Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-09-20
MAJ. KIDD'S REMARKS

WflJt NiUD y 0EWNttNO
IContinued from first pobe.1
henefitted by a change and why It
is desired. They are enough to
satisfy any rational mind that such
changes ought to be made.
Now the government sends to
you three of your friends, and we
tell you the situation is so differ
ent here now from what IL was
when the Treaty of 1866 was made
and that it is with great sacrifice
and injustice to others it can be
longer observed. The government
recognizes your title to the land
and does not desire to disturb it.
Nor does it wish to buy an acre of
il unless you want to sell it. 1t
simply asks you to divide it among
yourselves, and consent to form
of government that will be a pro-
lection and blessing to all. In
such change we can provide against
all dangers to you-real or imag
mary.
SOME PROPOSITIONS.
Some have expressed a fear that
improvident Indians might be
cheated out of their lands and be-
come homeless. We offer to give
each one title to enough land for
a good home and support, and
make il as inalienable as it now is,
and for as long time rs you may
desire.
We offer TO set apart as much
money or land as you may desire
for the support of your schools
thus insuring your children the
opportunities for a good education
We offer to secure TO you fair
trials in court by securing juries,
half of which shall be Indians by
blood, and thus provide against all
possibility of injustice resulting
from race prejudice.
We offer to continue the exclu.
sion of intoxicants from your coun-
try and make it more effective.
Since we submitted to your gov
eminent formal propositions the
secretary of the interior has de.
cided that the Cherokee govern
ment alone has the power to decide
who are Cherokees. OF course we
offer to agree to that
We offer to ..1W the roll ot
freedmen to sta 4 as made by U,
S. officers, except as it may be
changed by disinterested board
after hearing evidence in disputed
cases.
INTRUDERs.
We have sometimes been told
that the government has never
kept a contract it has made with
you, and especially that to remove
the intruders. People who make
such statements confuse the acts oI
bad men with the acts of the gov.
ernment. You know the improve
ments of intruders were to be ap.
praised and paid for before theiI
removal. That in appropriating
money to pay the expenses of ap.
praisal congress er-estimated
the amount required, and that the
secretary of the interior is forbid.
den by the law TO expend money
for the payment of which an ap.
preparation has not been made,
and you know this is the cause oi
the delay. But We suppose the
money necessary to complete il
will be appropriated this session
of congress and no unnecessary de.
lay will result.
But we propose to you the mos
certain and expeditions method ol
settling this question that has evei
been suggested. We propose tC
divide up all your lands, among
such as you designate, and to put
each in possession of his share, and
this to be done before a territorial
government is established.
My friends, the government ha;
paid you many millions OF dollars
You have been the recipients Of 1t;
bounty and enjoyed its friendship
ever since you came in contact with
il; aud it sounds to ne much like
ingratitute to hear you impugn its
good faith.
aooD KEsuLrs or A SHANsE.
The Advocate asks what good
would come to the Cherokee peo,
pie by the changes proposed. We
answer, very many. 1t would
wrench from the land monopolists
the possession of your best lands,
and give to each Cherokee, rich OF
poor-his just share.
II would give to each Indian il
the Five Civilized Tribes his share
in the coal and minerals now mon.
opolized by few.
II would give 10 each his share
of the valuable pine forest now be
ing cut and appropriated by few
1t would give your children bet
ter neighborhood schools and af
ford an opportunity for the educa
tion of all. Your children woulC
he educated with the white chill
dren and assimilate the two races
thus preparing you for corporation
into the great race that rules this
continent. Ii is an inexorabie Law
that when a stronger people hay
ing higher civilization, comes il
contact with one less powerful
and civilized, the latter must con
form to the laws and usages Of thI
former, or become extinct. Yol
are now in contact with and sur
rounded by a more numerous an'
advanced race, and absorption o.
extinction is your best destiny
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