Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-07-16

y
with the Creeks and Scminoles are
successful nothing can prevent the
populating of the Indian Territory
with white mon in the near future.
But what will be the consequence
il they refuse to negotiate? There
is danger in that, too. The popu-
lar branch of congress has
signified desire TO open these
Oklahoma lands to white settle
ment by n vote Of 240 20 Z, while
the senate was practically unani-
nous in favor of the same thing.
These lands will never again pass
into the possession or occupancy
of the Creeks and Seminoles.
There is only one possible way in
which this could be done, and that
possible way we all know will
never be accomplished. That way
would be for the Creeks and Semi
noles TO pay the United States the
money with interest which the
United States paid them in 1866.
The Greeks and Seminoles have
not the money which they can use
for that purpose, and the United
States would not receive it if they
had. Looking at the matter in
common-sense light it seems that
If the Creeks and Seminoles nego-
tiate it viii result in overrunning
the whole territory in n very few
years with white settlers; and if
they refuse to negotiate the ire
pressible conflict between the
boomers and cattlemen and army
will go on, to end at last in the
triumph of the boomers and the
settlement of the lands without
the Indians having any voice in
their valuation. If the Creeks
and Seminoles refuse TO negotiate
they will in effect say-"Wo pre-
fer that these Oklahoma lands
shall remain in their present con-
dition." That would all be very
well if such q thing were possible
but | for one do not believe it is
possible, and hence l think their
best interest requires them to get
as much money as they can for
them and prepare in common with
the other nations for the radical
changes which will inevitably
result.
TIE STRIP.
/ am opposed TO selling an acre
of the Cherokee strip and believe
its leasing was n violation of the
constitutional rights of the Chero-
KEGS as well as a gross violation of
the laws of the United States. 1t
may not be possible to undo the
leasing at this time but we can pre-
vent any similar leasing OF the
lands after the expiration of the
present lease. The Cherokees
have received 1891, 900 on the
strip or the unoccupicd lands west
Of the Arkansas river. This every
honest, intelligent man in the ma
ton knows was received under
wicked misrepresentation of Phil
lips and Bushyhead. The people
would have spurned this 1884 600
had they at the time imagined
that it was a payment on the un-
occupied lands. With brazen
eflrontery that venal political
prostitute, the Cherokee Advocate,
still tells the Cherokee people that
this 1884 900 was not paid on the
unoccupied lands-in the face of
official declarations of two socreta-
ries of the interior and two Indian
commissioners that this money was
a payment on the unoccupied lands
this vile paper Which has become
the mouthpiece of a Z - per cent.
ring, sticks TO its lie and wallows
in its wicked deceptions. Let the
next council send an honest dele
CATION TO Wash ngton with instruc-
tions TO ascert.i IN from the books
and records whether or not this
1884 600 was a payment on the
unoccupied lands. They will GER
tainly find that it was paid on the
unoccupied lands, and then every
Indian in the nation will under
stand and believe, and Mr.. Bushy-
head and the Phillips delegation
will be asked some questions
which will be hard for them 20
answer.
We have received 1884, 900,
on the unoccupied lands; what
shall We do about it? Advice is
cheap and 1 will charge nothing
for mine. | say, let the council
say TO the United States, ave
were led to believe by Phillips and
our chief and delegation that this
1884 900 was only an additional
amount which you kindly donated
to us on the occupied lands, over
and above their appraised value Of
47.49 cents per acre. We have
learned TO our indignant surprise,
that Phillips Dc Co. basely deceived
us and that we are charged with
this amount as being paid on the
unoccupied lands. We did not
mean TO receive any money upon
these lands, and our delegation
had no authority to dispose Of any
part of them in any way whatever;
hence we tender you the 1884, 600
back, with interest" In this way
and in no other, in my judgment
can the Cherokees relieve them
selves from the embarrassment in
which a dishonest attorney, and
stupid delegation and chief have
placed them, for | have charity
enough to almost believe that
Bushyhead and the delegation
really believed what they said
about it.
"To cnERoKEEs BY BLOOD ONLY. "
The distribution Of the 100000