Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-07
A WORD ABOUT POOR 10.
me five CIVILIZED Tribes and Some DIM
culties They Present-Iudian Lands and
the Indian Commission

For number of years past it has been
apparent that theconditions under which
the five civilized tribes were established in
the Indian Territory under treaty pro-
visions with the United States, with the
right of Self-gnvernrnent, and the eXclu-
sion of all white persons from within their
borders. have undergone so complete
change as to render the continuance of the
system thus inaugurated practically inn
possible. The total number Of the Five
Civilized tribes, as shown by the last CEN
sus. is 45.494, and this number has not
materially increased; while the white pop
ulation is estimated at from 200, 600 to
$50, COO, which, by permission of the Indian
government, has settled in the territory.
The present area of the Indian territory
contains e. 694, 564 acres. much of which is
very fertile land. The United States citi-
zens residing in the territory most of
whom have gone there by invitation or
with the consent of the tribal authorities.
have made permanent homes for them
selves. Numerous towns have been built in
which from 800 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 employ
ed, and yet these people, who have invest
ed 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 in1ttts government
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 schools of the nation are shut
against them, and what education they
get is by private contribution, No pro-
vision for the
PROTECTION OF THE LIFE
or property of these white citizens is made
by the tribal governments ard courts
The Secretary of the Interior reports
that leading Indians have absorbed great
tracts of land to the exclusion of the COM
mon people. and government by Indian
aristocracy has been practically estab-
lished. to the detriment of the people 1t
has been found impossible for the United
States to keep its citizens out of the ter
ritory and the executory conditions con-
tanned in the treaties with these nations
have for the most part become impossible
Of execution. Nor has St been possible for
tiie tiiudt SSNtfli1ieills 10 secure 10 eacl
individual Indian his full, enjoyment in
common property Of the nations. Friends
of the Indians have long believ that ths
best interests Of the Indians of the Five
Civilized tribes would be found in Ameri-
can citizenship. with all the rights ar
privileges which belongs TO that condition
BY section is. of the Act Of Marcn 3.
1888, the President was auth ,rzai 10 ap-
poinr three commissioners 20 enter INTO
negotiations with the Cherokee Chcctaw.
Chickasaw. Mvscogee Tor Craet). and
Seminole nations. commonly known as the
Five Civilized Tribes in the T1d:an terri
tors. Briefly, the p,I poses OF the ncgo-
tia;t ns were TO he: The extineii SINE:
c. tribal titles TO any ianjs within that
territory now held by any and all of !
of the same or some part thereof to the
United States or by allotment and divis-
ion of the same in severalty among the
Indians Of such nations or tribes respect
lively. az may be entitled to the same. or
by such other method
AS NAY BE AGREED UPON
between the several nations and tribes |
aforesaid. or each CT them. with the
United States. with view to such adj
justment upon the basis Of Justice and
equity. may, with the consent of the
said nations of Indians so far as may be
necessary, be requisite and suitable TO en-
ahee the ultimate creation Of State OF