judges. and In other ways TO secure n better adj
mlnistratiOn OF the laws. The tve tribes have
thus far failed TO accept the proposals 81 the
Commission. but IL is possibly only "a question
nf time when they will consent To a regular
Territorial government. There would be sew
rral objections at present ~ creating another
State out Of their Territory.
JUSTICE DEUEL As a MIMIC.