Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-04
Apropos to the Indian Territory.

| To the Editor of the Journal.
My attention is called to a communica-
| tion in recent issue of the Journal
| signed by j. C. Berry, Wagner, l. r. AS
| L have lived many years in that country
and am thoroughly conversant with former
| as We'll as existing conditions, l desire to
| present a few words on the subject
There Is a class of non-citizens the yerv
! small minority of white residents, who are
| IN the territory by ''invitation''-permissio
-ot the Indian government, in the employ
of citizens, and paying a tax for the privi-
| lege. These are the only legally resident
| non-citizens, and the only ones who have
any rights or who are desired or tolerated
| by the citizens, the recognized owners and
| proprietors of the country. From this class
we hear no dissatisfied wailings of "op-
preston" injustice" rights etc. If
| they do not like their condition, forsooth.
the way is open and there is no hindrance
to their moving on.
But the very great majority of non-citi-
zens are class who are not only not in
the territory by Invitation" but are there
contrary to and in spite of the most per-
sistent invitation, the part of the In
dians, TO vacate. These are the so-called
citizenship claimants who have swarmed
INTO the Indian country for years in ever
increasing numbers, to eject whom the
efforts of the local governments have prov
en- futile. They have been given ample
opportunity to establish their claims. not
only before the native courts, but to the
eminent gentlemen composing the Dawes
commission, with absolute and signal fail
ure in every case. No wonder this worthy
class is forced to the conclusion that the
Dawes commission has outlived its useful
ness. These honorable gentlemen, repre-
senting our highest legislative power, have
even been accused of duplicity and crook
edHess." For shame.
To the unprejudiced mind there is an
incongruity in these fraudulent claimants
who are living, and have for years lived,
vampire-like by sapping the country and
paying naught for the privilege, shouting
for justice and right. Justice is the last
thing they want.
of the claims for citizenship filed for
decision by the Dawes commission in the
Cherokee nation alone there was repre-
sentation of upwards of 100000 individuals.
In consideration of the fact that the Cher
okee tribe has never. within the present
century, consisted of more than 50 1000 souls,
the face Of the matter shows fraud some
where. member of the commission told
me that many of the applications were SUBJ
mitted without a word of evidence
These are the people who are suffering
and oppressed by the present form of In
dian government, whose children are so
other advantages. and whose love for their
iellowman prompts them TO such noble
sentiments as allotment, 'abolishment of
tribal government etc. l would not be
understood to oppose change or reforma-
tion of present conditions, for there is OBJ
vious room for improvement. and, person.
ally, l believe a radical change is immi-
nent and am glad of it. But let those
who are interested and have the good of
the people concerned at heart negotiate
the arrangements without prejudice The
Dawes commission is doing a good work.
They are capable and honorable men, and
have the confidence of the Indians And
their mission of usefulness is but fairly be-
gun. Whatever arrangement is finally
agreed upon between them and the several
tribes WILL beyond question, be character
lied by equity and justice to all. But let
us have an end 10 the prating of the self
appointed philanthropists, whose ostensible
desire is for the benefit of all mankind in
general and the Indian in particular, but
whose real object is only personal inter
est. 1RENEUS n. HITCHCOCK, NJ. d,
Bates City, No, December 81, 1886.