Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-03-08
THE INDIANS PROTEST.
Memorial of the International
Council Protesting Against
a Change.

the call OF our as pective eniefs
and governors and by the peUll,
are commanded to consider the
proposition set forth in the act of
congress Of March 3, 1893. We
beg leave to submit the following
az our views and wishes in the
matter OF holding land in severalty
and territorial government to be
followed in course oftime by state
hood. We take it as fact that
you have recommended in the aci, {,
as IN all legislation, what you
desire to be for the best interests
Of the Indian, and therefore we
take it that your action is from a
lack of information and through
understanding OF the moral, pOlit-
ical, educational and industrial
condition of the Indian of the
Indian Territory. We do not
think you would recommend to us
anything the option of which
whether by your relations or by
congressional command, will work
ruin and annihilation to the tribes
of the Indian Territory. We be.
lieye that you have been misled
by the representations of our
enemies, by the statements of
irresponsible parties in some of
the newspapers aud by some news
papers in the Indian Territory,
which have been actuated 10y pure.
ly selfish motives. We, who have
been born and rai ed in the Indian
Territory, having a full knowledge
of the real situation, to the end
that a full understanding of our
condition may be had, offer the
following statement of facts: 1t
might just as well understood
one time as another that the good
substantial citizens of the United
States sojourning within the In
dian Territory are not only not
asking that this country be opened
up and our territorial government
be broken up, but they are oppos-
ed to such actions and desire that
the solemn rights granted the In
dian in their treaty shall be re
spected and protected. The as
sertion often made that the Indian
Territory is a barrier to the prog
ress OF advancement of surrounding
States lack that essential OF all
charges-truth. As nations we
engage in stock raising, agriculture
and similar pursuits, merchandis.
ing, the professions and the me-
chanical operations We develop
and operate mines of coal, lead,
zinc and other metals. These give
employment not only to ourselves,
but to thousands of non citizens.
Our railroad facilities are equal to
those Of other states. Our elee-
mosynary institutions would be a
credit to any of the sister states.
Potters fields and poor-houses are
unknown in our nation. We
spend more money per capita foI
educational purposes than any
state in the union. There are two
high schools, a male and female
seminary, over 100 public oil
neighborhood schools, an orphan
asylum, an eleemosvnary institute
and a colored high school in the
Cherokee nation. There are -four
high schools, two orphan asylums
and over $50 common schools in
the Choctaw nation. There are
eight high schools, an orphan
asylum and sixty-fve common
schools in the Creek nation, fOul
high schools, an orphan asy'
lum and twenty-five common
schools il the Chickasaw nation
All maintained by the respective
nations at a nominal or 10 expense
at all to the people and no expense
whatever TO the United States
Besides there are twenty or more
sectarian schools among US, sus-
tanned by religious societies, but
all OF which receive grants for loca'
ton and in many instances muni-
ficent gifts from the nations and
other national assistance. Nearly
all our public school buildings are
used for Sabbath school purposes
on Sunday. School teachers are
selected as much for their moral
as their educational qualifications.
Churches are numerous amOung
US, and as many of our people at
tend and are members in proper.
ton 10 numbers as in any of the
western states. When you reflect
that education and morality are
the fundamental principles of your
civilization it is unjust to charge
US as being in the way of progress
and advancement of our surround.
ing neighbors. These yers pro-
gressive conditions indicate a
preparation for that time when we
will not ouly be ready for state
hood, but we will be found at the
door of congress asking for il.
Then why not let US remain in
our present prosperous condition
until such time as we are ready to
ask statehood2 II is true we have
"A few good friends who advise us
to allot, but that advice arises from
the want OF proper information and
correct understanding OF the situa.
tion Of the condition OF the full
blood Indian. The real hidden
desire Of the advocate Of allotment
is that Of gain 1t ought to appeal
to the patriotic pride Of every
United States citizen to ALLOW the
five tribes to remain as they are.
We have responded to every de-
mand Of progress and our advance