The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-04
"DELAY, NOT DEFEAT"

The history of the slow but effective
workings of the Dawes commission with
the Indians il well told in the following
editorial from the Kansas City Star.
The Star says:
1.-THE failure of the Dawes commission
to complete treaty with airy one of the
five civilized tribes does not mean that
it's work has been in vain. The act Of
1893 creating the commission limited It's
powers to those of negotiation. The In
dams were well aware that argument
and persuasion were the only resources
of the commissioners. and the former be-
ing past masters in the art of holding
councils which produce no results, settled
down to this new opportunity for big talks
with evident enjoyment and n full reali-
cation that they held the winning hand
in their title to the land and the appar-
ent necessity of their consent to the
making of any treaty.
at was fully year before the commits
sion could impress upon the Indian mind
that the government meant business. IL
was only then that the tribes gave OFF,
cial recognition to the work of negotia-
ton. 1t was another year before any
plan of council could be agreed upon, and
it was not until 1896 that any tangible
results became apparent.
"In the meantime the powers of the
commission had been extended. The COM
mission itself, through reports and state
ments made by its members, had brought
about at Washington and in the minds
of the people of the United States much
better understanding of the real condi-
tons in the Indian Territory. 1t had also
driven the idea home to the Indians that
n change was inevitable and at hand. BY
its councils with the representatives OF
the various tribes the commission has
also secured an expression of opinion
from the Indians as to the proper lines
on which treaties must be made. 1t has
thoroughly exploited all the arguments
for and against the treaties and exposed
the true animus of the real opposition
thereto.
THAT this opposition is so far effective
does not injure the value of the data Sc
cured. and the discovery of the real
source of the opposition to treaty making
has largely discounted its value and
weight. The members of the commits
sion, after nearly four years of expert
ence, have little hope of securing the rati-
fication of any treaty by the Indians
which would be approved by congress, but
they are fully satisfied they can now
make an intelligent recommendation to
congress for immediate action independ-
cnt of any agreement with the Indians.
''The commission will make report in
November and it is fully expected it will,
in that report, suggest plan for bill
an end to all controversy and set in mo-
ton the preliminary work necessary to
organize regular territorial government
This bill will represent the true work of
the commission. which must not be judged
by the success or failure of any particu-
lar negotiation with the Indians them
selves. 1t has been work of tremen-
dous magnitude, requiring the utmost pa
thence, keen sense of justice and full
conception of hereditary rights and pres
ent conditions.
Those who hope to defeat the purpose
of this bill rest their defense, apparently,
upon so-called treaty rights and upon the
difficulty the government will find in con-
veying the Indian lands now held in com
mon to each Indian in severalty.,
THE question of treaty rights has been
argued pro and con with much confusion
and multiplicity of words. The Indians
are the wards of the government They
are ready enough to retreat behind this
fact when the occasion demands. The
guardian has jurisdiction over its ward
and is supposed to be in that position for
the best interest of its protege. There
comes a time when all treaties are rem
dered obsolete by new conditions and
changes become necessary for the good
of both parties concerned. Such a time
has come in the affairs of the Indian
nations.
THE question of title is not so difficult
as it may seem. Should congress pass a.
law requiring allotment. single case can
be carried through the courts giving in
dividual title to some one citizen to his
particular allotment. All other cases
similar to this can be settled by an order
of the court, and thus the community
land will become the property of TIE In
dams in severalty Many of the most in
telligent Indians in all the tribes recog-
nize, not only the inevitable, but the ad-
vantages thereof They are simply spar
ring for time and possible advantages to
be gained by contention. If congress fails
to settle this matter this winter, how
ever, the administration will be held as
dereict in its duty by many even who
are. inside and outside Of the territory,
its warmest supporters"
The doors of the new congressional
library in Washington, d. c., were
thrown open to the public on Monday
last. Hereafter congressman will have