Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-10-10

SHADOWS are cast ONcr naii VI
continent the stars come forth.
SO it is with the lives Of great and
good mon when obscured in dark
ness. Then their stars, great and
small, come forth and shine more
gloriously.
II was in 1876 whom the Chero-
KEGS first heard Of Mr.. Cox. We
happened to be n member OF the
Cherokee delegation at that time.
There was bill before the house
Of representatives to transfer the
Indian bureau from tho interior
to the war department. The dele
gates Of several tribes then in
Washington opposed the measure.
Many of the Christian denomina-
tions, notibly the Quakers, and So
cieties for the protection Of Indian
rights and for their Advancement,
likewise opposed the measure.
The transfer suggested war and in
timidation rather than peace and
reconciliation, and hindrance
rather than encouragement in the
arts of civilization. 1 ,
There were many strong advocates
of the measure, in and out of con-
gress. Among the many was Gen
eral Sherman, who was then at the
head of the army.NTo make things
worse and all opposition hopeless
came the dreadful news that Gus
ter and his entile force sent out 20
chastise the Sioux on The Little
Horn had been massacred by Sit
ting Bull and his warriors. The
brave and gallant Custer, humiliat-
ed, reduced in rank, stung to des-
piration by having been denied
an interview with President Grant
to plead his cause, mad gone back
to his command TO win new lau-
rels or die. Resentment and in
dignation ran high. The change
seemed inevitable, but there was
no abatement Of effort on part of
those who at the beginning were
opposed to the measure. Resent
ment against Sitting Bull and his
merciless braves found abatement
with some in the commiseTation
for gallant Custer, made desperate
by his humiliation, and perhaps,
goadod beyond the limits of pru-
dence.
Something must be done and
quickly. a general protest signed
by the delegates of the Cherokee,
Creek and other tribes was dis
tributed in both houses of congress
and left OF the residences of the
members. Not satisfied with this
and wishing that our cause might
have a more direct hearing, we
concluded to call on some member
of the house, who for his own rea-
sons opposed the measured to make
a speech against it. We we're
somewhat acquainted with the
genial, and alable Cox. He was
our man. To him, therefore, we
addressed a short communication,
asking him to speak against the
bill, if his convictions would per-
init. To our great delight he gave
us his promise that he would and
at no distant day. Eager and ex-
pectant we were among the hun
dreds who thronged the galleries.
There was, ,as ifby prearrangement,
q pause and Mr.. Cox rose in his
place to his feet. Having called
the attention and received the rec
ognition Of the speaker, he began
his oration by a quotation from
Hiawatha.-
"should you ask me whence these storisti
Whence these legenda.and traditions,
with odors Of the forest,
With the dew and damp OF meadows.
With the curling smoke Of wigwams,
With this rushing Of great rivers,
With their frequen, repetGions.
And their Wild reverberations.
As ofthunder among the mountAins9
shouid answer. should tell you.
From the forest aud the prairles,
Where In the empty spaces
sinks the sun, as hAminEo
Drops In her nest at nightfall.
in the melancholy marshes"
Then gliding off on even flight
and gathering inspiration and like
ness Of imagery from his quotation
he burst forth in such a rhetorica
displa y that many Of the members
to hear him more distinctly, gath
cred about kim. Gracefully de
scending into the merits of tn,
bill, in pathetic language he re
hearsed the wrongs heaped upor
the Indian. pictured his helples
and friendless condition, spoke OF
his future possibilities, if he wer
borne with and treated according
TO the dictates of Christian hu
manity. The measure, he said
intimated war and extinction Of tn
race, and by the Indians would b
accepted as such. 1t would aggri
yate and not conciliate relation