The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-10
a. -


marine boat No provision has yet been made
for the armor Of three Of the bastieshipS IS It
has been impossible to obtain It 81 the price
fixed BY congress Il Is Of great importance
that congress provide this amor. IS until then
the ships are o. no fighting value The pres
ent naval fOrCs- especially II view Of its
increase By ships now under construction,
While not Gs large as that Of q few other pow
ersi IS a formidable force. its vessels are the
very best OF each type. and with the increase
that should be made 70 Il from time e time in
the future, and careful attention to keeping &c
in q high state Of efficiency and repair. II IS
vel adapted to the necessities Of the country
There should also be ample provision for
powder AID prOjeetiles and munitions OF war
and for an Increased number Of Of1cers and en-
listed men Some additions are also necessary
to our navy yards for the repair and care OF
our large number Of vessels As there are now
on the stocks i've battleships Of the largest
class, which cannot be completed Tor year OF
two, concur with the recommendation Of the
secretary OF the navy for an appropriation
authorizing the construction Of one battleship
for the Pacific coast, where, at present, there
IS only one under commission and one under
construction while on the Atlantic coast there
are three under commission and four under
construction; and also that several torpedo
boats be authorized in connection with our
general system OF coast defense
The Territory OF Alaska
The territory Of Alaska requires the prompt
and early attention Of congress The cOndf-
tons now existing demand material changes in
the laws relating to the territory. The great
influx Of population during the past summer
and fail and the prospect Of a still larger fmmi-
grafton IN the spring viii not permit Us 70
longer neglect the extension OF civil authority
within the territory or postpone the establish
ment OF q more thorough government
A general system Of public surveys has not
yet been extended to Alaska and all entries
thus far made in that district are upon special
surveys. The act Of congress extending to
Alaska the mining laws Of the United States
contained the reservation that It should not be
Of the country. BY act approved March 3, 1891,
authority was given for entry Of land for town
site purposes and also for the purchase Of not
exceeding 100 acres then OF thereafter occupied
for purposes Of trade and manufacture. The
purpose Of congress as thus far expressed has
been that only such rights should apply TO the
territory as should be specifically named
It VIII be seen how much remains to be done
for that vast and remote and yet promising
portion OF our country. Special authority was
given 70 the president by the act Of congress
approved July "a 1897, 70 divide that territory
into two land districts and 70 designate the
boundaries thereof and to appoint registers
and surveyors Of said land Offices; and the pres
ident was also authorized to appoint surveyor
general for the entire district Pursuant to
this authority. surveyor general and receiver
have been appointed with Offices at Sitka- II
in the ensuing wear the conditions Justify It,
the additional land district authorized by law
will be established. with an once at some point
in the Yukon valley. No appropriation how
ever, was made for this purpose, and that is
now necessary to be done for the two land dis
triets into which the territory IS to be divided
I concur with the secretary Of war in his
suggestions as to the necessity for military
force in the territory Of Alaska for the prOtec-
ton OF persons ana property. Already a small
force, consisting Of > men with tTsO officers.
under command Of Lieut. Col Randall. OF the
Eighth infantry has been sent 70 St MichaelS
to establish n military post. At il Is to the in
uerest Of the government to encourage the de-
velOpme1t and settlement Of the country and
its duty to follow up its citizens there with the
benefits Of legal machinery, I earnestly urge
upon congress the establishments OF system
Of government Of such iexibiIity as win enable
it 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 there without the
means Of leaving the country are confirmed in
such q measure as to justify bringing the mat
ter 70 the attention Of congress Access to that
country this winter can be had only by the
passes from Dyea and vicinity which IS most
dif1eult and perhaps an impossible task How
ever, should these reports Of the suffering Of
our fellow-citizens te further verified, every
effort at any cost should be made to carry them
relief
The Indian Problem.
+ q
parent that the conditions under which the i've
civilized tribes were established in the Indian
territory unier treaty provisions with the
United States, with the right OF self-gOTern-
ment and the exclusion OF ali white persons
from within their borders, have undergone 50
complete change as to render the continuance
Of the system thus ilaUgurated practically i'm
possible The total number Of the five civilized
tribes, as shown by the last census is 45, z94,
and this number has not materially increased;
while the white population IS estimated at
from 2OO. 900 TO 25O.0J1, which by permission Of
the Indian government has settled in the
territory. The present area Of the Il1iau
territory contains =. 56A acres. much Of
which is very fertile land The United States
citizens residing in the territory, most Of whom
have gone there by invitation or with the con-
sent Of the tribal authorities have male per-
rnanent homes for themselves Numerous
towns have been built in which from 500 TO
5000 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 tue country. are with
out title TO the land they occupy a1d have
no voice whatever IN the govern
ment either Of the nations or tribes.
Thousands OF their children who were
BON in the territory are OF school age, but Ii 2
doors Of the school OF the nations are shut
against them and what eiucatiOn they get IS
DV private contribution no pTOTlSlDu
protection Of the life OF 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 b an Indian aTistOcraey has
been practically established, % the detrimeHt
Of the people It has been found impossible
for the United States % keep its citizens out
OF the territory and the execu-ory conditions
contained In treaties with these nations have
for the most part become IN possible OF execu-
ton Nor has il been possible fo- ths tribal
governments 70 secure 70 each Individual
Indian his full enjoyment IN common with
other Iadians OF the c3mm1l property
Of the nations Friends Of the Indians
have Ioag believed that the best interests OF
the Indiaas OF the I've CIVILIZED tribes would
be found in American citizenship. with al the
rights and privileges which belong 70 that coz
ditiOn
By section Is. OF the act OF March 1893. the
president was authorized 70 appoint three com
missionsrs to enter into negotiations with the
Cherokee. ChOctzE. ChiczasaW. EIuszOgee Tor
Creek) and Seminole nations. commonly known
as the i've civilized tribes in the Indian terri
tory Briefly. the purposes OF the negotiations
were 70 be- The exEinguishneut OF tribal titles
70 any lands within the territory NOW held b
any and al such nations and tribes
either By cessfon Of the same OF
some part there3f 20 the United
States OF by allotment and division CT the sane
81