The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-11-23

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Only when this is done viii the
vexing questions which now retard
development be well on the way to
solution. .-ARDMoREITE.
Yes, take all the property rights
away from the Indians-rob them
OF that independence and govern
mental right they now hold, show
the world that your Uncle Samuel
is a good boy to keep treaties
with q power that is strong enough
to force him to do so.-Denison
Herald.
Perhaps the above clipping from
the ARDMoREITE is obnoxious TO
the criticism made by the. Herald,
but the spirit in which it was writ
ten was certainly not consonant
with the, construction placed upon
the language.
The ARDMoREITE is not an icon
oclast and much less a despoiler.
1t believes in the maintenance of
established forms of government
until better ones are substituted.
1t believes in the preservation of
property rights and the inviola-
bility of treaty obligations.
But whatever convictions of right
one may entertain. he is sometimes
compelled to abandon abstract
theories and esthetic opinions in
order to deal intelligently with
actual conditions. This is the
present case.
The policy of the government
during recent years evinces a set
tied purpose to abrogate pre-exist-
ing treaties with the five civilized
tribes. Laws are already opera
tive limiting to q term of years the
existence Of tribal governments and
SO hedging them about with re-
strictions and limitations as to
transform them from governments
de jure ct de facto to simple gov
ernments de jure. Property rights
Of the Indians have been preserved,
it is true, but only pro forma,
for the persons whose interests are
most vitality concerned were not
allowed to say who should share in
the common property. The result
is that every citizen has suffered
through the success of impostors
in many eases, and their blrthright
is to be shared by aliens.
Now, the non -citizen whites of
the Territory understand condi-
tiOns here much better than out
siders and they have an interest in
the speedy and equitable settlement
of the vexatious questions involved.
They are also honest and intelli-
gent, and as fair minded IS the
average American citizen.
In the present slow process of
evolution the interests of both In
dams and whites are jeopardized,
and the progress and development
of the Territory retarded. The sit
uation is becoming almost intol-
erable to both classes, and every
consideration of public and private
welfare demands expedition and
despatch. The Indian is civilized,
intelligent and self-reliant and
wants local self-government. The
Don-citizen is disfranchised, has
no government save a judiciary,
has no title to his home save a lease
contract which present laws will
soon render nullity, and he too
longs for local self-government.
By closing the citizenship rolls
and giving to Indian and white
alike the right to settle local uues
tions through local government
in which each should stand in the
full stature of American citizen
ship. the questions of allotment.
leases, etc., could be speedily, sat
sfactorily and equitably settled.
In the ARDMoREITE of November
l5, after discussing this same ques-
lion. we said:
The American citizen. when left
1ntrammeled, has never yet failed |
% accord full justice to a weaker
ace, dependent on his honesty and
integrity at the ballot box, and the
history of century would not be
'eversed in the Indian Territory.
We believe this statement to be
Utmost automatic, and we believe
urther that the Indian citizen. if
eft untrammeled, would prefer to
'lace the solution of his difficulties