Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-09-01
TEN YEARS OF AGE.

CHIEFTAIN has been one of the in
stitutions of the. Cherokee nation.
For ten years it has stood in the
front rank Of progress. 1t has
been a witness to as we'll as a par
ticipant in the most progressive
and eventful era in the history of
the Cherokees since their remov-
al from east of the Mississippi riv-
or to the land they now occupy,
and to-day, at the close OF its tenth
year, it will be read by the most
intelligent and progressive portion
of the Cherokee people. Its sub
seription books contain the names,
we are proud to say, of the bone
and sinew Of this nation, without
regard to political afiiliation for
The CHIEFTAIN has long since de-
monstrated the fact that entire i'll
dependence in politics is the prop
er course for newspaper to pur-
sue in this country, as in any 9TH
er 1t has proven beyond the
shadow of doubt that the masses
ofintelligent people are willing to
accept the good and reject the bad
of all parties, and the paper or
the individual that swears eternal
allegiance to any political party
must first bury its own individual
ity, and believe that the country
belongs to some cheap politician.
We do not look for good govern
ment to any one party, but rather
to the better element of all politi-
cal parties. Looking back, as we
are wont to do to-day, over the de-
cade just passed, we cannot help but
rejoice over the advancement
made In the early years Of the pa
per's existenceto have espoused the
principles it now advocates and
that are being discussed by the en-
tire press of the nation, would
have meant little less than martyr
dom. Now the great and living
issues that affect this people are
being openly discussed pro and
con by the very best minds in the
whole country, and from the stand
point of reason. Freedom OF
speech and freedom of the press is
now recognized in the Cherokee
nation as the day-spring Of human
lib erty, and THE CHIEFTAIN be-
lieves that it has played no unim-
portant part in bringing about this
b Apply and altogether satisfactory
stat e of affairs. But however great
and eventful the past ten years
may have been, THE CHIEFTAIN
believes the next ten will eclipse
in point of advancement all pre-
vious history of the Cherokees. 1t
viii mark an era in the worlds
history of whole distinct and Pc
culiar race Of people. Notwith-
standing the complications and en-
tanglements that now confront the
nation and seem almost insur-
m ountable, we believe that she
will yet outride the storm and |
emerge from the gloom into the |
glorious sunlight of a magnificent
civil zation. Starting out as we
shall next week upon new year
aud into a new decade that prom
ises to be so conspicuous, and so
full of events, we take occasion to
reiterate our oft repeated convic-
tions that our only salvation and
perpetual safeguard to the enjoy
ment of our homes lies in the al
lotment Of lands among those who
are entitled to them. All argu-
ments in favor of lands in common.
however potent and relevant they
may have been in the past, we be-
lieye are now no 10 niger applicable
and to meet existing conditions
and to avoid further complications
that are sure to come, a per capita
division Of the land sho uld be had
At an early day. 10 the press of
.he country we to-day extend the
olive branch of peace and friend
ship, conscious OF the fact that those
who differ with us may do so with
he utmost honesty and with the
pest of motives. To a generous pub
ic that has given us its unstinted
,atronaOe We desire To saw that we I