Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-10-19

ne tlNltHOuU JOuNtutiOH Nv
Muskogee on the 9th instant seems
to have been more a collection of
busybodies than Of representives
Of the five nations--a congregation
of odds and ends OF communities
who find employment and ques-
tionable distinction in monkeying
with the business of other people.
II was we'll attended, as report
says, there being six Indians
present, not one OF them in
sympathy wit, the move, and the
others of that class of people who
hesitate but little to enter private
households to tell its members
what to do and, If their advice is
not taken, take the business in
their own hands-preach up the
virtues of the Prodigal son in the
division of the property and in
dividual independence.
Four Cherokees and two Senecas
were, il seems, the only rightful
Representatives at the convention
and authorized by commission or
otherwise to speak for their re-
spective nations; the horse races
and other attractions of the fair
were too much for question Of
that sort.
No on could rightfully represent
any ofthe nations unless he was
of the nation by blood and inner
'itaRce. in the lands, because, if
taken t0-themselves, separate and
apart fromatheir respective coun.
tries, the several nations could go
to the devil.
The Cherokees who were pres
ent were the R6yerends w. A.
Duncan and Jos Shallwood, and
Messrs. e. G. BoudinotNend Henry
Covel. The names of the Senecas
are not remembered, but oneSwas
the son of the Indian railr6ad-
magnate, Splitlog. These and tide
Cherokees were of one mind ana
against statehood in any likenessb
especially as a part -fe,Kiahoma.
They succeeslnCf in passing a reso-
luiieJf against the measure, the al
lotment of lands and against any
change of government that would
deprive Indians OF the control OF
their own affairs. Courier.
After reading the above from
the columns of paper printed
here in the Cherokee nation. in
the heyday Of Indian progress and
enlightenment one is almost cogp~
pelle'Ssss2 gasp ior heath. If it
was feany a fact that all the
balance OF the world was arrayed
against the Indian in general and
particularly against the five tribes,
because they are civilized, the out
look would be gloomy indeed.
When it is all simmered down
there is no great difference be-
tween a white man and an Indian
after all. The same law that is
binding on the Indian is also bind
ing on the white man. The
Indians rights are clearly defined
as to ownership Of land, etc. But
he has no power 10 stay or stop
the tide of American progress.
The present is a condition and not
a theory, and we will have to deal
with it "a such. To appeal to the
preiudices of the Cherokees Gas is
clearly attempted in the above)
can be taken as little less than an
insult to the intelligence of the
country.
The six Indians ~ present were
not a majority of the convention
and had not others been of the
same mind with them on some of
the propositions voted on they
alone could have done nothing
The sentiments of the above clip
ping are the vaporings of the moss
back element of the Cherokees,
and do not voice the feelings OF
any considerable portion OF the
people of the nation. The men
who herald their approach by con.
tinually crying out, 81 am an
Indian" are growing fewer and
fewer as the years go by, and are
to be pitied rather than blamed.
Meantime the transformation goes
on, and the necessity for allot-
ment of lands and, ultimately,
statehood, becomes more and more
apparent.
The CHIEFTAIN to Jan. /, ,'94 for