Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-05-01

~ .--~ -14-oa-1 ASpoA u TIC Oe-
partment Of the Interior for the
settlement of contested rights to
citizenship in the Choctaw Nation.
But while these papers are confined
20 that particular nation, the sub
ject matter IS Of general interest
and importance to TIE Chickasaws.
Creeks and Cherokees. Their pc
cuniary, landed and governmental
interests are similar, though not
identical, and may be affected by
like action towards them IN detail.
The first inquiry that suggests it.
self IN regard TO the action of the
department in taking into its own
hand, the final settlement of the
status of 8 contested claimant to
citizenship IN the Choctaw Nation.
Is the authority under which it is
done, whether under usage or stat
ute of the United States? And
again, who are ChoctaKs under the
laws Of the United States and their
treaties with the Choctaw Nation {?
There has been no one question,
perhaps, since the war, that so
plainly displays an evasion of duty
and the evil effects of do-nothing
policy in creating and multiplying
complications with people in the
Indian Territory, and in imposing
upon their rights Of property and
protection, as this very question of
Indian citizenship. And this re-
mark is pertinent. whether applied
70 white, red OF black but not TO
the same extent to the officials of
the Department now in Washing
ton or in the Territory, as TO some
of their predecessors. If the pur-
pose had been TO rake the land to
find claimants to citizenship In the
Territory, and encourage fraudu-
lent practices IN some cases IN con-
nection with them, no more ingeni- |
Gus and successful scheme could |
have been devised than that adopt |
cd Long as the Councils Of these
Nations, or their courts, or their
commissioners recognized a claim,
doubtless IN some cases corruptlv |
gotten up, it was all right, and the /
department had nothing to say.
But reject them, then II comes in
an& tells the applicants if they viii |
make out prima facie case they /
shall not be removed from the |
Territory or interrupted until the
ease is disposed of there.
And thus claimants become quar-
tered upon the Indians, not amen
able in some cases 10 their laws,
because they are not recognized as
members Of the Nation, and not
amenable in some cases 10 L. 6.
Law because they claim TO be In
dams
Before the var the recognized
value Of an .sInjun" was below
that Of the niger, because 1t was
''agin mis- nafur" either to toll or
to obey. These two facts elevated
bis character, but did not give
equality before the law with ihe
whites. The sentiment thus en-
gendered extended TO a consider
able degree TO the ignorant and TO
the PresumptuOus classes Of soci-
etv, and a trace Of Indian blood
was often concealed or denied. It
Poss essed no pecuniary value But
a change has taken place. The
war wiped out these distinctions
before the law, and 10 a great ex-
tent many cherished prejudices-
The population of the country has
and expanded, and Won
derful changes have been produced
Indian grass, Indian lands, Indian
timber. Indian exemption from
taxes. Indian free schools and In
dian money are wonderfully invit-
ing They are not TO be despised.
They pOss5ss solid value They
are worth looking after and worth
srasping by fair means if practica- :
bic, but, If not, by any or all means. :
Indian blood is a positive quality,
] valuable factor. Hence the crop G
IF Indians and persons claiming to c
be Indians, and those asserting In !
ilian rights is very remarkable. !
The great Yankee Nation alone c
.urpasses this little community in d
It's universally
II the claimants make out good
,ase, all right. If not not, fortified Z
~ er parfe affidavits of the Oldest t
Of a remote antiquity 7
md remote section, and put in {
'hape BY lawyers engaged in eiti-
:enship brokerage, it is not a diff t
-ult matter 10 make prima taeie r
.ase, and that is seemingly the end q
# il, as heretofore stated. ;
II mcllows by ago, improvements h
ire made, these persons become Il
ixiures, and government officials n
practically. if not designedly, aid
mi al,et in these violations Of law. !
III such questions ought to be set ii