Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-07-02
NO AMERICAN LAWS
Delegation Will Beg Roosevelt
to Protect Tribal Relations
and Uphold Native
Government.
LIFE AND DEATH QUESTION.

Yesterday there passed through
Las Vegas bound for the capital of
the nation a trio of somewhat notable
travellers. Juan Domingo Abeitia,
governor by virtue of heredity and
choice of the pueblo of Isleta, Vigil
Antonio who occupies similar po-
sition Of dignity in the village of San
dia and their interpreter. Pablo
Abeitia made up the party. OF la,e
the ancient method of administer
ing justice and many of the customs
of the red man have run counter to
the jurisprudence and opinions Ct
his white brother He has aired his
grievances in the court of Bernalillo
county and received what to him ap-
peared to be scant equity. Now his
delegates go to Washington to present
the matters at issue to the gerat
white father, President Roosevelt,
whom the Indians admire, and his
distinguished coadjutor the commits
sioner of Indian affairs.
The Indian rulers object very de,
cidedly to having their powers of ad-
ministering law taken away or cur
tailed. Not so long ago, an Isleta
brave broke tribal law which ruled
that no Indian could rent or sell his
land to a white man. The governor
promptly ordered the recalcitrant IN
to the village jail. There he received
less to ear tnan the prodigai IN
the far country. Also every man who
passed near his barred window,
thought it meet to hurl choice ep-
ithets at the offender. Finally the
prisoner was released. He had learn
ed something of the American meth
cd and promptly brought a suit in
Judge Bakers court for false impris-
onment. He won, too. The governor
was punished and what was worse,
the court ruled that the Indians might
dispose of their property to whom and
In what way they chose as long as
they didn't conflict with American
law.
The Indian governors hold that the
lands of the reservation and the hous-
es therepon are for the exclusive use
Of the Indian and urge that the tribes
have from time immemorial thrived
under the administration of Indian
law; that the precedent established
by the American courts is danger
GUS one, and the whole tribal system
Of the village Indian is likely to be
overthrow; that in this case the red
man will become wandered and
vagabond, while now he lives with his
fellows, cultivates the soil and works
industriously at his peculiar arts.
Asked his opinion Of the beliefs Of
sOme of the Indian school officials,
Who urge that before the aboriginal
denizen Of the country can become
civilized. he must give up his tribal
relation and ceace to consort with his
fellows old Governor Abeitia replied
warmly, that to civilize the Indian
according to American ideals meant
to kill him. At home with his tribe
he was peaceful, Industrious and con-
tended In the attempt to acquire
ways that had been learned by the
whites through hundred genera
tfOns, he was distanced. He learned
American vices, drank whiskey and
became utterly disreputable. II the
United States government wanted 20
exterminate the Indian, the proper
way was to force him away from his
reservation, break up his tribal rela-
ti0n and attempt to Americanize him.
ITO give him a chance for existence
In the lands his fathers had owned -
said the old chief pathetically. "his
lands must be made aleniable. 1t
must be put beyond the power of III
advised members Of the tribe to be
cheated out Of his property by the
cunning white man, the Indian laws,
which are just and which the tribes
respect must be upheld, and our an
cient customs must be respected. II
Is a matter Of life or death to us,
and the Great Father will uphold us.
He is wise and kind and loves the In
dian"
Chief Abeitia IL = remarkably IN