Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-08-06
THE CHEROKEE COUNCIL.
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS FROM
THE CAPITAL CITY.
Opening C0mment-"The Old Guard
Dies but Never Surrenders"-CitiZen-
ship the First Question for Consider
ati0n-Dawes Commissions Efforts to
be Antagonized in the Courts.
TAHLEQUAH, Aug. 4.

not De Ot much interest IL so lar as
the council proceedings are con-
cerned. But the ''clans are gath
ering" and there is much evidence
that this will be an earnest and
thoughtful business session. 1t is
not probable that much legislation
will be accomplished, or even at
tempted, but means and methods
of preserving and keeping intact
the tribal relations a little longer
is the central thought. Nor is
there any great difference of opin-
ion along these lines; all are in fa-
vor of adopting any measure that
promises delay in the work of de-
struction. We have discussed the
subject of the impending change
that is coming to this country with
several leading Cherckees--men
who view the situation from the
mountain-tops, so to speak, who
have been on the inside here at
home and who have sat as specta-
tors in both wings of the capitol at
Washington-and find that there is
practically one sentiment: all are
agreed, and all are opposed to the
policy of congress with reference
to this country. There is a stolid,
stubborn seriousness that pervades
the assemblage in both houses and
in the Hobbies, that clearly indi-
Gates great concern at the condition
of affairs. One don't have to seek
far to find men who are in favor of
fighting every inch of the ground
and contending with the United
States government ill the very last
for the maintenance of Indian au-
tonomy in the territory. Any In
dian will tell you that he is not in
favor of surrendering or submit
ting, and the man who believes
that the fight is about ended is
greatly mistaken. The leaders in
Cherokee thought and action know
the treaties, agreements, opinions
and decisions of the supreme court.
by heart and they know just how
far congress and the Dawes COM
mission will be able to go, and they
know every point at which they
may attack the scheme to dissolve
their tribal relations. and they are
fully determined to fight to the
last ditch.
.**
The vital question now before
the Cherokees, and the one for the
consideration of which Chief
Mayes has called council in the
present session, is that of citizen
ship. The matter Of making
final roll of citizens of the Chero
kee nation is of vastly more i'm
portance right now than that of
a change of government, allotment,
or even statehood itself. Several
different plans will be offered
council in a day or two as to the
most feasible means of taking the
census. The main obsticle in the
way now seems to be time. To
act in unison with the Dawes COM
would require what would
seem undue haste; to refuse to act
with the commission might place
the whole matter in the hands of
that commission as soon as con-
gress gets another chance at it.
There are a great many names on
the rolls now that are known to
be fraudulent, but they have been
placed there by Cherokee authori-
ty and just how to get them off is
a very puzzling matter. Before
the big Strip payment there was
general rush and great scramble
to get on the rolls, and hundreds
of Cherokees living in the states
got on the pay roll by giving up a
share of their per capita money to
some man who stood on the in
side. Many of these never did
live here and do not now. They
came here to the payment solely,
and then returned home to Geor-
gia or Texas or some other state
where were their homes and their
interests. Now when the census
is to be taken again, preparatory
as they think to a division of the
land and perhaps the invested
funds, they are sure to return
again. The records in the execu-
tive office show that many of these
non resident citizens have pur-
chased town lots in some obscure
town in order to comply with the
provision requiring
property in the nation to save
forfeiture of citizenship. These
people will swoop down upon this
little government like vultures up
on carcass when the word is Civ
en- that a census is to be taken
to allotment. They,
with their resident allies here, are
all in favor of allotment and state
hood and dissolution and desola-
ton of tribal rights and traditions.
The magnitude of the citizenship
question is just beginning to ap-
pear, and from present indications
it is the breaker upon which our
ship will beat and break and foun-
der, and ultimately go down. 1t
is whirlpool that was set IN mo-
ton nearly quarter of a century
ago by the creation and Inaugural
ton of the Vann citizenship court,
The wide open door through which
the Wattses came in with am ever
army of claimants from
the ends of the earth.
**x
Speaking of claimants brings us