Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-01-12

states, but on the contrary tney
still consider him citizen Of the
United States and tried him. in
case he committed a crime, by
court of the United States. We
have not time nor space to enter
into the technicalities Of this ar
gument. The Cherokee law pre-
sents no barrier against white men
who are lawful citizens becoming
officers and as Mr.. l.. b. Bell in
his reply to Mr.. Benge on the
same day said, il the citizens Of
district see 6t to elect n white man
to represent them, there is no rea-
son.why he should not do so. As Mr.
Lindsey is the fret white man who
has ever held seat in the senate,
it is no wonder that the fullblood
element think they are losing hold
on the reins of the government,
but if this be a fault-and il is n
question whether or not il is fault
1T is no fault Of Mr.. Lindsey's,
but rather Of the people who nom
mated and elected him. Mr.. l..
b. Bell in the course of his re-
marks said thst nine.tenths of
everything good, elevating and civ
ilizing in the Cherokee nation, was
due to white mans endeavors, not
meaning, Of course, those purely
white and they alone, but all those
that were part white as well. Evil
IDENTIFY the leaders of not only the
senate but of the house as we'll, to-
gether with the heads of the diff
ferent departments of the govern
ment, are men, who, while having
Cherokee blood in their veins, are
still predomin ately of the CGucas-
ian race. This may be looked up
on by many as a usurption of the
rights and privileges of the red
man by the white and in one sense
it doubtless is, but as the Indians
themselves were the trainers of the
laws enabling white men, up on
certain conditions to stand on
equal footing with them and as the
history of the five civilized tribes
clearly shows that white men have
been beneiactors rather than usur-
pers, we see no reason why at this
stage an objection to white mans
voice in the council should
be raised.
On the same day that the above
mentioned speeches were made,
"Soggy" Sanders, representing Sa-
line district in the senate, made
some very appropriate remarks.
He seemed to be not a little dis
gusted with the progress council
had made since its first sitting.
He said his friends would come in
from a distance and ask him how
they were getring along and he
could only say they had done moth
ing. He for one was in favor of
admitting those who held certifi-
Gates of election, TO seats and tn us
put an end to this wrangling bus
mess. Mr.. Sanders views meet
with the hearty approval of nearly
all. The people of the Cherokee
nation are going to get tired of pay
ing out over $500 per day when
nothing is being accomplished. If
we mistake not large number are
already tired and anxiously await
a termination of the contest affairs
at least.
At this writing it is hard to pre-
dict with any certainty what the
next few days will develop. The
lower House has not had a quorum
for nearly three days and if ru mors
be true they will not be able to Sc
cure a quorum until the National
party comedies to them a little bet
ter footing. To-day Thursday
an attempt or two was made TO Sc
cure a quorum. The House met
and lacking one of having a quor-
um they swore in Mr.. Bluejacket,
from Delaware, but-mirdbIe dictu
-as soon as Bluejacket was duly
qualified as a representatives.
soon as he had been legally de- |
clared a member of that august
body, gathering up his hat he sill
emily strobe from the representa-
tive halls TO join his brethren on
the outer side, leaving the house
in its customary inanimate state.
The speaker Of the house also tried
10 have the members brought in by
sen ding the sheriff after them, but
alas, the laws Of the Cherokee-nh-
ion do not provide for the forcible
attendance Of members and this
plan also failed.
What iS TO be the final result,
10 one can tell. Let us hope that
wisdom will prevail over Ignorance.