Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-09-06
A TIME FOR sTATEsMANsH1P.
Some Plain Statements From a
Cherokee.

COLuO EldAn ObdbohChb5 EAOH q
Cherokee.
vinita, l. T. Sept. 4, lsgl
What is the future outlook for the
Cherokee people as a nation2 This
is a question fraught with much in
terest to us; a question that de-
mands, at our hands, a solution; a
question that involves our every
national and individual interests;
one that at this time should be
paramount to all other. If there
ever was time in the history of
our nation that true, conscientious
craftsmanship was at a premium
it is now. True men are needed
at the front, who will bury self
interest for the good Of our people.
Our national council will assemble
about sixty days hence. There are
questions of vital importance that
demand some legislation at the
hands of this coming council.
Whether they will come out like
men and grapple with these ques-
tions or evade them remains to be
seem.
That the present monopolistic
condition of the public domain de-
mands correction at their hands no
one will pretend to deny. This
condition is now creating more dis
satisfaction among our own people
than any other one thing now be.
ing agitated. This condition that
makes it possible under our laws
for about two-tenths OF our people
to nonopolize our entire public
domain, and hold it for the pur-
pose Of speculation, to the entire
exclusion and detriment of the
eight-tenths of our people is a con-
dltion that carnot last. Relief
from our home government is the
proper place from which this cor
rection and relief should come; but
so far all legislation looking to the
correction of this crying evil has
been defeated by influence brought
to bear upon our councilmen by
parties interested in maintaining
this unfair condition of affairs.
Thousands of people who are cit
mems and are equally interested in
our public domain have no homes,
and cannot procure them on &C.
count of this condition. Do we
expect them to remain quiet ano
eonlented under these conditions?
Nay, verilyl l say to you thai
you are very much mistaken, they
are not content, and even now
though you may not discern it
there is a cloud Of discomfort arise
ing that is rapidly assuming huge
proportions, and ere you are awar,
OF it may burst above our headI
and shut out our national light for
ever. If people cannot procure
relief from our own government
do you for a moment believe they
will be content to fold their arms
and submit to this usurpation o
their rights? No; they will resor
to any measure rather than submit
Legislation from any source thal
will give them their rights is far
preferable to this damnable con,
dition. This condition ~ tne pub.
iiic dsmain furnish ~ the cInb &
n Dawes aGEnfEiees5n with which
o,r- 0wn haals Hill be broken
fbgs Vate y fafI9iis in our country
has been nourished and fed by oui
national council until the people
are exasperated. Rejecting, sen
sible people have remained pas
sive, hoping for relief, bu
it has not come. They are dis
gusted and disheartened. Nam
hundreds Of our people are ALREADY
saying that if this state OF affair
is TO continue, allotment OF ou
lands would be more desirable
for then every one would at leas
get his pro rata share of the pub
lie domain. We have mad
many deplorable mistakes in tn
past, and we are now making
very great mistake in that we d
not meet this question and adjus
it so as to give our people relief
There ought to be some legisla
ton more specifically defining tn
inter-marriage between citizen
and whites, so that hereafter n
question as TO the status Of adoptel
citizens could arise. The law allow
ing sub,leases TO hold minin
claims for twenty years is an evi
that will probably result in mucl
Litigation and trouble for us. Tn
United States intends, in the nea
future, to change our form of gov
ernment if they can. Many peo
tple think they can and will; other
think differently. We ought a
least to do our duty 10 our peopl,
by cutting down the monopoly o
our public domain, SO that every
man would only be allowed BIZ
pro rata share Of the public do