The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-03
POLITICS AT TAHBE0UAH.
TIE CAerskees Hold an Iapsrtaat Election
Artsr a. Exciting CaANass.


TIE Cherekees Hold an Iapsrtaat Election
Ansr ~ Exciting Canvass.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2-Ths FIRST Monday ia
August IL general election day In the Cherokee
Nation. ana this much improved order OF red
men habitually makes the most Of II. Az
visitor to TahleQuah once expressed the case
In THE Bun. 1T IL . great nation for polti-
sians. There are vast number OF offlcss to
be filled. and the political difference between
the two parties 10 that one Is in once and the
other isn't There IL no Chinese nonsense
among the Cherokees and whom principal
ohief Is elected By the outs. the rascals are put
ont from top to bottom" But. after all. there
are principles 40 we'll A. men in the two leading
parties, and there are also In the present cleo
ton issues that are felt to b Of far greater
importance than the distribution OF tho spos
among tho victors. although the Principal
Chief. Second Chief, Judges. county officers.
and mem ers OF both branches OF the Legisla-
ture are to be chosen.
The National party represents In general the
fnll-blood Cherekees: and It is clear enough
that whom questions involving citize en- ship are
rife. and herewith the right OF sharing tho
ownership and proceeds OF tribal lands held In
common. there Ia . worry practical basis for
this National party. But the Downing party Ia
more progressive. and Of late has been run
ming the Government. Up to four years ago
the National party had been in control for
many years, with some results not unknown
among white politicians In long lease OF
power. During the canvass ~ 1877 the Down.
Ing party nominated for Chief an able man.
Joel D. Mayes. who had been o Major in the
Confederate service during the civil war. and
who was afterward for ton years Chief
Justice OF the Cherokee Supreme Court,
and occupied fine plantation about
thirty miles out from TshlsauAh. Tho
National party was led by Rabbit Bunch, an
experienced but less Intelligent politician, who
had boon Second Chief under the outgoing
Principal Chief. Dennis w. Bushyhead, the
well.known Cherokee statesman. who gave
him the influence and support OF the Admins
tration. But Mayes pushed his candidacy with
energy. and ono OF his strong points was that
while Bushyhead was ready to renew tho ex.
pirine lease o! the Cherokee Strip for ten years
at its old rental Of 100000 year. a bid OF two
BY putting up the lease TO competition. While
this was perhaps the main issue there were
also MYSTERIOUS rumors OF an item OF $25OO0
pro1sd coss On H., ,Rs face o, the
returns Mayes appeared to be elected: hut
payy i
and SscS ant In the revised
the National Council was appealed to. Both
sides began srming. and the appearance Of the
bis friends worEed Tor delay Wills Mmyes ana
; ,nu on se!!nn A. lass the later iorcioy
had their man sworn in The public suua s sI Ia
which the stats House stands was carefully
looked after BY the followers Of Mayss, although
business wont on In it's stores and hotels and
Just alter the arrival Of the specia inspector OF
pealed TO. However. the count contlrmsi the
Ute Of Mayes and the Downing party was az
Two years lator. in 1889. that PARTY REPEATED
having control OF the offices. and perhaps. also.
had preiieisd. The ticket headed cad by Msy rs
Of Bushyhssd and Bunch su and the Dow D"wn nina
pari ,y a,o eieeied working majority In the
the Cherokee STRIP to settlement. and Congress
authorized tho offer Of SLIP gsr acre for II:
Mayes thought he could do e.'er BY leasing It
to the cattle syndicate. The Government
men away from The strip. Which. OF course arss
ser"r;iy Win he rreec. q deFy
overreached himself The Government Com
missioners had resented in their report the
talk in CONGRESS- OF SELLING the tract aud ap.
praisng It. as when other lands are occupied
Iot D,'oiic uoob IuuuoE tQo IlRuL OF eminent
domain.
The recent canvass started betimes. The
nominations were made a. long ago aa last
September. so rs to be sure to give the nation
full years endowment OF politics. Mayes was
nominated for third term by the Downing or
proRressl ve party. but In the con venton Ut the
Nationalists Bush yhead was beaten BY George
w. Bengs. and thersupon bottled tho ticket
The result haI been triangular canvas. be-
tween iIayes the Downing candidate: Benge
the National and Bushyh Fad leading what has
been called the Liberal Or Peoples PARTY The
nine districts into VIII CHI the Cherokee coun-
try IL divided have been stnmped by the three
candidates, the principal issues discussed be-
compliance with the Governments wish to
take lands In severalty and become fully
American citizens.
1t will therefore be seen that the election Is
probab y the most important in Cberokes his.
tory, few years ago the nation appeared to
be almost unanimous in favor OF preserving
its Identity and isolation. That leading men
IN the conservative or full blood party have oil.
already swung aroun !. and are In favor OF sav-
orally allotment as the salvation OF the poor
man against the rich Cherokees. who under
perpetual leasing arrangements practically
use the lnnds held In common for their indi-
vidua! benefit. Is most suggestive fact The
growth OF willingness to meet the Government
on fair footing In the sale of the Cherokee
Guile is also n good sign. The results of this
election may have an influence on the politics
OF the remainder OF the civilized tribes.