Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-10-10

That Is nm interesting story tOld III
the extra census bulletin under the
title Of The Five Civilized Tribes, and
dealing with that part Of the INDIAN
question which Is embraced In the old
divisions of the Indian territory.
Most anomalous Of al conditions On
the American continent Is that Of the
Inhabitants Of the Indian territory
Each member Of that strange poplllh-
ton was originally resident Of the
country far b. the east, and the move
mcnt TO the west was accomplished
only after war and the bitter defeat
of long protractcd campaigns 1t was
accomplished only after the best gen
erals Of American history had en-
Dloyed against them The very best
abilities they could command.
And yet the Indians Of the rive
Tribes cling to the soil IN which they
were transpIantcd with all the ten
aclty Of Il people whose whole history
and tradition were associated with the
western home.
Coming from th"ir rntIlrrlnnd on the
Atlantic scaboard, they have brought
everything that made their ancestors
strong and famous. with the singl"
exception Of prowcTs IN war What
ever of sagacIty, skill, fcalty, business
tnct and human wisdom that could en-
ter into the composition Of lmlutorcd
men have been theirs. Ana they have,
against much that Is not crcdiiAble
to the United StaicsI, maintained their
position, and even advanced IN ma
tcrlal ana political and intellectual
strength.
When they were conquered ut their
enstcrn homes the feeling that Indians
had some rights which white men
were bound TO respect was stronger
than It Is today. 1t would be difficult
nowadays TO find In the public breast
any response to the spirit of that I'M
pastloncd clfuSlon: "Whcrc Shall the
Chcrokers cor" Yet there was time
when the public conscience demanded,
IF The Indians were to be taken from
the land of their birth, that they be
given another land In all essential re
aptcts as good, And the treaties made
between the Indians and the general
government were nearly all thnt could
he expected OF the dominant race In
dealing with what we have since come
to regard In SatrIcnl IIgh' rs "ihc
wards Of the nation. !"
And whatever has been done with
othcr Indians, and other treaties made
In later years, ana IN the light Of
DINNER consCicnCc the members of
the Five Tribes have been permitted
no enjoy. with slight annoyance, the
privileges given them In the beginning.
when, pcrforcc. they left their old
homes In the east and accepted land
in the territory IN exchange for their
original homes. they were given acre
for acre and the residue Of their east
crn holdings were bought by the ma
tional government The original pur
chase price was never paid to the In
dlnrs. and perhaps never Will he paid.
1'ut the fund was invested for their
benefit, and they were given the In
tcleSt annually. That was n small
thing NJ the time. but Il has grown
to q very considerable fund So great
Is the income the Indians Of the Five
Tribes derive from their fund that
There are no taxes In the territory
and their revenues are sufficient to
pay for all expenses OF government
and almost all expenses Of education.
And vet the income Is not absorbed
Every year something IN laid up
against the future, and the estate of
an Indian Is about rs secure and de-
Slrahlc IN the matter of fortune, aH
can hr achieved by the average white
man, no matter what HIS opportunities
have been
nut eternal vigilance IS the price or
their homes to this day No other In
dams have boon so fortunately dealt
with and NO treaties since made have
been SO carefully, 81 honestly fulfilled
aH have those mndr with the Five
Nations. Vet the leaders Of the tribes
complain that trcspasscrs are CON
rfantly invading thclr realm and not
all the Jealous scrutiny OF the rhiers
has been sufficient to keep them out
Men without drop Of Indian blood
in their veins come into the territory.
and, claiming to I've ChcroiCcs. or
SemlnolN', or Greeks. settle on land
and accumulate property tu the dis,
advantage OF the rghtCul owners
They arc not elected because their
cases arc taken under adviScmcnt, and
they hold their claims pending a de-
rlSion which seems cternally delayed.
In the main, however, aud rs wards
or nations 20. the mcmhcrs or the
Five Tribes are fortunately situated.
And their wisdom In the making OF
laws MS well rs their strength IN on
ccutlns them. are worthy Of more than
passing comlnenda tion.
The five civilized tribes then. arc
the Chcrokecs. ChickasawS. Choctaws,
Greeks and Scmlnolcs. They are en-
tirely Self-supportirg, living on pat
ented lands with large surplus each
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