Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-06-19

- III to-AtFs uo uidu Cdll say llsil
he has permanent home.
Should our country be surveyed
(which is sure at some time) farms
and pleasant homes that have been
made by hard, honest toll will be
cut in all imaginable shapes, and
perhaps years of hard labor and
economy will have to be surren-
dercd to some one else. Al!ot-
ment viii not destroy the autono-
my Of our nation; but on the other
hand allotment vii. save it; when
this Is done all is settled as to the
land question. There nav be pO-
litical differences, but that has
nothing to do with the destiny of
our nation. But few years ago
the theory was advanced, that
''ss long as grass grew and water
run" our title was good. 1t now
can fully be proven that the lux
uriant verdure, earth's beautiful
green robe and the ripping
stream, has ceased to exist. There
is but one way to save the nation
from any further molestatiOn and
that is allotment.
| have still another great reason
for calling for allotment. In 1880,
as | have been credibly informed
by those who are in a position to
know, the freedmen, all told num-
bered !, ,620. We now find at the
present date. by the same authori-
ty, 4 4,244, an increase Of 1929 in
ten years. Where viii your
Cherokee lands be in 1900. in case
of actual division Of the domain ?
l am here to say that this land be-
longs to the Indian, by a residence
and God given right; by purchase
and conquest, by being banished
and exiled from a oncs happy
home to a western wild, without
any subsistence. to live or starve,
as the case might be; but God
seemed 10 still extend the time for
the persecution Of the Indian, and
to-day we are confronted with a
problem that must soon be solved,
and can tell you in all candor it
is almost upon US.
If there is any land for my
family / want them to have it.
1t is now, that they need the bene-
fit Of what is justly due them and
not put it of till the year
1900, when there will not be fifty
acres to the head. Where can any,
one show any cause, that we will
not be benefited? 1t will forever
stop all applications for citizen
ship. as the lands and moneys are
the only incentive that any appli-
cant has for becoming citizen of
the Cherokee nation. Men will
swear that they have just claims;
when it comes to the test, it is
proven without a doubt, that no
claim exists.
What rights have the Chero-
KEGS to-day? But a few years
age they had civil and criminal
jurisdiction over their citizens; to-
day the courts of the nation cut q
very small figure The question
aas been settled by the highest
tribunal in the land, that the
United States government says it is
can run as many railroads through
the Indian country as it sees fit.
1t seems that the right Of appeal
is in a manner unnoticed, and
when an appeal is passed upon it
always rendered adversely to the
Indian must say / know hun
dreds of men in our nation who
stand at the tOpmost round of the
ladder, in all the requisite quail
ficaliOns that tend 10 make men
true in motive, Christian in action
and devoted to the best interests
Of their country and fellow man.
Such men must certainly see the
impending crisis as I see it. Lay
down all political strife and try to
save our nation; there certainly
cannot be any division OF feeling
on that subject.
Let us be true to ourselves, first
Of all. / am for allotment first
and last. Well might the Ian
guage Of the founder of liberty
and independence, Thomas
Paine, be used in regard TO the
present question:
"He that will not reason is
bigot."
"He that cannot is fool"
"He that dare not is n slave"
c.