Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-02-11

vision as now, we could send our
own out and get money in return.
CANADIAN DISTRICT.
February 3, 1886.
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AS NATIVE BORN OHEROKEBS.
CoFrErvILtE, KANSAS, February $, lss6
EDITOR CHIEFTAIN:-Those SEN
ators and councillors who favored
and voted to have the percapita
money distributed equally among
the citizens OF the Cherokee nation
deserve the praise of the Cherokee
people. If they voted against the
Dolawarcs, Shawnees and freed
men participating in our funds they
would vote contrary to q treaty
provision and against the compacts
existing between those tribes and
the Cher1koe nation. The treaty
Of 1866 guarantees to all freedmen
who came within six months after
its ratification "all the rights as
native born Cherokees. !" If the
Cherokee made a bad bargain with
the United States government
(Which he did why, as a matter
of policy, iffor nothing else, should
he not adhere all the closer to the
treaty? II the Cherokee nation
violates the treaty it releases ali
obligation on part Of the other gov
ernment 20 keep il. Besides, it
establishes precedent whereby
if the other government feels dis
posed to take advantage, it can
do SO with impunity. Furthermore,
railroad kings and land monopo-
lists win not be slow to take adj
vantage of "Poor Los" mistake.
The Cherokee nation is to-day be-
ing injured more by unwise legis-
lation than any other influence
brought TO bear against it. We
say when a few of our senator's and
councillors have the wisdom and
forethought TO see the consequences
of unwise legislation and act ac-
cordingly, they justly deserve the
eulogies Of the Cherokee people.
The treaty guaranteeing to the
freedmen such rights and privi-
leges includes every right Chero-
kee has and enjoys, whether it be
money accrued from lands east or
west Of $50. Because the Chero-
kee nation made q bad bargain
should she Intentionally violate it
for the sake of few dollars? Un-
der existing circumstances she can
not afford to do it. Twenty years
ago, when the treaty was made,
we were under far different and
more favorable circumstances than
we are now. The states bordering
on the Indian Territory were then
thinly settled and the civilization
of the white man did not demand
the red mans land. To-day the
advancing tide Of civilization and
immigration are demanding our
lands and sooner or later we will
have to submit to the inevitable.
Every error and unwise act Of the
Cherokee government are carefully
noted by our enemies. Further
more the Cherokee nation cannot
consistently afford to violate the
obligations imposed upon her by
treaty and the articles Of agree
ment between her and the Della
wares and Shawnees. The con-
cluding paragraph in the agree
ment with the Deiawares Is as fo.-
lows: "On the fulfllment by the
Delawares Of the foregoing stipu-
lations all the members Of the tribe
registered as provided shall become
members Of the Cherokee nation,
with the same rights and immuni-
ties and the same participation in
the national funds as native Cher
okees, save aa herein provided,
and the children hereafter born Of
such Dolawares so incorporated
into the Cherokee nation, shall in
all respects be regarded as native
Cherokees." The same is also
said in the closing paragraph in
the agreement with the Shawnees:
"And that the said Shawnees shall
be incorporated into and ever after
remain part Of the Cherokee ma
tion, on equal terms in every re-
spect and with all the privileges
and immunities Of native citizens
of said Cherokee nation" 1t is
plainly TO be seen that those legis-
lators who voted to have the money
that accrued from the lands west
OF 500 paid TO all citizens Of the
Cherokee nation alike, did so not
only because it was their duty to