Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-05-23

KEGS will perhaps ever have to Sc
cure the advantages that arc posi-
bic in the sale of their lands out
west. The market price Of the
lands is a mere secondary consid.
Grafton and should be regarded as
such, in negotiating with the COM
mission n cession of the lands.
The establishment OF our govern
ment on n frmer basis, the re-
moval of all hinJrances to q perfect
and complete enjoyment of all our
rights as a nation and n people, and
as secured TO us by fair and hon
est Interpretation of the treaties
between the United States and the
Cherokee nation, and renewed
guarantees Of safety in our posses
sions, are all possible in negotiating
sale of the outlet. The relin-
quishment of the right Of the
United States TO settle civilized In
dians east Of tho 96th meridian;
the payment of all dues to the
Cherokees by the government OF
the United States; the right to sue
in any Of the courts of the United
States for such dues, ifrefused TO
be paid, and for redress ofgrievance
by reason Of trespass upon Cher
okee lands or any Of their reserved
rights; the immediate and uncon-
ditional removal from the country
Of all persons declared to be in.
truders by the proper authorities
of the nation, so that the. Cherokee
people may be left in the complete
and undiminished enjoyment of
all their rights-theso and all
others Of equal or inferior impor-
tance should be entered as consid-
erstions for the surrender of our
strip lands to the United States.
If such terms cannot DC secured,
then il would be better not TO en-
terrain any proposition TO buy the
lands, and let the government Of
the United States rob us of them, as
1t is certainly able, and sufficiently
qualified, perhaps, to do so. No
sensible person, well up with the
history Of events between the
United States and the Cherokccs,
and Of the present times, can risk
his judgment for moment in ex-
pressing a belief inat our condition
as a nation or as people, viii be
any better or safer or more satis-
factory for any considerable time
after the cession of the lands, un-
less the terms named are secured.
1t is better to die martyrs for our
rights than to accept that which is
arbitrarily offered or that which
may be a fair consideration, with
out more satisfactory pledges of
safety and protection than we
have already.
To set the market value for our
lands, as we would for q beef
steer, concluding the transaction
with "here's yours and here's
mine," should not therefore be the
entire purpose. That is not all
the value there is in our lands.
IL may be their intrinsic worth,
but there is something in them far |
more valuable than dollars and I
cents. II is national security, |
peace and prosperity for all time
10 eome-protection to our rights
and our country from intrusion,
now more needful than ever before
in the history of the Cherokee
people. No propositions to buy
our lands should be entertained,
unless these considerations are a
part of the bargain.
TO do otherwise would be a fig
lrative resemblance TO the occu-
pants Of a sled flying at appalling
,psed over Russian SHOWS, through
llimitable forests, pursued by a
pack Of ravenous wolves, which to
ielay in their close pursuit, VIC
i'm to their hunger is thrown out,
which only increases their thirst
or blood and renews 4 more de-
ermined chase, to end with q
monogram Of a terrible struggle for
ife.