New-York tribune., 1903-01-17
FROM MAIL.
THE VREELAND BILL.
The Plan to Make Indians Citizens
Defended.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The Senate Of the United States now holds
in its hands the fate of measure the true signih-
canoe of which IS probably realized by comparative
ly few OF those who will contribute to its decision
refer to the so-called vreeand bill providing for
the allotment of the lands of the Seneca Indians
Of Western New-York. which has already passed
the House of Representatives.
It may not be generally known that there are
IN the very heart OF the Empire State about five
thousand Indians occupying reservation on wnleh
they have lived since the early DAYS of the State
They can continue TO live there forever so long as
they hold their land in common tribe. but
the moment they cease to do so a BODY known as
the Ogden Land Company will come forward WITH
right Of preemptiOn and until that right is sat
isfed. all industry and perseverance Of any indi-
viduai Indian looking the ownership of his home
and the right to say This is my land" must be
without avail. In other words. this claim has al
ways tended and still tends discourage individual
effort and TO perpetuate tribal and pagan customs.
as 4 result told that to-day after more
than century OF perpetual contact with white
civilization around and among them. at least one
half of these Indians are ''pagans." Twenty-Five
hundred psgans' in New-York Miraculous as 1t
sounds, IL is evidently true.
On the other hand. a large number OF Indians
have initiated their white brothers They have
schools, they are educated they read the papers,
they capable of taking their part in our govern
ment, but what does it avail them? They are sub
ject 10 the laws of the tribe and on the pagan
level with no more rights. more privileges. no
more influence than the lowest pagan of the tribe
IS this just7 But just unjust. 1t must continue
until the Ogden Land Company's claim is satisfied
The Vreeland bill provides a feasible means OF
remedyng this condition. II proposes in brief. TO
appropriate from fund of $1,000 600 held for
the Senecas one-tenth (s200000) which will satisfy
the Ogden Land Company and forever clear the
title: TO aiiot the land to individual Indians on
basis, the title in the case OF the incom-
petent, TO be held in trust by the government for
twenty-five years, when it shall to the Indian
in fee Wh
may at the end of one year, on proving their COM
potency to manage the be granted a full title
TO their aIotments. Thus those who deserve clt1-
zens' rights may have them in year: the unde-
serving will yet have twenty-five years in which
to fit themselves for the duties of citizenship
1t was the privilege of the writer to attend the
meeting IN October last Of the Lake Mohonk Con-
ference Of Friends of the Indian, a special feature
OF which a thorough discussion Of the question
involved in this bill. Both sides were ably repre-
sented. the bill being presented and explained by
its author. and the opposing side being led by John
Van Voorhis who has always been the strong
leader OF the opposition to the measure. The debate
was most instructive. and II is TO beregretted that
the report of II should not have been published at
an earlier date, il is a reliable and accurate
presentation Of both sides OF the question by the
parties most interested AS the Lake Mohonk Con-
ference is not wholly unknown in Washington gov
ernmenaI circles. and believe the report is not
yet printed II may be of interest 10 know that
the conference, the close OF the debate, adopted
the following resolution;
The necessity for alloting Of Indian lands that
each Indian may hold his land IN seXeralty applies
9ork Stale; VINO , Were l4s nCluoeu III tn +Is
the social and political conditions existing the
nature and make it important for these Indians TO
State OF New-York and the United States and thus
become citizens. We therefore respectfully urge
tpon Congress the prompt passage Of H. R. Bill
lZZ'G knoWn as tRe Nreelano oil Inlr9Guee0 al
ably reported by the House Committee October "a.
The argument advanced by the opposition to the
bill that the appropriation Of 500 900 Of the Indians
funds TO clear the title the land is robbery OF
the weak by the strong" loses force when it is
considered that the value Of the land must neces-
sarily be increased two three fold through
the possession Of a permanent and unquestoned
title Moreover, is not the government. guardian
OF its Indian tribes. justified in this step, even
against the will Of the Indians, when the continue
ton Of the disgraceful conditions now existing on
the reservation challenges the honor OF the State
and country?
The argument is also advanced that the Indians
do not desire this legislation; that they "are not
ready We may, l suppose, assume that those
who are educated according to our standard are
desirous and ready to be made citizens and obtain
the rights long denied them AS 10 the
rEainder-the pagans-if. after more than century
Of constant association with the forms and Gus
toms OF civilization on all sides of them they are
still pagans. we hope that they ever will be
ready? Is it duty to sit quietly by until they
get ready? Here let me quote from the address
delivered at the Lake Mohonk Conference by the
venerable Bishop F. D. Huntington. of Syracuse.
who speaks from thirty-three years experience in
mission work on a New-York reservation:
Meanwhile, here in the centre Of our Christian
civilization is tract where wedlock is al
most unknown, where sensualty in its two basest
forms is INDUCED and invited without reproach:
where agriculture and the mechanic limp and
lag; where subtle and conceted pride Of ancestry
among adults tries per sistently to preserve
the pagan traditions in language and religion and
where the Lords Day is rest for laziness or a
feast for animal appetite.
Is not more than century OF this enough? Shall
we longer tolerate this blot upon civilization
while the perpetrators OF these disgraceuI customs
are getting ready for citizenship?
Let hope the work well begun by the House
OF Representatives will be carried to completion
by the Senate. II. c. p.
Mohonk Lake, y. Y. Jan. g. 1903