The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-08
rNnrAns 1N okLAHomA.

The Guthrie, (okla-D State Capital, commenting on recent editorial in The Advertiser about the Indians in the new State. has this to say:
 The Advertiser remembering the wrongs. the Creeks suffered in its state is doubtless sincere fin all this, although if may, also, be influenced by the hope which 1t with other good Southern Democrats, held of seeing Oklahoma and Indian Territory made Into separate
 Yet The Advertiser apparently does not know that tho Creek of today is not the helpless one that was removed from Indian Territory are Indians. the only thing that has kept the red men down tn that territory being the DaternalisLic governmental guardian policy.
 man must be allowed to think, and act and work for bimseIf before he be- comes fndependent.
 The Indians of the new State of olzia-. homa will be many times better off a whole are as well, if not better edu- cated they are wealthicr in lands and money than the average white men of Oklahoma or Alabama. and The Adver- tiser should quiet It's fears, and lavish its synpathies on the negroes and Poor white trash" of the South, the unfor- the east. and the hundreds of peapie crowded together In the slums of New York and chicago They are in great need of It. while the 9o.00o Indians of first chance to carve out their destiny will prove to America that they are amply able to care for themselves.
 Being on the ground The Capital Is naturally better qualified to judge of the conditions existing there than The Advertiser can be, and we have no doubt that what 1t says of the Creeks Is correct. For many years previous to their deportation from Alabama, their condition was bad enough. The aver age white man of that day looked on Indians as dangerous and treachcrous enemies to be gotten rid of as speedily as possible. and in any way that was practicable. The only good Indian is a dead Indian" was the prevailing sem timent among the whites.
 But there was another disadvantage uider which the natives suffered. Most of the richest lands in Alabama was oc- cupied by them, and the whites looked with covetous eyes on the rich river bottoms. the broad farming prairies and the fine grazing lands on every side. They wanted this land for them selves and their posterity forever. The red men had no title deeds and there fore. in the eyes of the pale-faces they had no right to occupy the soil there fore, again, they must be dispossessed and gotten rid of. That the principles of equity and humanity were not al- ways observed does not alter the facts or results.
 It must be confessed that in this bus mess of busting the Indians our govern ment lent a willing hand. That it did not always treat them fairly cannot be denied. but 1t was carrying out the decrees of fate The march of civili- zatlon was not to be stopped, and 1t was annihilation or deportation for the Indians Overlooking the cruelty of their removal and in many cases the injustice done them. their removal was the best thing for the race. By going to a new country they have gradually but surely worked themselves up to civilization, education. citizenship and practical independence. The Capitals estimate of their condition is doubtless q correct one They are better off than the negroes of Alabama are. and in money matters most of those belonging to the five civilized tribes are far ahead of the average white man of Alabama.