Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-10-27
Canadian Heard Fro n.

! MuskOgee Phoenix.
Uncle Watt Duncan says he
would like for the people Of
Canadian district, Cherokee ma
tion, to show cause through the
columns OF the Phoenix why they
favor allotment Of our lands or
why we want to exterminate the
common Indian.
Now have known Uncle Watt
for 40 years and during all this time
believe 1 could truthfully say his
record tor honesty and sterling in-
tegrity Is unimpeaChabie. He has
been the fearless champion of
many measures that rebound to
the interests Of the common peo-
pie. and he is to-day held in high
esteem by them for his answering
loyalty to their welfare. But |
want to say TO him that | don't
want to exterminate the common
Indian, but | do favor allotment,
for it is the only salvation for the
common people in securing for
themselves permanent homes. s
advocate allotment because it is
the only reasonable and practical
plan yet suggested for eradicating
the evils Of monopoly. Iadvocate l
allotment because il is an honest
system entirely suited to the
want, the intelligence and the
patriotism of the Cherokee peo-
pie of to-day. | advocate allot-
ment because l believe it is the
only means left us to settle the in
truder question. Remove the ele-
ment OF profit beyond the reach
of the intruder and you at once
settle the intruder question, and
that same holds good in the mon-
opoly of our public domain, and
chat is just what allotment will
do. advocate allotment because
the chief demand of the Cherokee
people in regard to their landed
estate is equal security; security
not only now but security for the
future also. And we know by ex-
perience that security is some
thing our present system of hold
ing our lands cannot give US. We
have but to open our eyes and
look out over the Cherokee nation,
and might say, the Indian Terri
tory, 10 see everywhere this sense
Of insecurity painfully illustrated.
And there is not the slightest rea-
son why We should tolerate even
for another day a system of govern
ment which fails so completely
to provide its citizens with any
permanent security in their land
ed estate.
These are some Of the reasons
why ! advocate allotment, which |
think sufficient, as Uncle Watt
did not advance any reasons why
we should not advocate allotment.
He did say something about allot.
ment killing Indians, but that is
only one Of the many pretences
practiced on the common people by
our leading men. And must say
pretences should 10 longer be al.
lowed TO deceive the people, for
we know such system Of fraud is
directly antagonized by every
sentiment Of justice due the intel
ligence of the Cherokee people.
Uncle Watt said something about
the people Of Canadian changing
since 1878. / remember he was
down in this country about that
time. He was superintendent of
our public school. II he was to
see Canadian to-day be would see
no corn-stalk shooting, no hunting
shirts, and instead Of the little
patches fenced with the old time
rail fence, and cultivated with
bull tongue plow, he would see
large and well improved farms,
fenced with wire fences. And in.
stead of the old time ball play
whoop he would everywhere i ear
the toot OF the steam whistle even
to the steam thresher. And he
would find that Canadian had long