The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-07-11
THIEKS THELAW UNFAIR.
Hon. n. L. Owen Discusses the Curtis
IndIin BnI-Oeclares It will Infilct
iIeavy Loss on Owners.

k0A6AOd 6NNOO6uC "a S@~@@~ d.
special cases in Washington, when .
asked by Times reporter what the
effect of the Curtis Indian bill would
be, said:
1.-THE bill is what is apparent on its
face-a drastic political measure, in
tending and accomplishing the utter
destruction of the tribal governments
of the Indian Territory. 1t seems to
go further than this, and to be in
tended as a punitive measure, in
flicting heavy loss on the more ag-
gressive property owners in the In
dian Territory who have been held
responsible for the powerful resis-
tance so long offered by the Indian |
Territory to the change desired by |
the United States. 1t sells the town |
lots of this class of men to strangers
and imprisons or fines them for re-
tanning property, lawfully acquired.
"This is the most extraordinary
legislation ever put through con-
gress, and seems beyond belief"
"Did not congress give the right
of appeals to the courts?" was asked.
"Yes; in the Indian appropriation
bill Senator Jones of Arkansas Sc
cured an item which permits appeals
to the supreme court of the United
States in citizenship and allotment
cases on the point of validity and
constitutionality This will do the
tribal governments no good, but
simply will let them fall easier. The
political authority of congress has
the right tc repeal treaties and
break contracts. and that such acts
of congress are valid and constitu-
tional.
THE Indian people think it plain
: ly wrong, and do not understand how
law doing wrong can be valid anu
constitutional. So they will proba-
n bly, be advised by their leaders to
test the valid tJ and constitutionAlity
of this law. Thus they will lose the
opportunitv of trading with congress
advantageously by waiting till the
q golden opportunity is passed.
= DEG66Ab COhkA Oo6 0OOAAO S0O-
assent to change the title, and OF
, this desire of the United States tn
y Indians could now advantageous.
trade, but when two or three year
- have passed the change of condi
tions will make the Indians them
selves desire and demand the yer
titles the government now seeks
secure, and the Indians will hav
..e lost the leverage they now have.
1.-THE Indians are noble, high-spil
tied people, who are sentimental
II and powerfully attached to the
w self-government. They cannot rea
ws ize that it is gone, and they WI
probably lose the substance in grasl
ing for the dear shadow that is pas
leU ing rapidly from sight The Indis
lir people have been grievously sla
dered and misrepresented duril
,ur the last few years, and many mi
'"e have been led to believe this legis
ton was what the Indians rea
81 wanted and needed.
1.-THE Indians have desired to
tain the title in the tribe, 80 as
prevent the sale and dissipation
the individual OF the coramon hol
AGE. Their method protects the
norant and improvident, and
D. children of such. The Saxon mett
utterly fails to protect the meek,
provident or incorporate and allC
the children of such likewise to
impoverished through the fault
. the parent.
1m "The white race, instead of COZ
AMI ling the Indian to adopt the Sa
system, should follow the In6
method, which is the wiser and
bier of the two"
Open "What about the agreements
ready made with the Chocts
Chickasaws, Greeks and Seminole
sThey will be adopted. The
coerces these agreements.
Game "Wha. about the Cherokees?"
81 do not know. They have
opposed to an agreement gener
Or, and If they have any hope of dsi
- ing the United States in . legal
~~ test they may continue their et
IaSk to sustain what they have
taught by their statesmen to cal
:. 'Sovereignty of the Cherokee
tion.' The fragile sovereignty
s, tender and venerable relic that
been the means of misleading
sound and mature Judgment of
intelligent people among the g
,.t,on KEGS. Still the Cherokees
many men among them Of
practical sense. and have no