Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-02-13
THE coUNTRYs SALVATION.
TX" Thinks it's Safety Depends on
Allotment and Individual Title.

est. The question of how W.
shall settle this vexed subject i
somewhat puzzling, complex, diff
cult, delicate and responsible
The time has come when, aside
from all considerations Of humani-
ty, this problem must be solved
The question that no man oughI
to seek to evade Isl How can this
work be accomplished What
shall we do with the common peo-
pie? Where lies the solution Il
this problem Let us grapple
with this question, and like men,
meet the requirements that il inn
poses. Before beginning my ar
gument, we would, MS speedy as
possible. place the subject outside
of the pale Of party politics. The
cause of human advancement is
too sacred to be subject TO the mer-
cenary ends of political patronage; /;
and just so long as the Indian re-
quiros the.gardianship of the Unit
ell States government ne remains
at least under the indirect influ-
ence of political parties. The key
70 the colutitrn OF this. problem
lies, in those questions affecting his
rights in monetary sense, ard TO
the soil. Before we do anything
let US put our money and landed
interest on an unchanging basis
that cannot be altered by the re-
curing mutations Of party poll
tics and every new administration.
We want our legal rights to the
soil that we occupy plainly defined,
making il the duty OF the United
States government to defend the
Indian against all encroachments.
In other words, fence in our rights
with a decent court. The charac-
ter Of the title vested in the Indian
TO his land is, in our opinion, the
most important consideration con
nected with the whole question.
Our title should contain no equiyo-
cal terms. Let the whole country
be divided among our citizens,
leave no place where land shark
could hang a hope. Let the title
be vested in the Indian by an act
Of our council and the same ap-
proved Of by the general govern
ment.
What these conditions in all the
details of law should be, we do
not attempt to say. Instead OF
holding our country in common,
let it be held by individuals-citi-
zens Of the Cherokee nation.
First-We thus get security in
local habitation, which would be
bar to the encroachment Of citi-
zenship courts and intruder popu-
lation. It would put an end to
these expensive delegations, at
torney fees, COW syndieates, etc.
We believe in such legal attach
ments as carry with them the pow
er to accomplish the object for
which they were enacted. We
would not fail to call your atten-
ton to the adopted element Of our
nation. If our lands were section
allied and allotted, these meetings
and petitions that are urged by
class Of men who drift into the
country and get in with men who
claim to be attorneys, men who are
not capable OF writing a legal docu-
ment only by partially copying
form from some book. Othello
would lose his occupation, and an
end to all complaints would be
closed, and "Lo" better off. Our
present system is wholly made
quate TO the protection OF proper
ty. Intrusions commencing with
the colored people and ending
with the white, whom the United
States government does not see its
way clear TO expel, families who
are amendable TO no law and pro-
teeted by none and whose num-
bers are dangerously large and con-
stantly increasing.
Our country is the common pos
session Of the tribe, proves more
and more an especial hindrance
to social progress. Our tribal or
ganization is something that lives
BY permission. Our country has
no legal basis; It can neither sue
nor be sued; it has no power to
force an obligation; if abused. its
only recourse is to the power that
injured it. IN conclusion, when is
an Indian prepared to take lands /
in severalty ? Answer: When he
is civilized. Christianized: when