Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-01-07

bIlS Dtiiti lt lOibihCUOy iobtof up |
held with reason and the law of
the case, and his last message, in
which he deraigned the Cherokee
title, will be a monument to his
memory that win live for all time,
and be as enduring as marble or
brdss. 1t sounded clear, like "a
trumpet call to freedom. IL was
the political Joshua. 1t may be
suppressed by negotiation, it may
be bent to meet the temporary ex-
ped ents of the hour, but it has not
been and will not be answered and
out of the grave itself it will speak,
to the dismay Of towards, to the
shame of the time servitors
among his own people, and will
stand as a menace, more terrible
than a two-edged sword to the re-
lentless land sharks, who would
snatch this goodly heritage from
a people, whose greatest crime
seems to be, that through the
grand old chief, they have seen
their rights and dared to maintain
them. Measured Alright, who can
estimate the value OF such an IN
stance of public spirit. Martyrs
to principle have flourishod in all
the ages, and in the passes of this
world there is more than one
Thermopylae aud more than one
Leonidas, and il the Cherokee ma
tion has produced but one, that
one is Joel b. Mayes, of the Cher.
okee nation, blowing the rams.
horn of defiance that tumbled into
ruins the proud Jericho of federal
usurpation, who for more than
2 years in defense Of his country
and in the preservation OF her
muniments to her soil, has fought
literally as did Leonidas, in the
very shade of the darts of his enc.
my, which by their very numbers
obscured the sun of honor and Of
truth, and of whom can it more
truly be said, "he Tell like a
martyr and died at his post"
He held many offices during
his life, and held them all as if a
public Office was a public trust.
No well founded charge of bribery
in this age Of corruption stains his
official career, and even the en-
venomed tongue of malice will not
say that he waxed fat at the pub
lie crib, or lined his pockets with
dishonest pelf wrung from a poor
and confiding people. His private
life was one of democratic sim
plicity, without show, ostentation
or parade. He believed the earth
was our common mother, and
around its ample board each of
her children could gather an equal ,
the peer OF the other.
His last message TO the council
was a pathetic, simple and elo-
quent plea in behalf of the North
Carolina Cherokees, to whom he
extended the hand of welcome.
offered them a share in common
patrimony, which, men like him
self, for half dozen decades had
protected and defended. He was
loyal to the whole Cherokee peo.
pie, and wherever the lot of one oi
his tribe may be cast, he will
pause at the announcement OF his
death, and drop tear of un-
feigned regret to his memory.
Joel b. Mayes had the mind
and build of a statesman. lie i'm
pressed those who came into his
presence with the idea that he wac
not a mere stuffed prophet" bul
that he was a man who had con.
victions aud the courage to assert
and defend them. A gentleman
well fitted to decide, who heard
his speeches in his last canvass
for the chieftaincy, told the
writer, that they hal the ring OF
the olden time, and were full oi
common sense, patriotism and
conservatism, and rose in elevation
OF sentiment above the low level
of the ordinary utterances of the
partisan and demagogue that too
often disgrace the public hustings.
Certainly his messages are admir-
able state papers, clear, concise
; and able, and they may be refer
/ red to by the historian of his peo'
pie as repositories OF their wealth
resources and growth, and as ad
z mirable political textbooks of cur
rent men and things.
Entering upon the chieftainc,
when faction was in the ascendan
and internecinal feuds shook tn
e Cherokee nation, he boldly tool
the helm of affairs aud has maste
! spirit soon brought order out 0
, chaos, and the waves OF discomfort
were lulled to repOse in the pres
+ ence Of one born to rule. He tool
charge OF the old ship Of state, anG
walked its daa:a like mig ht
viking, or some great captain q
# commanding port, and all COZ
q scious Of the superiority of hi
Is genius and the supremacy of hi
l. manhood, he stood ready, waitiu
a for the final order OF the Hig
" Admiral Of his fleet, to weigh il
n last anchor, TO push its adven
ID uress prov into those unknow
sr waters, whose restless tides bel
r and break against times farthei
ie shores, and striking his flag to 4
!. fear, to sail with his God Ger a
Of the seas.
D We have said in the outset
re this tribute, that he held many o
fees, aud it can be said OF him