Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-04-24

Indiaa Lands In Sever2ltJ.
The Senate of the United States
! has passed an act looking to the
ellotment Of their lands in several
Is, in limited quantities. TO Indi-
ans, whenever, in the opinion of
The President, it may be deemed
expedient. The land allotted is to
lie inslienable for 8 period of %
ears, and the residue is to be sold
Tor the bene1t of the Indians. This
will lead TO the adoption of The In
/ dians as citizens Of the United
J States, and the breaking up of the
. tribal organizations. If there we're
any reasonable ground for hoping
that szch policy viii be executed
n good faith, and not lead to their
robbery IN detail, instead of IN the
aggregate, there might be but little
cause 70 apprehend evil for small
tribes who are now under the
thumbs Of C. S. agents. But We
are free to say that we have grave
! doubts Of the results Of the policy,
and are opposed to it because the
sale Of unallOtted parcels viii lead
sssks-. .oxerrunning of the Indian
Territory, as Il is doubtless intend
Cd shall be done by the advocates
Of tia bill.
The FIVE civilized tribes are ex-
! tempted from the provisions of the
bill, but they need not expect to
1 escape its influences Indeed, the
condition Of things among the
/ cher0kees in regard to their lands
j. such as tocall for the serious con-
sideratiOn and prompt action Of our
National Council We are no ad-
vocate for allotment. We have al
Ways opposed it, We are opposed
to Il now, and VII continue 10
oppose ii until We may be driven
TO s different course by force Of cir
cumstances. And this we say, net
simply because we cling to the pO-
liticai rights Of our people, and to
The perpetuation of their communal
existence, which would be crushed
kbr the new policy, but because we
believe that every creature born on
earth is entitled to a home, as well
as to air and water, and because we
look with disfavor on the legal sys-
fem Of tenure which makes Faga-
bonds of the multitude and mon
archs Of a few land monopolists-
And II is this sentiment that
prompts Us to express the opinion
that sound policy and common Jus
lice demand further legislation On
the subject of our public domain
by the National Council. The
greedy. grasping spirit Of the day |
is extending to our lands, as it does
10 grass, timber, coal, petroleum,
lead, stone, and everything else
'-rhich Is supposed to possess pos
slide pecuniary value And the re- |
suit is that our laws on the subjects |
& rents and leases are almost open
Iy defed, that fraud and corruption
are resorted to in order to get
foothold in the country; that large |
tracts of land are appropriated to
individual use, and leases executed
20 unauthorized persons under our
permit laws. and one pretext and
smother, to increase the number
and extent of claims And all this
under the expectation and intent Of
converting il sooner or later to in
GfvidUal ownership. But these "a
pacious creatures should remember
that the ownership of these lknds
+ in the entire people of the Cher
skee Nation that the hurnblest
Indian has an interest in them equal
10 the highest, and that that inter-
est viii be asserted and protected
sooner OF later The sooner the
better.