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

ana on per cent. 10 the general
fund. That makes so per cent. Of
her taxable wealth devoted to
school and charitable purposes.
Can the nutmeg state boast Of hav-
ing anything like that amount OF
her taxable wealth devoted TO
school purposesY She cannot. The
Cherokee nation, according to her
population and wealth, mas more
invested in educational funds than
any state in the American union
the nutmeg state not excepted.
Has the nutmeg state ever sold
any portion of her territory and
devoted the proceeds to school
purposesP No sir; she has not nor
will she ever be guilty of such an
act. That would be too much like
"killing the goose that layed the
golden egg" She does a far worse
thing; she raises the larger portion
of her school fund by levying a
small per cent. on her taxable
wealth. But Prof. Mccarthy
would have us sell the larger por.
ton of our territory and devote it
all to educational purposes, while
we already have a larger fund for
such use than any of the surround
ing states, but he opposes the pay
ing out of this money to the people
on the ground that some might use
it to pay their honest store debts,
whilst others used it to swell the
gamblers winnings. 1t is true
that some might use 1t for the bad
purpose suggested but there are
thousands of others who would
use it to make homes and to pur-
chase the comforts and necessaries
Of life but the great reason why
this money should be paid out to
the people, per capita, is that it is
their. birthright and if paid to
them direct by the U. S. govern
ment they will be sure to get every
cent due them, but if it passes into
our Golfers past experience teaches
us that it will not be paid out hon
estly and fairly. During the last
canvass both parties favored the
payment of this money direct to
the people and woe be to that pub
lie servant who opposes it. at is
better for him that mill stone
were tied to his neck and he be
cast into the sea-" But there are
other reasons why this money
should not be allowed to come into
our treasury. We have no sefe
vaults In which to store it; our
treasurer could not give the neces-
sary bonds though every man in
the nation should go on them and
II he could we could not protect it
from the outlaws that infest our
country without great expense to
ourselves. 1t is entirely too much
money to come into our possession
at once. 1t will breed corruption
in our legislation then let il be
paid direct by the government and
save all expense of handling and
all risk of loss. There are still
other reasons why this money
should not come into our treasury.
The constitution makes our lands
and vested funds common proper
ty, while our laws make it hang
ing oifense to sell lands to a white
man; Notwithstanding this our cor
rupt Legislators and courts, in the
name of Cherokee blood have Civ
eI away ono-hHli Of our public do
main TO citizens Of the United
States in the last twenty years.
They have compassed sea and land
to find man with Cherokee blood
and when the prodigal sou is found
he is wooed and beseeched to re-
turn to his fathers house but on
his return he is not greeted with
music and dancing; there is no fat
ted calf on the festal board; no
father goes forth to greet the long
lost son and welcome him back
with kiss of affection, but in his
stead the wanderer is met by a
committee of lawyers ready to sell
their country's birthright for a
mess of pottage. If he has the re
quired amount the word goes back,
"On with the dance, for this, our
long lost brother is found and we
surely can afford to welcome him
back with music aud dancing-at
his expense" And 80 our coun-
try has been filled with prodigal
sons and intruders. The last, not
having on the wedding garment,
have not been cast into outer dark
ness, as the law requires, but these
and the prodigals have monopo-
liZed the supper, while our lords
and mobiles, who made the feast,
stand off and gnash their teeth,
suck their thumbs and grin, and
endure il as best they can. But
find | have wandered in the field
Of ancient parallels to illustrate
our condition and show the cor
ruption OF our public men. In ad-
dition to selling half of our coun
try they have spent millions of
our public funds and we are near
a million dollars in debt to. day.
In the very treaty that effected the
sale of those lands we find a pro.
vision for the payment Of s728, 900
that has been worse than squan-
dered. We also note the injustice
done the whole Cherokee people
in allowing specified number so
acres Of land more than the bal
ance; this IS an outrage and should
be an insult to the nation; but still,
ID is one of the beantiea Of holding