Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-11-03
MIR. NEAL SPEAKS.

MR.. NEAL SPEAKS.
MnskOgee Phoenix.
1t would seem entirely needless
to argue the question of allotment
if, as Uncle Watt Duncan says, the
United States government is pow
erless to interfere in the matter
But as it is a matter of double in
terest to the Cherokees it may be
well to argue it as it will show to
the United States government
what fatal mistake it made in
signing away all its power to pro-
tect the poor Of the Cherokee peo-
Pile. A power to which the Unit
ed States government by treaty
long since guaranteed equal rights
to all Cherokees. And that mis-
take on part Of the United States
government forces the common
people to pay mighty dear for their
advance, if any, to their clviliza-
tion. Argument will show to the
people of how much more import
ance the question of allotment is
to us than any other. On my part
shall endeavor TO clothe my argu-
ment with honest truth that will
command respect and a careful
consideration by the people.
If we take justice as basis for
argument then all opposition to
allotment has no foundation at all.
Our greatest enemy is monopoly
and yet it claims to be our best
friend. Monopoly sets up as a
claim for the bettering of the con-
dltion Of the common people, that
there are so many of us that are not
able to take care of ourselves and
for that reason could not derive
any benefit from allotment, Now
there are two ways in which we
can benefit those of us that can't
take care of ourselves. In the
first place put him in possession Of
what is his And in the second
place protect him in his rights un-
til he is able to take care of him.
self. Is monopoly doing either2
No sir. But allotment will do
both. Col, Owen said to me in
Muskogee a few days ago that the
country was already allotted And
| want to say to Uncle Watt, that
is the very kind OF allotment |
have been fighting for twenty
years. Creating wealth by rob-
bing the poor is practiced in all
civilized countries but in none
more, according to the size, than in
the Cherokee nation.
There are none OF us but can see
our present condition is "A situation
to be seriously considered by our
wisest men and can be profitably
studied by all Of us. We can't
free ourselves from personal re-
sponsibilities of the increasing
evils that will continue to come to
us by our further inaction in the
matter of allotment. Uncle Watt
said the people of Canadian dis
trict must have changed since 1873.
The people have changed this
much: Owing to our rapid prog
ress we are entirely dependent on
appliances of which even in 1878
we never dreamed and We have
now become so accustomed to
these changes that although at first
they seemed luxuries, as Cana
dain is peopled with a progressive
people, they soon became necessi-
ties and the great majority OF our
people are thankful for all that our
progress has done for US, and could
not be persuaded to return to the
old ways of even 10 years ago.
But occasionally we hear Of an old |
fogy who doubts whether we are
on the whole any better of with |
these additions to our civilization,
comfort and happiness. They |
are, however, men whose eduoa-
ton teaches them to look back
ward instead Of forward to better
their condition, longing as it would |
seem, to return to the days of eat
ing acorns and tarapins, rather
than indulge, as they would term
it, in the degeneracies of civiliza-
ton.
| suppose that the senatorial
committee will have its hands full
when they come looking into the
question, but we trust
they will spare time to look into
This question of allotment, and
when they return to congress sug-
gest such legislation as will pre-
vent monopoly from being a curse
20 the Cherokee people any longer.
[ want to say to Uncle Watt:
sxterminating the common Indian
by allotment Of our lands comes
from away back. The Cherokees
have outgrown it. Don't pull
back; let the country advance with
.he enlightened age aud blot out
all such relics of barbarism.
Dick NEAL.
-
A couple of FIT. Smith lawyers
II