Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-12-11
THE INDIANS.
Needs of White Residents in the Ter
ritory Must BE Considered.

tor a number of years past 1t has been
apparent APP e tha the I6sl G9ndSns under Whsh
in the Indian territory under treaty pro-
visions with the United States, with the
cluson of all white persons from within
their borders, have undergone SO complete
the system thus inapgurated practically
impossible. The total number of the nve
civilized tribes, as shown BY the last census,
is 45 494. and this number has not material
estimated at from 100000 10 25OtOO, which,
has settled in the territory, The present
area of the Indian territory contains u.s.
tyt'Gt tie land. % The % Gnited states etzes @ r re
siding in the territory, most CT whom have
gone there by invitation or with the con-
Gus towns have been built in which from
al able J. residences and business houses have
been erected in many OF them. Large busi-
ness enterprises are carried on in
have invested their capital in the develop,
country, are without title to the land they
occupy and have no voice whatever In the
either Of The nati9ns or tribes
doors OF the schools Of the nations are shut
is by private contribution. No provision
for the proteetion, Of the life or property
OF these wnlte Citizens is maze Dy Inc
tribal governments and courts.
An Indian Aristocrncy.
The secretary of the interior reports that
leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
pie and government by an Indian arstoc-
racy has been practically established, to
ne OF faT he BeO II has been
keep its citizens out of the territory and
the eXecutory conditions contained in
treaties with these nations have for the
most part become impossible OF execution.
Nor has 1t been possible for the tribal gov
his 70 f 5e eac ia @
other Indians of the common property of
the nations Friends of the Indians have
Indians of the five civilized tribes would
be found in American citizenship, with all
the rights and privileges which belong to
The Dawes Commission.
BY section l6 of the act OF March 3, 1893.
the president was authorized TO appoint
three commissioners to enter INTO negotia-
saw, Muskogee (or Creek) and Seminole ma
tions, commonly known as the Five CIV
illzed Tribes in the Indian territory. Brief
ly, the purposes OF the negotiations were
to be: The eNtinguishment of tribal titles
to any lands withln, that territory now
held by any and all such nations or
tribes, either by cession of the same or
some part thereof to the United States or
by allotment and division of the same In
severalty among the Indians of such ma
tions or tribes respectively as may be en-.
titled to the same, or by Such other methOc
as may be agreed upon between the sew
eral nations and tribes aforesaid, or each
OF them with the United States, with II
view to such an adjustment upon the basis
OF justice and equity as may. with the con-
sent of the said nations of Indians. so far
as may be necessary. be requisite and suit
able to enable the ultimate creation OF
a state or sta tes of the union, which shall
embrace the lands within said Indian ter
ritory.
The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians were
very slow to act. and those in control mani
tested n decided dlsincinatlon to meet
with favor the propositions submitted to
them A little more than three years after
this organizatio the commission effected
an agreement with the Choctaw nation
alone The Chickasaws, however, refused
to agree to Its terms, and as they have
a common interest with the Choctaws in
the lands of said nations, the agreement
with the latter nation could have no ef-
On April 2S, 1897, the commission effected
taws and Chickasaws This agreement
II Is understood, has been ratified by the
constituted authorities OF the respective
tribes or nations parties thereto, and only
requires ratification by congress to make
It binding. On the eth OF September, 1891
an agreement was effected with the Creek
nation. but Il is understood that the ma
tional council OF said nation has refused
to ratify the same. Negotiations are yet
to be had with the Cherokees, the most
populous of the Five Civilized tribes, and
with the Seminoles, the smallest In point
OF numbers and territory.