Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-12-11

The need for the material changes IN
the laws governing Alaska, In view OF
the great influx of population to that
territory, is strongly urged. The presi-
dent also calls the attention of congress
to 1.-THE startling though possibly ex-
aggerated reportsof the probable short
age of food in the Yukon country" and
declares that should the reports prove
true every effort should be made TO
afford relief
Discussing the Indian question the
president says:
THE CIVILIZED TRIBES.
For number of years past 1t has
been apparent that the conditions
under which the Ave civilized tribes
were established in the Indian Terri
tory under treaty provisions with the
United States, with the right OF self
government and the exclusion Of all
white persons from within their bor-
ders, have undergone SO complete
change as to render the continuance OF
the system thus inaugurated practi-
cally impossible. The total number
of the five civilized tribes as shown by
the last census. is As 494, and this num-
Der has not materially increased: while
the white population is estimated at
from 100000 to 100000. The United
States citizens residing in the Terri
tory, most of whom have gone there
by invitation or with the consent OF the
tribal authorities, have made perma-
nent homes for themselves. Numerous
towns have been built in which from
500 to 5000 white people now reside.
Valuable residences and business
houses have been erected In many of
them Large business enterprises are
carried on in which vast sums of
money are employed, and yet these
people, who have invested their capital
in the development of the productive
resources of the country are without
title to the land they occupy and have
no voice whatever in the government
either Of the nations or tribes. Thou
sands Of their children who were born
in the Territory are of school age, but
the doors of the schools Of the nations
are shut against them, and what edu-
cation they get is by private contri-
button. No provision for the protection
OF the life or property Of these white
citizens is made by the tribal govern
ments and courts.
The secretary or the interior reports
that leading Indians have absorbed
great tracts Of land p the exclusion of
the common people, and government by
an Indian aristocracy has been practi-
cally established, TO the detriment of
the people. Friends of the Indians have
long believed that the best interests of
the Indians Of the five civilized tribes
would be found in American citizenship.
with all the rights ard privileges which
belong to that condition.
should the agreement between the
Choctaws and Chickasaws be ratified
by congress, and should the other tribes
fail to make an agreement with the
commission, then it will be necessary
that some legislation shall be had by
congress which, while just and hon
orable to the Indians, shall be equitable
10 the white people who have settled
upon these lands by invitation Of the
tribal nations.
The president recommends sys-
tematic meteorological investigation to
discover the exact cause of yellow fe-
YER, and thus prevent the spread of
the disease He calls attention to the
fact that but 81, 500 900 is offered for the
Kansas Pacific road, although the gov
ernment's claim against the road Is
sl3. 000, 900. and asks whether the gov
eminent shall purchase or redeem the
road Congress is congratulated on the
establishment Of the Congressional II
brary, and it's development is urged.