Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-02-20

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in the way Of civilization, and like
the vineyard in the scriptures, we
had to take it whether the owners
consented or not.
Mr.. president, more than half a
century ago the Cherokee nation
surrendered an empire in Georgia,
Alabama, and Mississippi, where
they were rightfully established,
and were located beyond the Miss
issippi in a region as remote as
Alaska is to-day from New York,
under the solemn pledge and
promise of the United States, with
every sanction that could be at
tached, that they should be pro-
tected and defended in that posses
sion so long as grass should grow
and water run and time should en-
dure.
Not only did they hold that res
ervation by ordinary treaty stipu-
lation, but the United States gov
eminent gave them a parchment
title to it. 1t was written out, so
many acres of land, by such and
such metes and bounds, upon parch-
ment, and there were attached to
it the seal and sign manual
of the executive officers of the
government. tits a title that is as
sacred, guaranty that is as bind
ing as that by which any man in
this body holds the title to his
home or to his homestead. There,
sir, fifteen or twenty thousand peo-
pie have since that time lived in
the pursuit of the arts of peace and
in the enjoyment of the institu-
tons of civilized life. They are
not savages and barbarians; they
have a system oflaws of their own;
they nave a literature oftheir own;
they have an alphabet and a Ian
guage of their own; they publish
newspapers in their own language;
the educate the young of both
sexes in schools and colleges of
the highest grade. Chosen youths
from these institutions are annual
ly sent to receive the benefits of
the highest education in the col.
leges Of New England and the
east.
Mr.. President, when those peo-
pie under tkat guaranty from the
government of the United States
thus occupying that land have
solved the problem of civilization,
with their own laws and jurisdic-
ton, with their own literature,
with their own civil and education
al institutions. are we to be told
that because we are 5000, 900 and
they are Is, 900 or 10000, we have
4 right TO take possession Of their
property because white men want |
it2 l say not. Mr.. President; I /
say not. They have established
some claim to recognition as n de-
pendent civilized nation to whom /
we are under the most solemn OBJ
legations of plighted faith They |
are not dependent upon the gov
ernmcnt of the United States.
They are not blanketed and roam
ing tribes. They have millions of
money in our treasury upon which
we are paying them annually the
interest that belongs to them. We
make no appropriations for their
support They are capable of
seli-government. They pay more
annually per capita ont of their
own resources for the education of
their young of both sexes than is
paid, sir, by the people of yOur state
Mr.. Hale in the chair or of mine.
Yet we are told in this highest
tribunal that represents the con-
science and the convictions Of the
people, that because
there is a clamor for more land
we have a right to say to these
people, We need your territory
and you have got to sell it TO us for
whatever we see fit to give you
1t has been said so here. The
senator from Massachusetts TMr.
DAwes] asks me who says that.
1t has been repeatedly intimated
IN this debate to-day that the title
Of these Indians has got to be re-
inquished and they might as well
understand it now as at any time;
md when any man stands here
or elsewhere and demands Justice
or these people we ore taunted
With the idea that behind us stalks
he cattle baron or the monopoly
'r the ring, and that there Is some /
culpable. and corrupt de- {
ign that protects these people in I
he enjoyment oftheir rights.
Iprotost against it, Mr. Presi-
lent. II is the enunciation of a {