The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-19
THE CHEROKEE FACTIONS.


KEGS and the so,called adopted citizens
over the payment of the strip money is
rapidly coming TO a head The trouble
first originated at the recent special ses-
sion of the Cherokee legislature, when
what is known as the blood bill was enact
ed. The blood bill provided for the pay
ment Of the strip money 20 Cherokees by
blood only, excluding entirely from par
ticipation in the proceeds the whites, Del
awares, Shawnees and negroes.
At The time of the passage of this meas.
ure the Delawares and Shawnees were on
the ground and made strong protest
against the enactment OF such "A law, but
he radical element of the legislature rail.
roaded the bill through, regardless of any
protest. The adopted citizen claim all the
rights of natiYe-born Cherokees and have
the Cherokee constitution and treaties
with the United States with which to for
tify their position The combined strength
of the adopted citizens amounts to nearly
600 bona fida citizens, who compose the
greater portion of the intelligence and
wealth OF the tribe. The whites have
never heretofore manifested a great deal
of interest in the matter of money pay
Dlents, being satisfied with the privilege
they have always enjoyed of being allowed
to fence and cultivate as much land as
they desired.
But, according to recent events, the
| white citizens think they see in the move
| ments OF the Indians an attempt TO not
only beat them out of the strip money, but
| their lands and homes also. The plan of
! the Cherokees, rs evidently mapped out,
! IS to work the strip payment through sue
cessfully before the whites and other
adopted citizens have an opportunity to
go into the courts with the matter, and
then, by an act of the legislature allot the
| entire Cherokee country TO indians by
| blood only IL is doubtful whether the
! United States would sanction such a
course, yet the treaty of 1866 provides for
| allotment at any time upon the request of
| the Indians The Cherokees, however
| knowing that allotment and statehood
must come soon after the strip money is
! paid out, have become more defiant than
ever before, and would not hesitate TO re-
| sort to the most extreme policy in order to
carry out their present program and make
paupers Of the adopted citizens. The
whites, it must be said have proven them
| selves equal 20 the occasion, and from
now on propose TO make it exceedingly
| warm for the Ckerokees.
| Following the lead of the Delawares,
! Shawnees and negroes, the white citizens
| viii also enter suit IN the court of claims
| at Washington to have their status as cit
| Zens defined. This course upon the part
| of the whites has broad bearing upon
| the future safety of the Cherokee tribe,
] from the fact that if judgment favorable
| to the whites is rendered in the court of
claims, the country will be allotted,
whether the CherOkees favor it or not.
Besides this the suit will tie up indef-
initely auotherSl ,000, 600 of the strip money
| making the aggregate amount taken from
the original S, 600 foot up 2,600,000,
leaving s., 700 600 to the credit of the
straight blooded Cherokees.
The Delawares have already obtained
judgment in the court of claims for their
interest in this money, which amounts to |
one-thirteenth of the purchase price paid
for the strip lands, and like decision
favorable 10 the Shawnees and negroes
may be looked for at any time, as their
cases have been advanced on the docket /
| The Cherokees will still fight the case,
however, and after going through the
court of claims all suits now pending will
be appealed to the United States supreme |
court. Bat nobody here who understands !
the situation has any faith whatever in
the CherOkees defeating any of these suits. |
William jackson, n leading sQuawman, |
and until recently the white citizens rep |
resentative in the upper house of the |
Cherokee legislature, through the col |
umns of the public press, has just laid !
down the mandate of his class by deciar- |
ing that the whites will no longer submit |
passing A blood bill fer the sole purpose of |
robbin.y the whites and other adopted citi- /
Zens of their Just rights. He also further |
says that up to now the whites have re- /
manned loyal to the Cherokee government, |
but, under the circumstances, IL the Cher |
okees still persist in their warfare against /
the adopted element. the nation will be |
rentfrom center to circumference and in |
less than twelve months the land will be |
allotted and made "a portion of Oklahoma |
territory.
The conservative element of the Chero- /
kee tribe admit the truth of this assertion, |
and are endeavoring to patch up the |
breach, evidently fully realizing the power .
at the command of the adopted class. The
affairs of the nation, however, are run .
wholly by men OF deep-seated preludiees |
toward all adopted citizens, especially the /
whites, and as consequence the adopted |
people are at the complete mercy OF the !
Indian law-making power, with no possi- i
BILE show for peaceful adjustment OF diff
ferences.
There is another element among the
Indians, known as ''aliotters. " who want
to see the fight reach "A climax as soon as
possible in order that allotment and state
hood may be reached so they viii be able /
to get "A good slice of the lands while there
is enough TO 20 around and insure 320
acres 10 each individual.
Jackson Ellis a former influential mem
ber Of the Cherokee tribe, who has been
living with the Choctaws at South Neal
ester, is here looking after his interests in
the Cherokee estate, He understands the
situation thoroughly and tells his people
without reserve that allotment IS almost
ut hand, ana advises all these not now /
ready for il to prepare for the inevitable
and selet homes. He further says that he
knows from experience and investigation
that the Chickasaws are willing to accept
allotment, and that a large number OF the
ChoctAws are of the same mind.
Ii might be added here that the aliot-
meut and statehood fever among the
whole Cherokee tribe is gaining ground
very rapidly. In the two largest and most
popuious counties OF the naticn-Coo- /
wees coo-wee and Delaware-borGering on
the states Of Arkansas and kanSas. the
allotment ana statehood sentiment Is over
whelminE. y movement is being at
tempted by the pull back eleDen, o. the
Seysl CthUr dis TlcrS 10 cleckmate the
aIotterS by creating an ac, 70 Cut Coo /
wees -ccC-wee and Delaware counties OF /
from the remaining portion OF the nation
aud allow their inhabitants tLa right to
allOt and attach themselves 10 Kansas or
oklahoma Tor judicial purposes If II l. de-
sired. To put this scheme into execution (
would necessItate = Change in the uatlcn's
constitution, which Is practically CUT OF
ae question, because 10 vote upon such a
proposition would undoubtedly result in
an overwhelming victory for The ailotters.
In view OF the new surroun0jncs which
the Indians generally realize. the ma lority
Of those low trading on credit ou tte pros
pect OF an early pSymeu, Of a portion of
the strip money, are buying articles ot use
tplne>s instead OF throwing tce money
away Is IN former Payments. Iuey alSo
know that this VIII bs the last money pav-
men they viii ever participate IN. ana re
lag thu. conscious Q I he condition: 4Dwbica
ErN WI he ttLnca.i NNhn. Tie lIa.rnr =. -.