Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-11-03
NED BUNTLIN's NO. 8.
Neglecting our Opportunities anc
Behind the Times.

Vinita series. "That we request
council TO pass an act asking a
survey of our lands east of $50
into sections in accordance with
the 20th article of the treaty of
1866" But before | 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. Z"
| will bear witness to the fact that
/ 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 our
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 to-day; this is our
autonomy. Does Bro. Mccarthy
indorse this condition of things?
Does he indorse the exploded
principle Of lands in common? If
so, he fayors that form of govern
ment that is for the few at the ex-
pense Of the many. He fayors 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,
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
90 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 it 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 sufii-
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
a wise provision for itin the treaty
OF 1855, but we have failed to heed
it; we have turned our backs upon
their teachings, ard as a result our
ship of state i at sea-rolling
among the breakers of corruption,
without a captain, without 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 laudable inducement !
should be offered to these people |
to improve their condition as well |
as to guard and secure in the most |
effectual manner the rights guar
anteed to them in this treaty, and |
with q view to 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 !
suggested by your fore |
fathers that was thought to be ne
cessary for your protection in the 1
future, aud have continued to send 1
a large delegation to Washington /
at our national expense who could /
do nothing more than warm their |
shins in the anti-room Of the COM