Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-06-25
our wnarnRN LANpe.


TO be tho top question of the day.
Much has been written and said
about It, but from neither source
any clearer understanding is
gained why some favor and some
oppose such measure. One writ
era rara dvis-belioving in his
own and the potency Of his do
scendants, and deeply concerned
about them TO the third and fourth
generations for fear they will not
be able TO take care Of themselves
despite the example Of their illus
trious progenitors, says, 1--WE need
these lands for our children"
The encumbrances placed upon
them by the treaty, their peculiar
insulation, and how in their pres
ent condition they are 10 be pre-
served indefinitely for such q
purpose, are questions he reaches
not out after. A proposition Of
of the kind should be supported
by a suggestion Of some way or
means to secure the purpose. An
other seems 10 think that IL sold
and settled by citizens Of the
United States the whole Indian
Territory would be required, and
finally supplemented, 10 constitute
country of sufficient Dimensions
for a territory or state and an or
ganiEed government for the settlers.
Both are doubtless correct IL the
first can hurry matters and the
other by argument can demonstrate
his position. Concern should not
be altogether about the five civil
lied tribes, as all the country west
Of them is occupied by other tribes
less civilized and by far less fitted
to become citizens of the United
States. Such being their condition
and many years required to bring
them up 10 a level with US the
theory is somewhat doubtful, mas
much as they would necessarily be
included. A state or q territory
divided into sections and each
section governed by a code Of local
laws in conformity with the ad-
vancement Of the occupants in
civilization or no civilization, 9TH
erwise. the chances would not be
equal which is the object TO be se-
cured 10 all citizens by any good
government, would be an unpre-
cedented anomaly in statecraft.
Those who favor such q measure
are doubtless controlled by selfish
motives and are solid in the belief
that each generation can and should
in the economy and eternal fitness
of things take care of itself. They
go perhaps further than this-that
every person should lookout for
himself and the devil catch the
hindermost. They may entertain
motives much better than this
but for the faith that's in them
they give no reason; or they may
be apostl es of the inevitable or Of
present good; or they think the
troubles about the lands for several
years past, the laws Of congres in
relation TO them, and their stipu-
lated disposal, preclude any other
reasonable measure.
To retain these lands as the
property or as a part Of the Cher
okee nation would require a change
in the political status Of several
tribes. In their present condition
they are but little better than an
arm or a leg amputated from the
body. The Osage5 intervene and
cut US off from all west of the
Arkansas river. Then come those
other little tribes widening the dis
tance OF separation. Unless VIC
assume a miniature likeness TO
England in her Canadian posses
sions-establish our own currency
and run our own postal arrange
ments, support q navy and q
standing army-we will hardly be
able TO hold the lands "for our
children" and maintain a colonial
government. The causes of this
separation should be removed and
the Cherokee nation TO what it was
once, from its eastern boundary on
the states of Missouri and Arkan-
sas 10 the Tooth meridian, be
restored. The Osages and other
tribes occupying lands between the
the two extremes and dividing our
country into two parcels, must be
incorporated into and become a
part of the Cherokee people, live
under the same government and
have all the rights Of native Cher
okees. This plan is not an impOs-
sible one and adjustments can
be made to suit the several con-
ditions of the tribes to be incorpor-
ated in relation to lands and
;nvaatad uoonava