The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-30

by Instruction, and new treaties had to
be negotiated. Slavery was abolished, and
the Indians were compelled to face the
problem Of what to do with their darkies.
Former Slaves Adopted.
Three Of the tribes-the Creeks, Semi
noles and Cherokees-decided to adopt the
freedmen as members Of their tribes, CIV
ing them equal rights with themselves.
The Chocktaws and Chickasaws did not
give them citizenship, but presented each
former slave forty acres Of land. So in
Indian Territory are a few ex-slaves who
realized the reconstruction dream Of the
race-for the mule was quite easy to pro-
cure.
But In the provocative struggle the In
dian has been no match for the fecund
| Ethiopian. While the Indian has barely
held him own, the negro has increased
in geometric ratio until now he outnum-
bers his former owner four to one. And
having been adopted into the tribe, with
equal rights Of ownership and Inheritance
the second and third generations Of the
black slaves have become heirs Of the
tribal lands and moneys which been &C
cumulating and increasing in value. To
| the tribe Of Creeks alone the govern
ment has just allotted 100000 acres Of
land as fertile and valuable as any In the
United States Every man, woman and
child, legitimate or illegitimate, who by
record, tradition or intermarriage, can
| claim any sort Of membership in the
tribe, gets 100 acres, or its equivalent,
and a proportionate share in the pro-
ceeds arising from the sale Of any part
of the tribal domain not allotted. In
tracing the Indian connection, the Dawes
commission has gone to the extent Of
recognizing two-hundred- and-fftieth
part Indian blood.
| The Creeks Are Most "Interesting."
| The Creek tride is mentioned particu-
larly here, as it is this one that has been
first authorized to dispose of Its lands.
The outside world does not begin to take
a real heart interest in the Indian until
! the latter has land to dispose Of. Just
| now the Creeks have 100000 acres which
/ they are at liberty to put on the mar
ket, and which they are evidently dis
| posed to get rid Of as soon as possible.
The government will not permit them
to sell all their land; each holder Of 100
acres must reserve forty acres for a
homestead. But the remaining 100 acres
| he Is at liberty to turn into ready cash
at his pleasure.
! The Cherokees attract little attention
at present; they are not permitted by law
to sell any land until five years after
the allotment. The Choctaws and Chick
asaws are a little more interesting; they
can sell ne-eighth Of their allotment one
year after receiving patent, another
eighth in three years, and the remaining
quarter In five years. The remaining
half they must retain az a homestead
for twenty-one years during the life Of
| the allottee. s.
[ The Serninoles are the least interest
ing to the 'grafters," for they Will not
receive title to their lands until the tribal
relations are abolished, which, by law,
| will take place March 4, 1906. Then con-
gress has decreed that all tribal relations
| be dissolved. -
| Indians Were Tricked, It's Claimed.
| The full blood Indians live on terms
Of friendship and social equality with
the negroes, but they naturally cha
grinned at the consequences of adopting
their former slaves as members Of their
tribes. They cherish a tradition to the
effect that it was all mistake about the
equal rights which colored people were to
enjoy. As they tell it. the treaties me-
| gotiated in 1866 with the United States
were made thru a colored preacher who
was a clever linguist, and knew all the
dialects of the five tribes as well as Eng
fish. The preacher, they say, gave the
Indians to understand that the treaty
| was to provide that the colored people