Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-06-25
ALLOTMENT GOING ON.

The question as TO whether the
lands of the five tribes are to be
allotted is settled definitely, and
in the affirmative. 1t has pro-
gressed even further than that: the
work has actually begun. 1t has
begun in this way: the country Is
being surveyed, and roll of those
who are to share in the division is
to be prepared by the Dawes CON-
mission at once. More than this
could not be done at this time, or
in other words allotment is pro-
crossing just about as rapidly as it
is possible for it to progress. What
ever may have been the opposition
to this measure heretofore, or the
prejudice of our people against the
allotment of land, it will certainly
not be the part of wisdom to con-
tinue the fight in the face of the in
evitable. The matter that now
concerns the Cherokees more tnan
any other is the determination of
the question of who are really en-.
titled to share in the division of
this land. In the first place it
will be readily admitted that the
land belongs to the Indians and
that they hold it by title that is
perfectly valid, the only question
now being who constitute the citi-
zens of the nation. This is the
matter to which the Dawes COM
mission will first address itself,
and the work is to begin at once.
In the light of the investigations
that have heretofore been had un-
der the supervision of the govern
ment, it is not at all probable that
any great number of claimants will
be admitted to citizenship in this
country who have been rejected by
the Cherokee authorities. There
is, in some quarters, disposition
to discredit to work of the Dawes
commission, and prejudice among
the Indians against its work from
the start, but that feeling should
no longer be fostered, but rather
should everything be done to bring
about fair settlement of this, to
US, momentous question. While
it may have been a mistake for our
people to have met the famous
commission as they did, and TO
have treated it in some instances
rude it may be, it is a matter of
fact that they could not meet it
frankly in any other way. The
Indians were opposed to any inter-
ference on the part of the govern
ment in what they considered to
be strictly their own private busi-
ness. 1t is not necessary to dwell
upon the causes that led up TO the
action of congress in changing the
method of land tenure in this coun-
try. Suffice it to say that congress
has seen fit to lay strong hand on
these Indian governments, and
force them to allot their land.
The sentiment that should now be
uppermost in the mind of every
patriotic Cherokee should be that
the land be given in just prorata
shares to those who are justly en-
titled TO it, and that they be Sc
cured in the subsequent owner
ship of it. We do not share in
the belief that it is the object of
the government, and of the Dawes
commission to lay waste the
homes of the rightful owners of
this country. We de not share in
the belief that the intruders will
be admitted to citizenship en- mass
by this commission, and allowed
to keep the land upon which they
now dwell against all law and
treaty stipulation. In short, we
believe that the commission will
do right, in doing what we ought
to have done ourselves long ago
namely, alloting the land.