Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-02-04
MnF Nor ADMIT rHE TRuTMl

that on which he and his co-work.
ers Of the Dawes commission now
stand. They have spent three
years in the Indian country and
have had adequate experience with
the noble red man, and they know
him thoroughly. The venerable
senator from the "effete east
doubtless had in his minds eve,
before coming to the Indian Ter
ritory, the ordinary reservation
Indian with his greasy red blanket,
buckskin moccasins, variegated
shirt and shaved and painted head.
The beautiful Indian character
painted by Fennimore Cooper and
other romancers had not prepared
the commission for the reception
that awaited it by the sons OF the
forest who inhabit the coveted
reservations known as the "five
nations" Of the Indian Territory.
The commission was not met by
such as Sitting Bull, Kicking Bird,
Spotted Tail and Crazy Horse, but
on the contrary they were met by
a committee of well dressed, well
educated and fully civilized white
men (for they are white to all In
tents and purposes.) Since the ar
rival of the Dawes commission in
the Indian country it has been
purely a diplomatic contest be-
tween the commission and the In
dians, and every winter the fight
is carried up to congress and waged
with unAincning zeal before the
and on the floor of
and il must be confessed
that The Indians with paid lobby
lists and strong delegations have
generally scored a victory. If the
Indian delegations from the five
tribes lacked tact or ability among
themselves they have plenty of
money to hire the services Of some
of the ablest lobbyists that 60 to
Washington. There are half a
score of ex-congressmen in the en-
ploy Of the five tribes at the pres
ent time, and in their capacity as
attorneys are offsetting the work
of the Dawes commission, if not
multiplying it entirely, so far as
present legislation is concerned.
The Indian problem is a pecu-
liar one. The Indian is a ward of
the government, and yet, in his
tribal capacity, sovereign power
capable of negotiating treaties and
ceding a part OF all his vast unused
possessions He is a man eetirely
independent in his own nationality,
governed by his own laws, and
neither knowing or required to
know much of those Of the United
States, yet he must be held amena-
BILE to trial and punishment in the
United States courts now estab-
lished in bis country.
The Indian of the five tribes is
at the present time the victim Of a
system that was never intended
for any but the wild and semi
civilized bands. The present sys-
tenn of government in the Indian
Territory seems to have been
framed for the benefit of unscrupu-
lous commerce and the fostering Of
trading schemes, and the lorna
ton of rings that have thus far
proven themselves stronger than
the government itself.
The fight the Dawes commission
is now engaged in is with these
same rings. The monopolists and
boodlers Of the tri ibes have pooled
and led on by the "chiefs
and head men" of the several
tribes are making at least half the
innings. The Indian lobby in
Washington is acting always in the
defensive. He works for time, and
his tactics are of the delay kind.
The man in possession Of 80, 900
acre pasture can calculate the
profits OF one seasons delay in
dollars and cents, and knows how
much he can pay for the same.
The common "slick.shinned, Z"
fellow over in the
hills knows nothing Of the diplo-
matte warfare that is going on be-
tween those who are monopolizing
his grazing land and growing
wealthy off his funds and the gov
ernment. II the present congress
adjourns, leaving the Indian prob
lem in this territory open for fu-
ture negotiations and legislation,
and leaves the Indian country
practically introduced, the Indian
delegations will return home
flushed with victory and licensed
for another years. plunder. II is
thus the Indian question has drag
ged along from year to year, and