Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-06-21
ALLOTMENT AND STATEHOOD
A Royal Refuge for Retreatine
Raeoals.

ed the commencement sermdn for
Willie Halscll college, after spend.
ing a week in our city writes the
following 60 his paper, the Saint
Louis Christian Advocate:
Comparatively few of our people
have any conception uf the beauty,
fertility and future possibilities OF
the Indian Territory And yet IL
fingers near the very center of our
body polite, a monstrosity Of mis-.
cradle government, like detach-
ed bone or lead n ball in The hu-
man body A government in the
very heart of our land and almost
as foreign TO us as that uf Japan.
\ net work Of nations, tribes
treaties, concUctions and combina-
lions. A royal refuge for retreat
ing rascals from the surrounding
country, to rob railroad trains and
the natives cf their legitimate and
inherited rights. The very sigh
OF the breezes and loveliness of
the landscapes seem to plead to
the passing stranger and to our
general government for statehood
and allotment Of the lands.
Mistaken sympathy and morbid
humanity is under the impression
that statehood aud the allotment
of lands would initiate against
the interest of the full-bloods,
from the fact that many of the
full. bloods are opposed to a
change. From all that we see and
hear, this opposition is not original
with the full. bloods, but is engen.
dered by the white interloper and
manipulator who manages to alb
sorb the lions share of all the land
profits and government money
coming to the Indian. During this
month So, 10000 will be distribut-
ed to the Cherokees from the gen
eral government for the Strip sale
OF land. Every man, woman and
child with Cherokee blood will
each draw s265 20. Yet a very
small proportion of this will reach
the full. bloods. They have already
bartered away their birthright tor
a"mess OF pottage, Tin many cases
taking tobacco at an enormous
price, for which they have signed
away to the manipulation and spec
ulator their interest in the forth
coming government payments.
Yet amid all these government
shadows, aboriginal miseries and
mans inhumanity to man, we find
as true and noble a people as ever
followed the star of empire in its
westward march. Many whose for.
tunes went down in the east under
the crested. crimson wave of Ncr,
are here recuperating and training
up noble bands OF boys and girls
battling for the right. Vinita. where
the ST. Louis and San Francisco
railroad crosses the Missouri, Kan.
sas and Texas road, is one of the
most beautiful and promising
places in the territory, and only
awaiting statehood and the allot-
ment of land To burst into bloom
ing city. Methodism is pretty well
established here with a great future
il our local leaders only had a lit
tie more self-conlidence and faith to
press the battle in pre-empting the
ground while the city and COM
munity are in a plastic and forma-
tive state.
! he salient feature and light
house of this community is the
Willie Halsell College, named after
a little girl who lived and died near
the present site of the institution.
How much better to perpetuate the
name and memory of a loved one
in this way than to hide ones mon
ey away in vaults and marble
mausoleums There are 100 acres
in the college grounds as beautiful
as can be found in all our land.
This will some day be very valua-
BILE. At present the institution is
somewhat burdened with debt; il
the Mission Board could only help
in the relief of this present indcbt-
edness, the community will be able
to take the care and burden for al
the future The president, Prof.
W. E. Rowsey, is quite a young
man, but evidently very cOmpe.
tent one, assisted by very compe.
tent faculty. The graduating class
was certainly a gratifying success.
The essay of the valedictOrian was
one Of the most original and prac.
tical ones we have ever heard, and
would have done credit TO any of
our older eastern colleges. More
than 100 of the students have In
dian blood. but the number of full.
bloods in any of fthese schools, so
far as our personal observation
goes. is quite small. IL our people
at Vinita would erect a good
church, commensurate with the
growing demands OF the communi-
ty, it would be a great help 10 The
school as well as to the town.
At Alton, fifteen miles east of
Vinita, we preached to a very large
and appreciative audience. This
community,in the midst of a great
wheat growing section,is very anx-
ious for a district school. They
have about S4.00 subscribed aud
are looking around for some church
that will take the school and run it.
At Muskogee we met DR. Brewer
aud his good wife, who have stood
by Harrell international Institute
through the years. and are still do
ing a noble work. Many from
these different tribes will rise up in
the last day and call them blessed.
What we say first we say last:" Let