Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-01-27
THE PATENT A SAFEGUARD,

To set forth with any degree of
accuracy and definiteness the true
status of the Indian Territory at
the present time would be no
small task. The changes in the
political complexion of affairs
here that have been prophesied
for twenty years and more, are
now taking place. When the end
will come is question impossible,
in the very nature of things, to
answer intelligently. Fife en-
years ago the elder E. C. Boudinot.
in a speech at. the fair grounds
in this city. declared that within
FIVE years from that date allot-
ment of land would be an ac-
complished fact. Ten years later
Col. Boudinot died, apparently as
far from a realization of his dream
as when he made the bold and
(to him) dangerous declaration at
the fair grounds.
Indian autonomy has existed for
the last quarter of a century
against the express wish of the
United States government. Be-
fore the opening of Oklahoma to
white settlement, the Indian Ter
ritory was vast unsettled wilder
ness for the most part, and the
rendezvous of criminals more dar-
ing and desperate than were the
marauding bands of brigands that
roamed the forests of England in
the days of the Plantagenets. The
futility of its efforts to reduce the
Indian Territory to law and order
was primarily the cause of desire
upon the part of congress to
change the political conditions
among the tribes inhabiting 1t. As
time wore on, other and more
urgent reasons for the abolition of
the tribal governments presented
themselves. The government OF
the United States was as much
bound TO protect the Indians from
each other as from outside intrus-
ion. The utter failure of the
system of holding all their lands
in common began to develop itself
long ago. The Indians were rapid
ly becoming civilized, and man!
of them were, practically speak
ing, white people with all the
tastes and virtues. as well as the
vices of the white race The |
of maintaining such a
class of people under the guise of
helpless, blanket Indians at last
upon congress. But when
an attempt was made to undo the
matter, the United States govern
ment found It's hands tied up by
treaties and agree
ments that left the Indians masters
Of the situation.
After the sale and settlement OF
Oklahoma and the Strip, matters
grew from bad to worse. Turmoil
and unrest arose among the In
lians, and strong pressure from
he outside to do away with what
vas considered un-Americanism in
principle in sustaining separate
governments for the Indians in
he very heart of the United States
manifested itself. The first decis-
We action of congress along this
lew line of policy was the creation
{ the Dawes commission with au-
hority to come to the Indian Ter
itory and negotiate with the In
ians, relative to a REIMBURSEMENT
f their tribal organizations. The
)awes commission came nearly
We years ago, and have been as t
iduosly laboring at the task laid !
ut for them by congress, ever
ince. A great deal has been ac- !
omplished, tending to the carry :
lg out of the purposes of the '
The United States I
,urts were given jurisdiction
yer persons not connected with
ly of the Indian tribes, and Q
ON time to time their jurisdic- t
ction has been increased, till v
DIV the tribal courts are practical :
superseded and set aside
lOgetner. Il
The introduction of the Curtis il
IL last week in congress, and the Il
,neral understanding that seems :
have been reached, that it or a 7
milar measure is TO become a a
W during the present session of b
leaves little hope for the .
ldians that they will be allowed II Il
continue much longer. How il
-er, there is one barrier in the p
ay of completely wiping the In cl
ans out, and that seems to be a
e patent to the land owned by h
e tribes. THUS far shalt thou ii