Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-07-09

OVh utdu w chJ ttttb ht'V
any special fondness for your
home, or the home belonging TO
you and upon which reside, but
it's the home can call my own
the one / own in my individual
right-the one which can improve
as best suits the taste Of myself
and family, without any fears OF
our marks Of civilization being re-
moved by reason of a future divis-
ion of land. IL may be barren |
and rugged, swept by the storms
and overshadowed by the frozen
hills, of narrow boundary and poor
IN resources, yet II it's mine | love
it, am stimulated to improve II and
encouraged to protect it as would
be impossible was 1t home to
which 1 had no title and one which
| would probably have to share
with some one in whom l had no
especial Interest. This l claim as
an original principle of our nature,
springing up instinclively in
the bosom, showing itself essen
TALLY the same under all conditions
of society and in all ages and
countries. l will now say the
natural requirements of our nature
demand that in order for us to en-
Joy the comforts Of home as an en-
lightened and civilized people we
must have the title in our individ.
ual rights and not own them in
common as do the Cherokees to-
day. This have given you as
one Of the grandest reasons, how
ever little thought OF by the ma
tives, for an allotment of our lands.
Can you see anywhere in the
statement of our affairs, a guaran-
tee that the homes and farms now
made and improved will remain
ours as they are today Is it not a
fact that after each council we find
the amount of land per capita re-
duced2 And do you find the roll OF
applicants is decreasing or becom.
ing shorter2 We have citizens to.
day in the shape of lawyers who
make the most of their money by
inducing people to believe they are
entitled to Cherokee citizenship;
tits they who enlarge the roll ol
applicants and they who contribute
largely to the moving in OF ouI
fences and thus discourage perma.
nent improvement. The traveller
through our country will ask the
question why it is these people
who seem 20 be intelligent and who
have rich soil and so much grass,
will content themselves with the
rudest of Improvements. A few
forks in the ground and hay roo
seems to answer for barn, and in
fact, all the improvements seem tC
be temporary. He gets for an ans
swer: these people own their land
in common; it's never been survey.
ed even; no man knows exactly
how much is his and he therefore
dlslikes to risk very much money
in improving land which he only
owns an interest in. This expla
nation is satisfactory TO him why
our improvements, our homes, dc
not present the appearance oI
those in Missouri, Kansas or Tex
as. No difference as to intelligence
soil or advantages, yet wide diff
ference in the appearance Of farms
and homes and the amount of pro
lection from the respective gov
ernments.
You are bound to admit that it,
our dnty to cultivate the highe
senses and disregard all modes o
styles of living which fail to insure
US that happiness guaranteed to al
industrious and enlightened peo
pie. Many of us have been In
dians and enjoyed their modes o
living until we have worn off tn,
last tint Of copper from our Skin
and all of us have advanced as ia
in the school which instructs us a
to the modes of living and pleas
ures of the life of an Indian as W,
can 60. We must now either stanC
still or advance to the school mex
higher which instructs upon civil
zstion in its highest sense. There
we are taught by practical expert
ence that in order to realize th,
true blessings and benefits of hom'
we must own them in our separat,
rights.
| will state as another reason TO
an allotment that as a matter o
right each and every citizen of tn,
Cherokee nation should have ant
receive the full benefit of his in
terest in our estate. Fortune ha
not smiled upon us all alike; som,
are rich and the majority of us ar,
poor; those who have wealth hav'
largely the advantage of the poo
as they can feast upon the land
owned in common, reap the bene
fits of some and use undoubiedl,
more land than would be their pr
rata share. It's a bonanza for thl
rich and financial death TO th
poor and there will be no remed,
as long as the land is owned i
common; this is a fact you cal
never successfully contradict. IT.
nice enough TO be rich and simpl,
elegant to De not only rich but L
have a code of laws which furnisl
unlimited advantages to those wh'
have cash with which to best turl
the sod and utilize the grass. Som
say the poor man has just as goo
a right to the grass and land a
the rich, and if he don't "rustle'
and get his share it's his owl
fault. What an empty thought
how destitute of reason. "Oh, fO