Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-11-03
NED BuNTL1N's NO. 3.
Neglecting our Opportunities and
Behind the Times.

however, that brevity is the soul
of wit if not argument, but as | am
neither a wit nor a logician l can
only promise that / will close this
article when it is finished. / will
now take the 3rd resolution of the
Vinita series. "That we request
council to pass an act asking a
survey of our lands east of 96o
into sections in accordance with
the Goth article of the treaty of
1885," But before l discuss this
resolution | desire to notice one or
two expressions of Bro. McCarthy's
that failed to notice in my last.
He says, II am known as the
friend of the Cherokee autonomy"
| will bear witness to the fact that
l believe Bro. Mccarthy to be a
true, genuine friend of the Chero-
kee people; if this were not the
case he would not be at the head
of an institution that has done, and
is now doing so much to christian
ize and soften the masses of our
people. But the above expression
leads me to believe that he has
viewed our autonomy rather from
the standpoint of the philanthrop-
ist rather than that of the philos-
opher and statesman. Has he an
allied our system of government,
and if so, does he realize that Que
whole fabric of constitutional gov
ernment is based on one idea? viz:
that of lands in common, while
in reality there is no such thing
They have been monopolized and
passed into individual hands to
the great loss and detriment of a
large majority of our people. This
is our condition o-day; this is our
autonomy. Does Bro. Mccarthy
indorse this condition of things?
Does he indorse the exploded
principle of lands in common? II
so, he favors that form of govern.
ment that is for the few at the ex-
pense of the many. He favors a
plutocracy, whose expressions
have almost depOpulated his own
Emeral Isle, and made the Ireland
of America greater then the Ire
land of his nativity, and has bur-
dened the very winds of heaven
with curses for English rule by
every patriotic son OF Erin since
the day of the treaty of Limerick.
We are all proud of what the
Cherokee government has accom-
plished. 1t has civilized, refined F.,
educated and placed our people in
the front ranks of their race. We
are not men worshippers, but we
are willing to concede honor to
whom honor is due. We would
go out with reverential awe and
uncovered heads and bow at the
shrine of its founders and hail
them as benefactors of their race,
worthy of all the honors that pos
terity can show, but still we recog-
nize the fact that this government
has failed to accomplish the work
for which i. was created, viz: the
complete civilization and absorp-
ton of our people. 1t protected
them. 1t has failed to protect US
for the simple reason that as de-
generate sons of patriotic sires we
have failed TO heed their teachings
and take the necessary steps in our
legislation that they suggested and
pointed out to us as we advanced
in civilization. They contemplate
ed our absorption in the American
union so soon as we were sufh-
GENTLY advanced to share alike in
its honors and its blessings. They
saw that this was our only hope,
our only salvation, and they made
wise provision for it in the treaty
OF 1866, but we have failed 20 heed
it; we have turned our backs upon
their teachings, ard as a result our
ship of state is at sea-rolling
among the breakers of corruption,
without a captain, without a pilot,
without a crew, drifting we know
not where. But lest | be contra
dicted in my assertion | will turn
to the 7th article of the treaty
of 1885 and read it. "The Chero-
kee nation having already made
great progress in civilization, and
deeming it important that every
proper and lapdable inducement
should be offered TO these people
to improve their condition as well
as to guard and secure in the most
eiiectual manner the rights guar.
anleed TO them in this tresty, and
with view 10 illustrate the liberal
and enlarged policy Of the govern
ment of the United States toward
the Indians in their removal be.
yond the territorial limits of the
states, it is stipulated that they
shall be entitled to a delegate in
the house OF representatives of the
United States whenever congress
shall make provision for the
same" Congress has stood with
open arms ready to admit your
delegate ever since the treaty
Of New Echota, made 81 years ago.
You have refused To adopt the leg.
islation suggested by your fore
fathers that was thought to be ne
cessary for your protection in the
future, and have continued TO send