Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-12-11
THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES
work of the Dawes Commission in
Indian Territory.

For a number OF years past It has been
apparent that the conditions unGer which
the five civilized tribes were established
in the Indian Territory, under treaty pro-
visions with the United States with the
right of self-government and the eXClus-
ION of all white persons from within their
borders, have undergone so complete a
change as to render the continuance of the
system thus inaugurdted practically i'm
possible
The total number of the five civilized
tribes as shown by the laste census is As
asa and this Number has not materially
increased, while the white population is
estimated at from 100000 to 100000. which,
by permission of the Indian government,
has settled in the territory. The present
area of the Indian Territory contains 25
694, 564 acres, much OF when Is very Ter
tile land. The United States citizens re-
siding in the territory, most of whom nave
gone there by invitation or with the con
sent of the tribal authorities. have made
perm anent homes for themselves Num-
erous towns have been built in which
from 500 to 5000 white people now reside.
Valuable residence 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 nave invested
their capital in the development of the
productive resources of the country, are
without the title TO the land they occupy
and have no voice whatever in the gov
Crnment 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 ma
tons are shut against them and what
education they get is by private contri-
button. No provision Tor the protection
of life or property of these white citizens
is made by the tribal governments and
courts.
that leading Indians have absorbed great
tracts of land TO the exclusion of the
common people and government by an IN
dian aristocracy has been practically es-
fab n dptTimpnt DeOnlp
1t has been found impossible for the
United States to keep its citizens out of
the territory and the executory conditions
contained in treaties with the nations
have for the most part become impos-
sible of execution, even hid 1t been pos
sible for the tribal government to secue
each individual Indian his full enjoymett,
in common with other Indians, of ne
common property of the nations, Frie1ds
of the Indians have long believed nat
the best Interests of the Indians Of the
five civilized tribes would be fourd IN
American citizenship, with all the rights
and privileges which belong 10 thtt con-
dition.
Work of the Commission.
BY section 16 Of the act OF march j.
1893, the president was authorized 10 APP
point three commissioners to enter into
negotiations with the Cherokee. Choc:a",
Chickasaw Muskogee (or creek ana
Seminole nations, commonly known as
the five civilized tribes in the Indian Ter
ritory. Briefly, the purposes OF the ne
gotations were the eXtinSulshmeht OF the
tribal title to any lands within that terri
tory, now held by any and all such ma
tons or tribes, either by cession or the
same or some part there of to the United
States. or by allotment or by division of
the same IN severaity 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 be-
tween the several nations and tribes
aforesaid or each of them with the United
States. with a view to such an adjust
ment upon the basis of justice and equity
as may. with the consent of the said ma
tons of the Indians so far as may De nee