Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-07-27


Russell Creek, /, r., July 20
Eos. CuIEFrAINi- Away up her
on The ragged edge ofproblcma
tic civilization, whore business an'
social relations Of the people strad
die, without ripping anything, th'
line that separates Kansas from
the Cherokee nation. we some
times, after a fashion Of our own
pass an occasional hour in taking
"a birds eye view" Of matters
over the country. This is a gooC
point from which to enjoy such Z
prospect. Pleasantly initiating
against said line, that part of oul
anatomy from which the prehen
sile opperdage of your ancestors
has disappeared, according to q
seemingly well founded theory, il
is really enjoyable to take a mental
view towards the south, east and
west, and try to realize, from the
present prosperous condition Of af-
fairs, what the future promises the
people of our nation, should pri-
vate and public interests move
along ar they have for the past few
years.
That our nation and people are
now more prosperous than they
ever were before no one, perhaps,
will venture to deny. A general
or a more widely dillused prosper
ity than ever before is mcat. The
history Of the Cherokee people
furnishes many instances of con-
siderable personal wealth in pro.
perty, but never before was there
such a large and general circula-
ton of money among them as has
been for the last few years, arising
from the common industries and
pursuits Of the country. There
have been large per capita pay
ments, and the country flooded as
it were, with money, but in the or
der of Jonah's gourd, and as a
wreath Of mist in the morning, "
it soon disappeared, leaving moth
ing in its place except a deeper
felt destitution among the people,
and wants unsupplied its pressure
had created. Such supply may
be considered prosperity, but ex-
periencc has abundantly proven
Ihat a contrary condition is the re-
suit. A clear receipt against all
obligations and an expense confn-
I'd within the income is prosper
ty in the highest sense when ap-
olied to government, such is the
present condition Of our nation.
Looking over the Nation from this
stand point, we can but congratu-
ate ourselves that we as people
ire in such prosperous circum-
This is undoubtedly due
o a wise and able management Of
public matters. Under a badly
managed state of public affairs
here can possibly be no general
prosperity. A few having the
means take advantage of the low
condition of the Nations credit by
king the value Of its obligations
0 the misfortune Of those by whom
eryice is rendered-the guard, the
uror and the witness. Thus the
Nations inability to make good its
.ontract, rendered so by a loose
md careless administration, or
worse an ignorant one, reaches
lown to the poorest and most
ieedy citizen, and its promises to
,ay are deliberate falsehoods. Al
wise and prudent administration
# public matters, in the economi- 1
al expenditure of funds; in the
igid enforcement Of accountability |
Il holding places Of trust or pro- /
it; in opening up sources Of public /
evenue; in the encouragement Of |
industry and enterprise among the 1
'eople, by the enactment of liberal /
ut protective laws, is what we
rant, and what the prosperous I
ondiiion Of our Nation demands. I
Only few years ago we had a
ational debt Of nearly $4,000, I
ihich was gradually increasing, /
nd as gradually decreasing our
ublic credit Tickets were re-
uced in value, in many places. to
lieen cents on the dollar, and to
general average OF twenty-five
suts. This, no doubt. was due to
ad management Of public affairs, /
r toa want Of knowledge how they
houid he managed. IN taking a
luini over the country an entirely
iHerert aspect Of matters is plain 7
perceptible. Public creiitisre- /
.ored: people are prosperous IN /
usiTy and enterprise are reward /
q, and general cgnientment per
ldes the country.
With ihe iofnef order n 1nes
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