The St. Louis Republic., 1905-08-23
NEW STATES COMING IN.


There is division neither on race nor partisan
political lines in the application to Congress for
separate saehod for the Indian Territory. In the
Muskosee Convention the foremost men Of the Five
Nations join heartily aud work harmOniOusy with
the most influential leaders Of their white brethren
in asserting the principle that the Territory Is.
by the action of Congress and its peculiar instiu.
TONS separate and distinct from Oklahoma. It ought
"f right to I've separate aud Independent State
The Indians have heretofore declined to take
part in any movement. for statehood. Perhaps they
have chung lovingly 10 the hope that their tribal
governments and their racial institutions might be
Indefinitely prolonged in the fair lands which the
great White Father at Washington gave them in
exchange for the broader and not le>s fertile fields
which they SURRENDERED in the S"uth,s:i. Sec
in: this 10 ls impossible. kn"win: now that they
must become integral parts "c the great Republic
which stretches from ocean 10 ocean they revolt
lasxicuatcly the though; Of being absorbed by
more powerful community. in shaping whose laws
and institutions they have had no part. in which
they have neither lands hereditary rights. Since
their tribal governments are s."'n {" become extinct
,ley earnestly esir.. tha; the traditions If their
race. and institutions i given local hahitati"n ami
name in a territorial and political division owing
allegiance 10 none other save only the Government
ut WashinGton.
The m.St cnt,rpri>n: AMI progressive "f the
hundreds o: thousands Of pushing and ambitious
whites who have converted the Territory into
busy hive "f industry a blossomi;: home "f m"slern
civilization share the Indians desire for separate
autonomy. though not altogether from the same
cc,,si.Ierai Ions They know that the region they
have occupied has the and the resources for
tie upiuiliing "f better ani more I'"ul"us State
ti,an any Of Of States already admitted
wit,"u, hin,rance or obstruction. They see The
way 4. administer their own local affairs more
successfully ami eficieuily in independent auon-
omv than in partnership with their sister Territory
Of oklahoma Their community "f Interest with
their Indian nci=ors IS great. As - matter both
ci sentiment and "f scIfinercs the whites and the
Indians q: the Territory declare that they will
T.. better off in separate State o: their OWN. There
j. n" clash either of instinct cf interest
ir ,lI.. movement for ssparai. statehood.
And thc:. is IA" clash of PARTISAN interest or am
iiou in it, IN ihc desire for separate. statehood
the Southwest AMI the Central West take l';tle heed
whether The the other Of the rev States shall
l., Democratic or Republican. or whether both shall
give their r>; Votes Z" III" one party or the Other
They are both populated. Ia th.. main. hy the hest
ri.n.cr hioc! Of III. Wes, and IN. Southwest dar
tn: and .u,.rl.ri>in-. but full "f genuine American
the conservatism "f the h"nl'>Tlakcr
AMI The. landowner good citizens earnestly desiring
at all times do the right things in public as in
private affairs. simply because they are right.
Democrats and Republicans seem I" he united
in lin. Territory Th. sI.c,th at MuskoSee IN which
Congressman Murphy If the Sixteenth Missouri IBIS
,ri, pledged, his an his influence for separate
statehood indicates that the question Of admission
will not DE debated "r voted on partisan lines
Heretofore. the friends "f statehood have taken
e.. Icf
ruc.. and have assumed that union with Oklahoma
WIS the only practicable basis of conducting: the
statehood campaign. Tn. Musk"-cc meeting puts
a n.w phase on the situation. TIL. Inlian is aroused
and his white ncichisrs are with him. Tlry have
n ri..Il; I" the consideration Of Congress.