The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-01-16

out the permission Of any superintend-
ent or agent. 5rt!Il
9. Qualifications being equal, Indians
by blood to be given preference in the |
Indian Service as superintendent, fl |
nancial clerks, farmers and merchants.
10, Protection, as persons, under Tie
Constitution of the United States, 1vl
viduals, of life, liberty, and property.
and the right to enforce such protec.
ton in the courts.
This and many more statements Of
fact could be set forth showing the
attitude of the Interior and the Indian
Office toward the Indian tribes Of the
country. So far as has come under the
notice of the officers Of the Brother
hood Of North American Indians there
is not a tribe of Indians who has not
valid complaint against the admins
tration of it's affairs. 1t may be- posi-
BILE that the Indian Office has done the
best that its representatives, knew how
at the time, but the fact remains that
the Indians have not been satisfied
with the administration of their af-
fairs. In a number of instances where
CO.. plants have been made to the In.
dian Office the Indians arc told that
the executive departmt mt OF the Govet
meat is merely administering the laws
as laid down by congress; that they
lave nc ether coursd than to interpret
the LAYS according to general usage
and in Interpretations; and that il the
indians arc net satisfied with the ad-
real to congress 70 have the laws
changed. 1t meters not what the
reason may be for the administration
of affairs against the real intere SITS #
Tie Indians so long as the indians
are actually deprived of their portion
By some branch Of authority TO
government. We do not believe that
the government will deny that there
are rights OF whic... tho Indians have
been deprived and there certainly
could be no better time than the pres
ct for congress Itself to permit the In
dams to have an accounting, ty tribe
or nation, from tho government and
the right to havo their differences ad-
; justed in the courts of tho United
States.
We appela to congress to give us
: the same right that every other peo-
pie has and is given by their govern
ment-the right to have their differ
3 ences with their government heard an(
tried and decided in their courts. The
relations which exist between the Unit
2 ed States government and the Indian
4 arc of a cOntractual nature and the
l treaties and agreements made with oul
h people have not been carried out accol
, ing to the understanding Of our people
We ask you if you can cite us to a
single instance where one party to 8
e contract has been denied the right tC
, have his understanding Of it tested, ex
J. cept in the case of the Indian nations
of the United tates?
Some of the tribes of the country
: have in the past appealed to Congress
+ and have been granted the right t
+ have their differences heard and adjus
. 3D. We believe that all of our people
sould now have the right in common
with all other people to 60 into tn
. courts the United States and ask TO
an adjustment Of their differences.
If congress should have the slight
n est doubt regarding the necessity 70
this action there are hundreds Of In
,, dams who stand ready to appear be
II fore any committee that may be sc
o lected by you and to give reasons VIII
n the Indian tribes Of the United State
Il should have the right to have their ID
l. ferences heard and adjusted. Many c
e our people are old and will not liv
much longer. They have rights whic