The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1895-12-03
DAWES COMMISSION.
An Able Report which Shows the Exact
SItuatIon--ImmedIate Action
Is Necessary.

"ttuliic> dH thAift page Oh the lfdlid~
News Of Dec. 2nd.
ConcluSion-T commission was
charged with the duty ~ negotiation
only. They have been clothed with
no authority beyond presenting To the
Nations such reasons as might in
duce them To consent To "A change Of
their triha! holdings and governments
upon terms that shall he just aud
equitable Ia all concerned, To be made
binding only after ratification by the
tribes themselves and the United
States. Keeping strictly within their
instructions, they have presented To
these nations every argument and con-
>ideration open to .thcm calculated To
make clear the necessity. the Justice
and the benefit of such change In
the tenure Of their tribal property and
in their tribal governments as will
conform all To our national system
and prepare them tu become part
Of IL. The commission has found
however. that those having authority
To consider these proposed changes are
the very persons whuSc interest IL i
tO prevent them. and that the longer
the present conditions continue the
greater will be- their gain. Every sell
fish instinct of those holding the pow
er To consider propositions for Il
change is therefore arrayed against
it, exercise. They have declined d.
rcctly. or ignored altogether all for
NAL propositions for negotiations
made to them. aud Ia informal CON
ference have made Il clear that no
considerations the commission has
authority Co present will induce them
10 voluntarially rclinquiSh their pres
eut opportunities for vast gain and
consent 20 share equally with all the
Indian citizens that tribal property
the United States originally placed la
the custody of these ions for the
common Use uf all. or 10 exchange the
power they now p0SSeS~ To perpetuat
their exclusive u>c 81 common prom
erty and dictate the character and
these people live for anything analug-
oUs 10 he institutions ~ our own gov
crumcnt 10y which they are surround
ed. The very men Who.iu the manner
heretofore described. have got iu
their personal grasp the vas, tribal
wealth OF these nations elect ana
control The Legislators iu their Coun-
ellis and dominate the work uf this
foreign power not to bc tolerated.
aud seek 10 punish with thc penalties
OF treason amy citizen Indian found
advocating change that shall require
equal rights and equal participation.
The commission j. compelled tu re-
port that - long a~ power ia these
NAT ions remains iu tine hands 81 those
now exercising il. further effort 20 in
ducc them by ncgptiation'to volunta-
rally agree upon change that will
restore 20 the people the benefit 81 the
tribal property and that security aud
order in government enjoyed by the
people of the United States will be- in
vain.
The commission j. therefore
brought tu the consideration ~ the
question: What i the duty uf tine
United States government toward hc
people Indian citizens aud United
States citizens. residing in this Terri
tory under governments which 20 ha>
itself erected within it, own borders
No one conver>ant with the >itua-
tiun can doubt that ID j. impossible oi
continuance. II j. uf a nature that
inevitably grows worse, and ha> Ia
itself mo- power 81 regeneration. It.
own history bears testimony 20 this
truth. The condition j. every day bc-
coming more acute and serious. IL
has ~ little power ~ disposition for
>elf-rcform.
Nothing has been made more clear
10 the commission than that change.
if il comes at all. must be wrought
out hy the authorities uf the United
States. This people nave been wisely
given every opportunity aud rendered
every possible assistance tu make this
change for themselves but they have
pcr>i>tently refused and insist upon
being left To continue present cOndi-
tiOuS.
There j. nu alternative left to the
United States but 10 assume the re-
Spon>ibility for future conditions in
this Territory. II has created the
fue.h, Of government which have