Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-07-25
LETTER FROM MR.. ADAIR.

EDITOR CHIEFTAIY:.-If you will
allow me a little space in your val
liable paper, l will say a few
words that perhaps may help
along the good cause. 1t has been
my intention all along to partici-
pate in the speaking, should an OPP
portunity present itself. l was
asked to speak at Viuita during
the celebration, but as there had
been no political speeches made l
thought one from myselfwould be
entirely out Of place, so declined.
l didn't ge. to attend the Goose
neck barbecue on account of sick
ness in my family. So l consol-
ed myself with the hope that l
should be given chance at Chel-
sea, but was disappointed, as the
time was consumed by the candi-
dates and others. Hence my only
chance to be heard seems to be to
fall back on the mercies of The
CHIEFTAIN. The speaking at
Chelsea on the 18th inst, was good
on the Downing side, as far as
facts are concerned, but it seemed
to me that a lack Of earnestness
and aggression was manifest. The
Nationals didn't make q point.
Mr.. Ne sc Foreman deprecated the
idea of the Hon. Judge Wyly,
leaving his own district to speak,
just as if it was not our duty and
privilege to get all the light we
could and from every source. He
(FOreman) didn't refute a single
point or allegation made by Mr..
Wyly, at that the same time pro-
testing voci'erously that he was
willing and anxious to meet his
opponents on any grounds they
might designate. The grand pre-
vailing idea of the Independents
was to get back to the good old
lines-paint and feathers, and
Luckskin leggins-and they de-
clared that all the misfortunes the
country had undergone, were due
to too much smartness and too
much education.
The. Nationals surely sympa-
thize with them III this respect, as
their nominations for council will
attest. Neither party, except the
Downing, committed itself on any
of the vital questions that are be.
fore the people-those Of the sell
ing Of our western lands and the
responsibility for the lease. am
creditably informed that we can
get for the next five years, after
our present lease expires 100000
per annum, and s72O, 600 per an.
mum for the next five years after
that. What a difference between
this and s125, 600, the sum for
which the Nationals worked 60
hard. Can you conceive Of a set
of men so blind to all principle
and patriotic feeling as TO contend
for s125, 600 when they knew that
they could get s20O,0O02 Yos, l
am emphatically opposed to sell.
ing our western lands, and when
| say this am speaking the senti-
ments of the Downing party. The
amounts. that we can lease for
beats selling bad; besides I'm sat
isiied that the government will
show no disrespcct 10 the title to
our lands, as is shown by the ne
gotiations with the Sioux tribe of
Indians in Dakota.
Now, a few words more and /
am done. Do you remember that
old dialogue in the fourth reader,
where an old gentleman who had
seven sons, aud thinking that he
had not long 10 stay with them,
wished to teach them the value of
sticking together? He took seven
sticks and bound them together
closely, and then calling them ali
in, desired that they should break
them. Well, you know the result.
The Downing party in this dis
trict is very like that bundle of
sticks and il only We will be con-
tent to not unite the bundle, as the
Nationals have done, we're safe.
Now / say, stay with your nomi-
nees, one and all; for | believe
that there is no one more entitled
todo a little kicking than |, as you
all know. Very Respectfully,
II X AnAIR