Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-01-07
THE WRONG PERSONS KICKINq.

Some Of the papers in the south
ern portion Of the territory are
growing red in the face over the
prospect Of the white non.citizen
element in that country getting
robbed by the terms Of the recent
agreement with the Dawes COM
mission, made by the Choctaws.
There are some features in that
agreement which would in our
opinion be detrimental to the
Choctaw citizens, hut it does not
occur that the Dawes commission
were sent here to look after any
body save the Indian citizens.
Whatever rights the non.citisens
may have in this country should
be protected, and should the Dawes
commission not recognize their
rights the courts of the country
are open, and were established for
the protection of that class of peo-
pie. But it is barely possible that
there are whites living in the town
and also in the country who have
persuaded themselves that they
have acquired vested rights in and
to town property or farm leases,
that ought to be the subject of the
anxious care OF the Dawes COM
mission. 1t would be unfortunate,
and is a matter to be deeply re-
gretted, ifpeople who have invest
ed their means in this Indian
country, have done so by illegal
contracts with Indians, and thus
placed themselves beyond the pale
of the protection of the courts or
OF the Dawes commission.
Our friends must not get too far
away from the indisputable fact
that the lands of this territory are
the property Of the tribes in pos.
session Of them, a1d the posses
sion of the non. citizen is but
scrambling possession at best and
cannot be maintained What if
they have made vast improve.
ments and built beautiful towns2
Have they not done so with a full
knowledge of the uncertainty and
the mutability of affairs in all
these Indian reservations From
whence come all these townsite
proposiiions-these bills to be in
troduced in congress asking for
something not in the power Of even
congress to grant, namely the pass.
ing Of the title TO Indian land with.
out the consent of the Indians2
Why not ask the Indians, the own
ers of the land, to set aside and
transfer the title TO lots in the
towns.
Some of the newspapers like to
dwell upon the energy and enter
prise of these people who have
built the towns, many of which,
especially in the Chickasaw nation
have scarcely an Indian in them.
Their energy and enterprise is all
right, but they have built upon
the uncertainties Of a common title
vested in an Indian tribe. The
field was doubtless on inviting one,
and there was ample opportunity
for the expenditure of both money
ana energy. What if it has been
the policy Of the Indians to retard
progress? Were they not in their
avn country, living under solemn
treaty guaranty that they should
have the protection OF the govern
ment in the maintenance Of their
autonomy? In the Chickasaw
country it is said there are less
than ten thousand Indians and
more than fifty thousand whites.
The whites have practically step.
ped in and taken possession Of
that country and they now have
the temerity TO ask the Dawes
commission and congress to assist
them in keeping what they have
covered without authority or SEM
blance of law.