Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-03-08

SUITES unu our Outl0CSS tro0S-
actions carry us where there are
nice and comfortable homes. IL
is natural, therefore, for us to
build such houses. But the state.
ment that this is done by the
educated Indian at the expense of
the full blood Indian is not true.
1t is charged that the educated In.
dian is using more than what
should be his pro rata share Of
land. While this may be true in
some instances, the present laws
of our nations authorize il and the
people directly receive the benefit
therefrom. The increased revenue
necessary to sustain their educa
tional institutions and government
is raised without direct taxation
Under the Creek system of graz.
ing.leases, the Choctaw and Chick
asaw coal leases and the Cherokee
grass and coal leases each nation
derives a large and necessary rev.
enue which is annually paid into
their respective treasures. With
out the present revenue, so deriv-
ed, amounting to $4,000 per
annum TO the Creeks. over 500.
600 to the Choctaws and Chicka-
saws and $4,000 to $50, 900 to the
Cherokee nation, our present edu-
cational system would be para.
lyzed and direct taxation, obnox-
ious if avoidable, would be noces.
sary to carry on the government.
That private energetic citizens
have taken these leases is true,
and it is true that they make
money out of them. The business
is legitimate and satisfactory to
the people, but it can be repealed
at any time the law makers may
see fit. An honest investigation
OF the present situation in the In
dian Territory will disclose the
same state of affairs here that are
present in the United States-that
the best friend the poor and un.
educated man has is the man with
means sufficient to spare to his
needy neighbor. Example is
stronger than precept, and the
good homes and farms of our In
dians excite little desire in all
his neighbors, and they want
theirs to be as good. This is what
transpires among US every day.
The contemplated change of our
tribal government and tenure OF
land will not increase the opportu.
nifty Of the educated Indian, but it
will work ruin and disaster to the
uneducated full.blood. This has
been true in all previous allot-
ments Of lands. While we need
not refer you to any particular
Tube, the history of one being the
history of all, nevertheless we cite
the Indians of Kansas as an ex-
ample of the baneful results of
lands in severalty to Indians.
When the United States, either
through congress or commission.
ers, drives the Indian with the
alternative of either accepting or
rejecting allotment, we will be
found advising our people to re-
main as they are, both in tenure
and tribal government. This
advice will be given because we
believe that any change in our
tenure of land will mean financial
ruin, moral degradation and final
annihilation to the full. blood and
uneducated Indians. This belief
of ours is by no means idle fancy,
neither is it born of fear. So, AS
Indians who love our country aud
one another, we say to the United
States, if you will no listen to our
/ protests, If TO our assertions, so
well founded in absolute truth as to
be unanswerable, you simply say
that lit costs too much money To
allow you people to remain a. you
are, we, as Indians, possessing
the common instincts of humanity,
reply: IF the die is cast you
must do these things yourselves
and not ask or expect US to assist
in reducing ourselves TO homeless,
wandering paupers." 1t is no fair
. eA4e Nti ~ AilAo " soy wat VIC
ought to know better, ought to be
in condition to cope with the white
man in owning and maintaining
our rights to our lands and per-
sonal property. The United
States having put the Indian here
to prepare himself for the duties
and responsibilities Of territorial
government and ultimate state
hood, and then, out of mere i'm
patience and to satisfy the clamOr
and rancor Of the boomer, cuts the
Indian out Of, when he is coming
tG that state of civilization when
he will be ready for statehood, it.
will be in the eyes of every lover
Of justice. common robbery.
l.. b. BELL, Chairman.
+. c. BoUDINoT, Secretary.