The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-05
COAST INDIANS
82-YEAR LAND
CLAIM Needed
California Tribes Bring Suit
Based on Ignored 1852
Treaty.
By PAUL c. EDWARDS
Tines Special Writer

III AELA4Is Dub LAltg nave Nd4tcu d.
most a century, in vain, for him to
make good.
Now a glimmer Of hope comes to
them. From the far-off home OF
the White Father they have re-
ceived word that the time is near
at hand when he will hear their
claims.
The word was brought back by
Attorney-General Webb upon his
recent return from Washington.
Work OF compiling records viii be
completed not later than May of
this year, was told. after which the
case may be heard by the United
States court Of claims at an early
date.
Robbed Of Birthright
For that day the Indians have
been waiting since the summer of
1888, the year they we're robbed of
their birthright.
In that year they were living
peacefully upon their tribal lands,
title to which had been vested in
them by the treaty Of Guadalupe
HidalgO They had seen the white
man coming in greater and greater
numbers to their country since
gold had been discovered in l349.
For the most part they did not re-
sist his coming. Nor did they real
re with what cOvetousness he
looked upon their lands.
But back in Washington much
was being heard about their wide
spread domain. The white man
wanted it.
So insistent became this demand
that the government finally de-
cided to negotiate with the In
dams. Three messengers from the
White Father rode through the
length and breadth of California.
accompanied by a military escort.
They visited every tribe. told them
Of the Great Chiefs wishes, prom
ised them handsome reward for
turning their lands over to him.
Agreements Reached
With childlike faith the Indians
agreed. and eighteen separate treat
les we're signed by them, cOmpris-
ing all the tribes, numbering over
200 600 men, women and children.
BY these treaties the Indians
agreed:
1. To cede their title in California
lands. consisting of more than
1O3OOO.OOO acres. to the United
States government.
2. To keep the peace.
3. To accept the sovereignty o. the
United States.
On the other hand the govern
ment agreed:
/. To reserve forever for the sole
use of the Indians eighteen different
reservations, aggregating about g.
500 900 acres.
?. To compensate them for the
title to the remainder of their lands.
about $4,000 900 acres. by providing
them education. medical care and
sundry property, such as cattle,
farm implements. clothing and food.
3. To protect them and their pos
sessions from white invaders.
Uncle Sam took their lands, but
to this day he has failed TO keep his
part Of the bargainl That inSatiate
greed for gold dulled the conscience
Of official Washington.
Treaties Never Ratified
Back to Washington went the fed
eraI emisSaries with the eighteen
treaties and they were duly filed
with the United States senate by
President Willard Fillmore. Senate
approval was necessary for their
ratification. They we're never ratl-
ged
What happened TO them is not
clear. They dropped from sight.
Nothing more was heard of them
for fifty-four years.
With utter trust in their white
brothers the Indians waited for their
remuneration. It never came. In
stead they were pushed of their
land as white hordes thronged into
the state. Back and back and back
into the sparse mountains they were
forced as the fertile valleys were
settled.
The settlers were by no means the
worst offenders in this deSplcable
business. The United States gov
eminent itself appropriated 10000
900 acres of Indian lands as public
domain, in direct violation Of a
statute of 1884 requiring full COM
penSation to be paid for any lands
so taken. The process went on.
Poorer and poorer became poor 10.
Fewer and fewer became his num-
berS.
Lot Miserable Now
Today we see the result. The
California Indians are as miserable
q lot OF native North Americans as
can be found upon the continent.
True, with exception Of one or two
tribes, they were never the highest
type of their race. But their very
inherent weakness made the crime
committed against them all the
more reprehensible.
Not until 1906. more than half a
century after they were signed, did
those eighteen treaties come to
light again. They were found in
the archives of the senate under
an injunction Of secrecy. Some Of
ficials or official of that earlier day
had hidden them away, apparently
in a deliberate plot to defraud the
Indians. The Great White Father
had proved false to his promise.
Even then it might not have been
too late TO correct the wrong, to
ratify the treaties and pay the re-
wards they promised. The Indians
waited in hope. But nothing hap
pened. Then they began to realize
they would have to fight if they
we're 10 gain their long-withheld
rights. White friends came to their
aid and told them they must sue
the government.