Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-10-18
THAT $4,000 APPROPRIA.
TON.


TON.
Just as the sins of the fathers
arc visited upon their children to
the third and fourth generations,
so it seems that the iniquity o.
that $500, 900 appropriation by con.
gress, of which the "coons" were
denied per capita share, is driv.
ing its chickens home to roost.
Without questioning the right of
congress to appropriate moneys of
the Cherokee nation for any pur.
pose, which it has not, if our
right Of self-government is not to
be interfered with upon almost
any excuse, it is evident that the
question Of citizenship must be de-
termined as to.hundreds of colored
people who claim Cherokee rights
under the treaty, before a distri-
button can take place. 1t would
be an act OF criminal injustice on
part Of the government of tue
United States to pay out this mon
ey to all colored residents of the
country who claim native Chero-
kee rights, without first determin-
ing the status Of those who are
not acknowledged citizens.
The question of citizenship, ta-
ken in all its bearings, is by far
more important and burdened
with greater interests to the Cher
okee people than the lease or 9TH
er disposition of our grazing lands.
As far rs those who claim citizen
ship by the right of Cherokee de-
scent are concerned, a final and
complete determination of the
question seems to be near at hand,
the authority to do so being in the
Cherokee nation, but as far as the
colored people who claim native
Cherokee rights under the treaty
are interested, the question has
been one Of indefinite determine
ton, because the nation has been
denied the right by tho govern
ment OF the United States to med
die with it. The government
seems TO never have been in any
hurry to take up the issue, but
has let it rock along until it has
become so complicated that it
will take no little time and careful
investigation to determine who are
justly entitled to participate in the
s75, 900 appropriation. How long
colored claimants to Cherokee citi.
zenship are to remain as mere res
idents of the country, without de-
fined rights, there seems to be no
chance for determination except in
case of some event which would
require such action as would set
tie the question of their claims to
citizenship. Not only as far as citi-
zen rights are concerned such an
event is calculated to settle, but
rights to lands and moneys also.
No nation can exist in peace with
the status Of any class Of its men,
bers undetermined, whether little
or much importance may be at
tached to any inequality Of rights,
but should be clearly understood
and established in law. This act
of congress, unjust and arbitrary
as it may seem, must necessarily
bring about such action on part
OF the government as will deter
mine finally and forever all diff
ferences of right among the citi-
zens of the Cherokee nation. tits
better that ii be so, rather than to
exist in the midst of disputed
rights and a continual wrangle
about them.
In many respects the beneficial
results arising from a settlement
of these difference, will be felt.
Our political atmosphere will be-
come clearer, election frauds less
possible and the management Of
our affairs easier, when the polit-
ical and material rights Of all are
clearly defined. This is what the
act Of congress. in making an APP
preparation Of $4,000 of the ma
lIon'e money to equalize the per
rapil& payment of 1883, is calcu-
IAiod lo 20 and must necessarily
bring abpt b order that those on
ptitled may participate in the