Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-09-16
GOING BEYOND THE TREATIES.

GOING BEYOND THE TREATIES.
The. prevailing opinion among
thinking citizens of the Cherokee
nation at this time is without
doubt against any steps being
taken by the Cherokees, looking
to a change of government. That
radical changes will and must
necessarily come soon no one
doubts, and the majority are be-
coming reconciled to the inevita-
BILE passing of the Indian tribal
governments. But it is no longer
believed that it is necessary for the
Indian to become party to the
abolition of his government, or
that by his help or consent bet
ter agreement could be reached.
1t has been argued with more or
less plausibility by the Dawes
commission, that the Indians
themselves should enter into the
negotiations, and that more favor
able terms could thereby be secur-
ed. But the history of the negoti-
ations thus far have proven the
contrary to be the truth. If it be
the fixed policy of the United
States government to arbitrarily
abolish the autonomy of the five
tribes, it is equally the fixed policy
of the FIVE tribes not to be abolish
ed. From a legal standpoint it
certainly seems that the govern
ment, acting through and by the
instrumentality of the Dawes COM
mission, has gone to the extreme
limit of its power or jurisdiction.
Without overriding all laws and
treaties made with the Indians the
American congress itself cannot go
further. A place has at last been
reached where the Indian can af-
ford to stop and wait complaisant-
ly for whatever comes. The five
tribes of this territory still stand
within the pale of law and treaty
with an undisputed title to their
lands, and exist as separate Indian
governments with the guarantee of
the United States that they shall
remain so as long as "grass grows
and water runs" Now if this
solemn compact is to be ruthless
ly broken the Indian proposes not
to be party to the breaking of it.
The Dawes commission, acting os-
tensibly as the plenipotentiary of
the United States government, rep
resented that it had something bet
ter to offer the Indian than present
tribal government. The Indian
stopped then long enough to list
en-, and to hear the plan of the
commission fully, and which they
were pleased to reject. believing il
to be far inferior to that which
they already had. Four years
have been spent in dickering and
listening to the Dawes commits
sion. Congress has been asked to
arbitrarily destroy the Indian gov
ernments. The Dawes commits
sion have urged the necessity Of
radical measures in dealing with
the Indian all along. The CON-
mission seemed to lose sight of the
Indians rights entirely. Last
summer an amendment was tackled
on to the Indian appropriation bill
that practically abolishes the In
dian governments. The provi'
ions of that measure go into effect
the first of January, 1898, and
peremptorily set aside and annul
our tribal courts. A more radical
measure could not be conceived, 6
more unreasonable, illegal anC
high-handed piece of Legislation
could not be proposed. 1t is 81
inconsistent with law and treaty
that the Indians are 10th to be
| lieve that its enforcement Will b.
attempted. And if the provisions
of that measure should be exacted
then the tribes of this territorl
will seek redress in the highes
courts to test to the utmost it
legality. They will not submit t,
it tamely, without a struggle.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
How fhe Cherokees met tbe PropositjO