Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-11-21

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who have ideas and know how and
are willing to express them fully,
No intelligent Indian is afraid of
the government ever disturbing
the title TO the land, because they
know perfectly well that congress
itself could not disturb it. But
the thing that they are afraid of is
that congress may at an early day
pass a law providing that our own
citizens may go into the United
States courts and sue for their pro
rata shares of the common domain
as individuals, and thus pave the
way for rapid and complete disso-
luton of the tribal government.
Bitter partisan politics is doing
much to help along the complica-
tions that confront the nation.
There were plenty of Mr.. Mayes'
opponents who would have prefer
red to see the nation lost than to
have seen the Downing party tri-
umph. This of course is an ex-
treme view to take of the matter
but it is a fact nevertheless. 1t
does seem that the time has arriv-
ed for the whole Cherokee people
to unite in one grand effort to save
what is left of the nations inherit
ance.
*
Ex-Chief Harris who has Just
retired from the executive chair
after an honored term of nearly
four years, and through a very
turbulent period of the nations
history, certainly does so with the
blessing of his people. Chief Har-
ris' administration was distinguish
ed by many acts of good judg
ment and craftsmanship, and in
the clearer light of after years,
when the voice of party spirit and
animosity shall have been hushed
and reason shall sit in judgment,
c. ]. Harris will be put down as
one of the purest as well as ablest
chiefs the nation ever had.
x
The proposition of the Dawes
commission was read in the senate
one day last week and referred to
the committee Oh foreign relations
ofwhich Senator Walkingstick. of
Goingsnake, is chairman. The
indications are that council will
invite the Dawes commission here
and hear what they have TO say.
In talking with the members of
both houses it is very evident that
a majority favor extending an in
vitation to the commissioners
TO come before the council and
they will be heard. 1t is certainly
a mistaken idea that the council
will oppose meeting or having
anything to do with the commits
sion. But there is one thing, and |
the sentiment is practically unani-
nous, that an effort should be
made. and made through the
Dawes commission, to get the gov
ernment TO appropriate the amount |
due the nation according TO the
Wyly accounting. amounting to |
over four million dollars. The |
Cherokee leaders are not too dull
to understand that now is a good |
time to press this matter, and to |
do it through this avenue. 1t is
altogether probable that when the
commission comes. if it should |
come, it will be asked to embody |
in its report the necessity of carry
ing out the provisions of the Strip
agreement in the removal of all
intruders fiom the country and
the immediate payment to the
Cherokee nation of the balance due
them according to the accounting
Just alluded to. The Cherokee
nation is not ready nor willing to
talk allotment nor statehood nor
change of government in any form,
until the aforesaid questions are
settled and settled right. 1t has
been stated that the Indians were
prejudiced against the Dawes COM
and would not hear them,
Or stop to reason with them, but
such is not the case.
The long delay in counting the
vote and seating the principal
chief necessarily delayed the de-
ivering of the message to the
The message was finally /
delivered last Wednesday morning
At the opera house to as large and
as intelligent an audience as ever
gathered there Judge Springer
was holding court in the building,
put he kindly adjourned court for
he occasion and he, with the 9TH
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