Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-04-17
QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR.
Precautions to be Taken In Deal
ing With Our Funds.

QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR.
Precautions to be Taken in Deal
ing With Our Funds.
EDITOR CnIrFTArN:-In CONVEX
sation with one of our esteemed
citizens, he remarked, eve have
four papers printed within our
country, counting the Advoca to,
and not one Of of the editors show
any disposition to touch upon sub
jects that are of vital interest to
the people; they only quarrel with
each other" What shall we do
with the money that we receive
from the government for tho out
let? Isit right to pay the money
out to the people per capita ?
Tsit right for the Cherokees to con
sent to any investigation by the
Federal government, Of those cas-
es that have been decided against
by our citizenship courts ? Or
shall we insist on them taking our
decisions?
In answer to the first question
we want certain per cent. re-
served for at least four graded
scAoeki eneugh, for az. agri~ultu-
raj college, an addition to our or
phan school 50 to have an indus
trial department attached. The
advantages OF graded schools will
throw the non English speaking
with the English speaking chill
dren; by so doing you put the
Cherokees in possession of the
Anglo Saxon language. We
must not delay in this matter.
Our people must be put in com
munication with the outside world.
In giving these schools to our peo-
pie, let an industrial department
be an important factor in the crea-
ton. We say educate the whole
boy. The new conditions OF life
must be given to the rising genera
ton. Such training will cause our
young men and women to be en-
gagged in some new industry in
every part Of the country after
graduating.
Second question: We would dis
courage a per capita payment, par
tally. In the first place we will
make our school fund ample for
all purposes. Pay the adult citi-
zen his part Of the money but in
vest all the money for minors, and
as fast as they become of age, pay
their money to them with
the accumulated interest. Some
one will say why do this? Simp-
ly to keep a great many from
gambling and drinking up the
money that properly belongs to
the children. Where you can find
one family capable of taking care
Of their children's interests, you
will find one hundred who cannot.
Men and women who seldom han
die money are not competent to
hold to it and invest it in some
thing so it may be perfectly sale,
and thereby receive benefit from
it in the future. You give each
one three or four hundred dollars
per capita-you have invited men
into this country that will destroy
life to get this head right. All
the games Of chance, vice and in
trigue will come.
/ would further advice that our
landed interest be placed upon the
same basis. Never give the father
and mother the right to dispose Of
their children's realty. Have it
fixed so when they become Of age
they will have homes. This kind
of legislation is necessary. See to
it. Our sons and daughters will
have said, when you aud l are no
more, this is a part Of my heritage
secured to me by those who loved
thsir country. Now what will we
do to secure the same TO our pos
terity2
Third question: It would take
a long time to look over five thou
sand cases or more. The work
would indeed be tedious. We
would insist on the United States
taking our decis-
ions as rendered.
Never consent to a sale Of our
country until every intruder has
been removed and every interest
protected.
Self-preservation is the FIRST law
Of nature. This is a point sine
qua non. Giving our people mil
lions of dollars without devising
ways and means for The rising
generation. is worse than useless. I
1t is a crime. Ineite our people 4
10 labor for something beyond 1
mere animal existence. s.