Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-02-12

And we find large majority OF
them joining with the white man
in one powerful protest against an
additional string Of red tape that
was intended TO benefit the Chero-
kee alone--the cattle law. On .his
subject and those Of similar import
they meet on common ground, be-
cause If the farmer is deprived OF
his stock by disease or unreasona-
BILE taxation he is crippled in his
resources and will raise an inferior
crop and make inferior improve
ments, and the landlord and tenant
are both loser and both certainly
have q right TO claim protection.
The lsborer is worthy of his hire
and IL the Cherokees will not lis
ten to the demands Of thuir wealth
producers, as long as their de-
mands are reasonable, there Is
only one of two courses TO be pur-
sued. One is to become a very
slave, the other is tn emigrate. |
don't believe the Cherokees can
afford either. Would it not be
better to have only one toll-gate on
the road to prosperity through
which all should be compelled to
pass once q Year, The first Chero-
kee that presents himself says, /
have so many in family; according
to the census there would fall to
me under allotment so many acres
OF land; l have only claimed so
many, which is about one-fourth
of our allotment; / have so much
stock and it can easily be seen that
they can Craze upon my allotment,
so free pass should issue. The
second Cherokee presents himself
with so many in family; he has
claimed a great many more acres
than would fall TO him in allot-
ment; he has q large baggage Of
horses and cattle that Craze upon
lands to which be has now no legal
right and he should pay for all
privileges which he uses that do
not belong to him. The white
man comes next. He admits that
he has no right and presents his
baggage of cattle and other stock
and is charged just the same toll
as the second Cherokee has paid
for the extra privileges. A rev.
enue is thus provided and no one
has a right to complain for each
has had the benefit OF all that by
right belongs to him.
Now / have another idea but /
am not interested in this: The
United States folks claim that on
account of law or custom, or for
some other reason, it is impossible
for them to give more than one
dollar and quarter per acre for
the strip. The Cherokees claim
their holding is worth more and
they fail to make a trade and bill
is introduced in congress to steal
it. Now if they haven't carried
this joke too far why not every citi.
zen Of the nation and non-citizen
too for that matter, petition the
United states for authority to deed
the strip to actual settlers under
the rules of the United States land
office, the land to be appraised
and each quarter section to be sold
on it's merits ? The dignity of the
United States will not be compro-
missed under this agreement and
the Cherokees will get the value
of their lands. If the Cherokees,
owe the United States any amount
il should be paid from the princi-
pal when c6iiected. Perhaps it,
would be we'll enough TO make the
sales on II low rate )Of interest;
when desired, the interest should
90 to the support Of the Cherokee
government, but all Of the princi-
pal should be paid only by the re-
,eiver of the land Office in per
capita payments to the Cherokee
citizens X.