The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1894-06-04
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS DOOMED.
so SAYS GENERAL PAINE TO
HON. ovERToN LOVE.
he Advises the Indians TO Accept
the PrOPOsition ORthe Dawes
COnmiss1On.

Below is given in full very pointed
letter frem General Paine, the Indian
lobbyist at Washington, to Judge
Lsvs, of Marietta, in which the des-
tiny Of the Indian problem is fully
portrayed:
Hon. Overton Love. Marietta. T:
My DEAR JUDGE-In the letter Of
instruction, which / received from
Gov.:WOlfe at the commencement OF
his present term of Office, he requir-
ed me to oppose the allotment of
your lands. This requirement l have
faithfully observed. l send you by
teday'S mail, a printed copy of the
argument which made before the
Senate subcommittee.
When the Governor framed his let
ter of instructions, it was, of course,
impossible for him to fereknow the
nature or effect Of the report of the
Teller committee. Indeed he had mo-
reason TO expect the appointment of
such q committee. He believed that
IL was still an open question whether
the lands of the Chickaaaws were, or
were not, TO be allotted in severaltY.
He believed it was still an open guess
tion whether the Chickasaw govern
ment was to be continued, or was to
be abolished. Being opposed to the
allotment of your lands, he hoped, as
he had reason to hope, that opposi-
tion by the Chickasaws to such sllOt-
ment might in some way, tend to
prevent or delay the abolition.
But the report of the Teller cOm-
mIttee, which certainly presages the
action of Congress, practically closes
both OF these questions. They are no
longer open questions. That report
discloses q new condition. 1t pre-
sents q case which did not exist when
the Governor sent me his letter of in
structions. The Teller committee
declare that your system of govern
ment must be abandoned and better
0Ae substituted; that, If tho Indians
decline to treat with the Dawes Com
mission, and decline to consider any
change in the present condition of
their land titles and in their govern
ment, the United States must, in thoir
own way, settle the question of their
land tenures, and establish a form of
governments over both Indians and
whites in yeur country.
When you recall the well>known
fact that Senator Teller is one of your
most earnest and steadfast friends,
yOu will at once comprehend the
grave significance of this report. Its
declarations are not mere empty,
meaningless words. Nor are they
threats of your enemies. They ex>
press the well-nigh unanimous senti-
ments of the members of both houses
OF Congress. They express, too, the
sentiments of your staunch supporters
and faithful friends. Their unmis-
taxable meaning is that q law is to be
enacted, next winter, with or with
out your consent, providing for the
allotment of your lands aad O change
In your fern of government. So far
- your land tenures and your form
OF government are concerned, the
emily epen question now is whether
yoR will shape your own destiny, by
treating with the Dawes Commission,
er win force Congress to wind you
mp in its OwA way. You are abso-
lutely poweriess to resist the tidal
wave which is now close upon you.
You might As well attempt to arrest
the tide Of the Atlantic with your
hat, or - turn back freshet in the
Big Blae vita your foot.
] humbly pray that your people win
ysry carefully examine the report Of
the Teller Committee, and that you
win cenaider the question whether it
wiz net be wise and patriotic for
yesleo neaify Ycu3 programs 70 meet