The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-12-16

have been appointed with Ofhces At Sitka III
In the ensuing year the conditions justify IL,
the additional land district authorized by law
, will be established. with an ofce at some point
in the Yukon valley. No appropriation. how
ever, made for this purpose, and that is
now nece essary to be done for the two land dis
tricts into which the territory is 10 be divided
l concur with the secretary OF war in his
suggestions as to the necessity for military
force in the territory Of ALASKA for the protec-
tion OF persons and property Already small
force, consisting OF % men with two officers,
under command Of Lieut. Col Randall OF the
Eighth infantry. has been sent to St Michael's
to establish military post. At It is to the in
terest Of the government TO encourage the de-
velopment and settlement of the country and
its duty to follow up its citizens there with the
benefits Of legal machinery, 1 earnestly urge
upon congress the establishment OF system
OF government of such esxibiity will enable
1t to adjust itself to the future areas of great
est population
The startling, though possibly exaggerated
reports from the Yukon river country, of the
possible shortage Of food for the large number
of people who are wintering thore without the
means OF leaving the country are confirmed In
such a measure as to justify bringing the mat
ter to the attention of congress. Access to that
country this winter can be had only by the
passes from Dyea and vicinity which is most
difficult and perhaps an impossible task. How
ever, should these reports OF the suffering OF
our fellow-citizens be further verified. every
effort at any cost should be made to carry them
relief
The Ipdina Problem.
For o number OF years past IL has been ap-
parent that the conditions under which the Ave
civilized tribes we're established in the Indian
territory under treaty provisions with the
United States, with the right OF self-govern-
ment and the exclusion OF all white persons
from within their borders. have undergone
complete q change as to render the continuance
OF the system thus inaugurated practically i'm
possible The total number OF the five civilized
tribes, as shown by the last census, is Is, 494.
and this number has rot materially increased;
while the white population Is estimated at
from 200, 900 to 250.0W, which by permission of
the Indian government has settled in the
territory. The present area Of the Indian
territory contains % ,56i acres, much OF
which is very fertile land The United States
citizeus residing in the territory, most of whom
have gone there by invitation or with the con-
sent of the tribal authorities, have made per-
manent homes for themselves Numerous
towns have been built in which from 500 to
., 900 white people now reside. Valuable resi-
dences 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 in
vested their capital in the development Of the
productive resources of the country, are with
out title to the land they occupy and have
no voice whatever in the govern
ment either of the nations or tribes.
Thousands OF their children, who were
born In the territory are Of school age, but the
doors OF the school Of the nations are shut
against them and what education they get Is
by private contribution. No provision for the
protection of the life or property of these white
citizens is made by the tribal governments and
courts The secretary OF the interior reports
that leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
of land to the exclusion Of the common people
and government by an Indian aristocracy has
hoo ta iSha hal To tha dat i'm ant
of the people. 1t has been found impossible
for the United States to keep its citizens out
OF the territory and the execulory conditions
contained in treaties with these nations have
for the most part become impossible OF execu-
tion. Nor has 1t been possible for the tribal
governments to secure to each individual
Indian his full enjoyment in common with
other Indians OF the common property
of the nations. Friends of, the Indians
have long believed that the best interests of
the Indians of the five civilized tribes would
be found ir nerican citizenship. with all the
rights and privileges which belong to that con-
diton.
by section 49, OF the act OF March, 1893, the
president was authorized to appoint three COM
missioners to enter into negotiations with the
Cherokee, Choctaw. Chickasaw, Muskogee Tor
CreelD and Seminole nations, commonly known
as the five civilized tribes in the Indian terri.
tory Briefly the purposes OF the negotiations
were to be. The extinguishment of tribal titles (
10 any lands within the territory now held by
any and all such nations and tribes,
either by cession OF the same
some part thereof to the United
States or by allotment and division Of the same
in severalty among the indians of such nations
or tribes respectively as may be entitled to the
same, or by such other method as may be
agreed upon between the several nationS and
| tribes aforesaid each OF them with the
United States. with a view to such an adjust
ment upon the basis OF justice and equity
may, with the consent Of the said nations of
Indians, so far may be necessary. requisi o
and suitable. to enable the ultimate creation OF
a state or states of the union, which shall EN-
brace the lands within said Indian territory
The commission met much opposition from
the beginning The Indians were very slow to
act ana those in control manifested a decided
disinclination to meet with favor the PROPOSE
tions submitted to them. A little more than
three years after this organization the commits
sion effected an agreement with the Choctaw
nation alone. The Chicknsaws, however, re-
fused to agree to its terms, and as they have
common interest with the Choctaws In the
lands of said nations the agreement with the
latter nation could have no effect without the
consent OF the former. On April g. 1897 the
commission effected an agreement with both
tribes-the Choctaws and Chickasaws This
| agreement, IL is understood. has been ratified
by the constituted authorities of the respective
tribes or nations. parties thereto, and only re-
| quiros ratification by congress to make IL bind
| ing.
On the 25th OF September, 1897. an agreement
was effected with the Creek nation, but IL is
| understood that the national council of said
| nation has refused to ratify the same. Nego-
| tiatons 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. The provision In the
| Indian appropriation act approved June ~,
! 1895 makes IL the duty Of the commission to
| investigate and determine the rights OF appli-
cants for citizenship in ths five civilized tribes
| The commission Is at present engaged in this
work among tribes and has made appointments
| fox taking the census Of these people up to and
| including the Goth Of the present month
Should the agreement between the Choctaws
and Chiekasaws be- ratified by congress and
| should tue other trioes fail to make an agree
ment with the commission then il will be me-
| cessary that some legislation shall be had by
congress. which, while just and honorable TO
the Indians. shall be equitable to the white
| -ople who have settled upon these lands by in
| vitation OF the tribal nations. Hon Henry L.
| Dawes, chairman OF the commission in letter
| to the secretary Of the interior, under date Of
| October H. 1897 saws: individual ownership
is in their (the commission'sl opinion absolute
ly essential to any permanent improvement in
present conditions, and the lack OF it is the
root OF nearly all the evils which so grievously
afict these people. Allotment by agreement
is the only possible method, unless the United
apportion the lands among the citizen Indians
for whose use it was originally granted"
concur with the secretary OF the interior
that 0 NhaWn naN to- 81. ..vsla-