The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-25
rHE CuEsoKEEy GRIEVANCE.

THE CHEROKEES GRIEVANCE.
Although the Indian. In ali the arrange
m@nss that have been made with Kim By
the United States government. has shown
an incapacisy for self-control In organized
bodies. and although IL is inevitable tina.
the aboriginal races shah disepr before
the white man. there Is something pathetic
Ia the struggle made By the more inteiii-
gent for seIf-prezervatscr. The Indians Of
some tribes are very shrewc and not al
ways sincere They understand the effect
OF orasory. and some % their appeals are
as uluaivs as one OF Debs' speeches
An effort has BEEN made recently By the
government through the Dawes commits
sion TO break UP the tribal government OF
the cherokees and allot the lands among
the individuals 1t Is proposed 10 allow
the Cherokees TO determine how all funds
shah be disposed OF and lands allotted,
but they desire TO retain their present
tribal distinctiveness. One OK the OBJ
5ecting Indians. whose name Is Gritss. and
who is described as q full blood OF Going
snake. said:
81 am perplexed and eonfounded. II
seems to me that the United States is de-
;ermined to destroy nay government and
substitute another. perhaps better one.
The fulI-bloods dent want any change:
they don't speak English and can't In
aerstand new laws. Therefore. the full
bioods are at disadvantage in the United
States court. not knowing the language
and customs of white people. Besides.
why should we make a new treaty? Un-
less treaty Is successfully carried out. IL
is worthless and we have made one that
the United States is now repudiatlng.'
This seems like very good logic. but the
real controversy e over the claim to lands.
When ths Delaware Indians were removed
to the Cherokee nation. they purchased
from the nation 1906 acres at 81 an acre.
The land was to provide homestead Of
I'D acres for each Delaware Indian re-
moved 10 the Cherokee nation. The Della
wares were then received as citizens: that
Is about 1866 The Delawares settled in
the northern part of the nation, but many
have since removed. and now they are
scattered. The treaty provided that when
the Delawares shall SO request, the public
lands may be- allotted by the national
council to each member of the tribe resid-
ing in "said country" as laid down with
In certain boundaries. The principal ques-
ton involved is that OF the right OF the
heirs of registered Delawarss 20 the 100
acres purchased for sntecedents. as but 251
of the original Deiawares registered are
now living, and the share of tire remain
ing $50 deceased. forms the larger part OF
the tract. This is the secondary. but more
important, consideration-that of allowing
these shares to the heirs. The original
purchase was 15i. 600 acres, which allowed
leo acres for each original Delaware, and
the claims Of those who are still living do
not seem TO admit OF dispute.
The United States government is quite
willing to give due consideration to the
agreement with the Cherokees, but there
are some questions of law to be decided
1t must be determined not only whether
the registered Delswares. having pur-
chased in faith $4,000 acres of land or
fneir nelfS, are entitled I'd H. put whether,
also. having been admitted to citizenship
In the Cherokee nation. they are entitled
to allotments of lands outside of this pur-
chase. and whether by their purchase OF
the land, carrying with 1t the rights OF
citizenship, the share OF landed interest
was defined as 100 acres for the registered
Deiawares only, children OF the registered
Deiawares 20 receive the same as native
Cheroxees. or whether children OF the de-
ceased registered Dciawares receive q
pro-rata portion OF that part OF the orig
inal purchase which remains after 1so
acres have been allotted to these original
Delawares now living. or receive the same
as native Cherokee3.
These questioas are sufficient to puzzle
the government. but when to them are
added the sentimental objections OF the
Chcrokeea. Il will be seen how difficult Il
Is to do strict justice 10 the Indian and to
insure giving entire satisfaction even with
the best of intentions.