The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-12-08
THE INDIANS.
Needs of White Residents in the Ter
ritOry Must BE Considered.

rIIOFy muSL De OOhbIueTeus
For a number of years past 1t has been
apparent that the conditions 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-government and the ex-
clusion Of all white persons from within
their borders, have undergone so complete e
6 change as to render the continuance of
the system thus inaugurated practically
impossible. The total number of the hve
civilized tribes, as shown by the last census,
Is As, 494, and this number has not material
ly Increased, while the white population is
estimated at from 100000 to 25OOOO, which,
by permission of the Indian government,
has settled In the territory. The present
area Of the Indian territory contains 25.-
by4.5G acres, much OF which Is very fer
tile land. The United States citizens re-
siding in the territory, most CT whom have
gone there by invitation or with the con-
sent of the tribal authorities, have made
permanent homes for themselves. Numer-
500 to 5000 white people now reside. yalu-
able residences and business houses have
been erected In many of them. Large busi-
ness enterprises are. carried on In
ployed, and yet these people, who
have Invested their capital In the develop
ment Of the productive resources OF the
country, are without title to the land they
occupy and have no voice whatever In the
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 nations are shut
is by private contribution. No provision
for the protection of the life or property
of these white citizens Is made by the
tribal governments and courts
An Indian Aristocracy.
The secretary of the interior reports that
leading Indians have absorbed great tracts
of land to the exclusion of the common peo-
pie and government by an Indian aristoc-
racy has been practically established, to
6e osnd deT@ss S oT he RRe RRsOPs States as
keep its citizens out of the territory and
the executory conditions contained in
treaties with these nations have for the
most part become impossible of execution.
Nor has 1t been possible for the tribal gov
ernments to secure to each individual
Indian his full enjoyment In common with
other Indians of the common property of
the nations. Friends of the Indians have
long believed that the best interests of the
Indians of the five civilized tribes would
be found in American citizenship, with all
the rights and privileges which belong TO
that condition.
The Dawes Commission.
BY section l6 of the act of March 3. 1893.
the president was authorized TO appoint
three commissioners TO enter into negotia-
tions with the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chicka-
saw, Muskogee Tor Creek) and Seminole ma
tions, commonly known as the Five CIV
iiized Tribes in the Indian territory. Brief
ly, the purposes of the negotiations were
to be: The eXtinguishment Of tribal titles
to any lands within that territory now
held by any and all such nations or
some part thereof to the United States or
by allotment and division Of the same In
severalty among the Indians OF such ma
tions or tribes respectively as may be en-.
titled to the same, or by such other method
as may be agreed upon between the sew
eral nations and tribes aforesaid, or each
Of them with the United States. with a
view to such an adjustment upon. the basis
OF justice and equity as may, with the con-
sent OF the said nations Of Indians, so far
as may be necessary, be requisite and suit.
able to enable the ultimate creation Of
state or states OF the union, which shall
embrace the lands within said Indian ter
ritory.
The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians were
tested decided dsincllnation to meet
with favor the propositions submitted to
them. A little more than three years after
this organization the commission effected
an agreement with the Choctaw nation
alone. The Chickasaws. however, refused
to agree to Its terms, and as they have
common interest with the Choctaws In
the lands Of said nations, the, agreement
with the latter nation could have. no eff
feet without the consent OF the former.
On April %. 1897, the commission effected
an agreement with both tribes-the Choc-
taws and Chickasaws. This agreement,
It is understood, has been ratiied by the
constituted authorities of the respective
tribes or nations parties thereto, and only
| requires ratification by congress to make
II binding. On the 27th OF September, 1891.
an agreement was effected with the Creek
nation. but Il Is understood that the ma
| tional council OF said nation has refused
| to ratify the same Negotiations are yet
| to be had with the Cherokees, the most
populous Of the Five Civilized tribes, and
with the Seminoles the smallest In point
Of numbers and territory.