Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-04-18


ment Of the laws OF the Cherokee
nation, and will continue in its
efforts to reform the judiciary to
, the end that the expense may be
reduced to a minimum, and the
lives and liberty as well as the
property of the people may be
protected by granting the right of
appeal to the supreme court of the
Cherokee nation.
10. The Downing party pledges
itself against all kinds OF cor
ruption in any department of our
government, executive, legis-
lative and judicial. II denounces
the so-called financial agent bill"
passed by the National party and
condemns the corrupt methods
used in its passage.
IL. This party will insist on the
congress of the United States max
ing appropriation of the entire
sum Of money lound due to the
| Cherokee nation by the account
ants appointed as provided in the
Cherokee strip" agreement, viz;
The sum Of lin round numbers)
| 81, 300, 900 and pledges itself to
pay the came out per capita to all
bone fide citizens of the Cherokee
nation.
II. The constitution expressly
provides that the lands of the
Cherokee nation shall remain COM
mon property, and as a necessary
precsution against monopoly of
the lands so held, and that the
rights of all in the public domain
might be equally secured and pro.
tected, the constitution likewise
provides that the council shall
have the power TO adopt such laws
and regulations as its wisdom may
deem expedient and proper, to pre-
vent citizens from monopolizing
improvements with the view of
speculation. We, therefore, hold
that the lands of the Cherokee
nation, in their undivided condi
tion, are intended to be used and
occupied by citizens according to
their several needs, and for the
purposes of agriculture and domi-
cile, aud not for speculation in i'm.
provements. The Downing party
pledges itself to an impartial
adjustment of all abuses by citi-
zens Of this intention, and pledges
its most earnest endeavors that
every citizen may be insured a
home without money and without
price.
13. The Downing party will
ever insist upon the right of the
Cherokee nation to determine who
are citizens by blood, as conceded
by the supreme court of the Unit
ed States in the case of the eastern
band of Cherokees VS.. the United
States and Cherokee nation. The
party will presistently demand
the speedy removal of all unau-
thorized persons within the Cher
okee nation, invoking the United
States to remove them, as solemnly
guaranteed by treaty and Chero.
kee strip agreement, but in the
event the United States fails to
remove such persons speedily as
therein specified, the party. will
favor such legislation by the Cher
okee nation as will authorize the
sale Of all the intruder improve
ments to our citizens and aggres-
sively assist them in securing pos
session of the same through the
courts or by such means as may
by law be created or authorized by
the national council.
IA. The Downing party renews
its fidelity to all citizens OF the
Cherokee nation, both by blood
and adoption, and recognizes that
one great object of the Cherokee
nation must be ever to keep peace
and friendship among her own
citizens. and to keep alive in every
citizen the true fire Of patriotism,
the genuine love of their country,
as our government must be main.
tanned by the united efforts of the
entire people. The party, there
fore, guarantees equal civil, po-
litical and property rights to all
citizens as pledged to them under
} the constitution and laws of the
Cherokee nation and treaty stipu-
} lations. The body polite of the
! Cherokee nation consists Of its cit
/ liens, to-wit: Cherokees by blood.
adopted whites, Shawuees, Della
wares, Freedmen and Creeks, and
must be one people, with a mutual
interest. The party recognizes
the fact that the destiny of our
, country rests in the hands Of this
entire people, and its great pur-
pose will be to make every citi-
zen feel and know that this is his
home; that here his life, liberty
and property will be protected.
The party indorses the recon.
, mendations of don. G. j. Harris
in his special message, dated April
: 10, 1894, as to whom the late
"Strip proceeds" should be paid
, and pledges itself, if successful, to
: pay all bona fide adopted citizens
} of the Cherokee nation their pro
rata part Of said proceeds withheld
by the National party in violation
of their constitutional and treaty
rights. d. NJ. FAULKSER,
w. w. HASTINGS, Chairman.
Secretary.