Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-04-21
Law of Eminent Domain Sought to be Invoked
to our Injury and Also Alleged Equities
Right of Non Citizens to Take Part
in Municipal Governments
Denied

a bill has been passed by the senate
authorizing municipal corporations
to condemn and appropriate pri-
vate property under the law OF
"eminent domain" The bill has
gone to the house and is now pend
ing before that body for action.
The delegation regard the provis-
ions of this bill as extremely det-
rimental to both the political and
property rights of the Cherokee
people, and are doing all they can
reasonably to prevent its passage.
Among the reasons urged against it.,
the simple fact that it is a meas
ure represented mainly by non
citizens, intluders, is by no means
the least important.
The municipal government, that
is to say the government of an in
corporated town, is essentially a
component part of the general
government of the state in which
the town exists. To vote at a
town election, and to hold office in
a town government is, in a legal
sense, the same as to vote and to
hold office in the state government;
it is, in either case, the exercise
of the highest function OF citizen
ship.
Right here, now, lies a concern
which, while it seems to be attract
ing but little attention, should be
sufficient to fill the minds of the
rightful owners of the Indian
Territory with feelings of alarm
The Dawes commission, as it is
well known, were sent into our
country for the purpose of ascer-
tanning who were and who were
not intruders; this was done osten-
sibly as first step on part OF the
government toward fulfilling her
long neglected obligation to pro-
tect the Indians against molesta-
tion in the enjoyment of their
lands. 1t was tardy, yet cheer
ing, sign of the times which we
had hoped would prove to be a
harbinger of the blessed era when
our country would be finally re-
lieved of the chronic evil of intru-
sion. But the movement, so far,
has vindicated a claim 20 nothing
more crediiable than mere show
The Dawes commission seems to
be well nigh already gone into
history; its judgments have prac-
tically evaporated into smoke; the
bluster has subsidized, and the in
truders are still! resting peacefully
at home upon the Indians lands,
sowing, reaping and gathering into
barns the rich results of unmitiga-
ted fraud and imposition.
But this is not all; while the
Dawes commission were making
this formal display OF an intention
to oust these intruders, and to put
the Indians in possession of their
lands, the Arkansas law was put
into force in the Indian Territory.
When this luminous code moved
out of the skies of Arkansas and
took its stand over the Indian
country, the effect seemed to be
much like that of the white cloud
that led the holy people in their
wanderings in the wilderness: it
was signal for the people TO move
on; and so they did move, notwith-
standing the Dawes commission
and their judgments. The neglect
on part of the government to carry
into execution the decisions OF
that commission had its legitimate
effects upon the popular mind. 1t
was very reasonably construed in
to a tacit, yet equally effective
declaration on part OF the govern
ment that her guarantees against
intrusion upon the Indians were
never TO be enforced; that every
person who had been denied the
blessings of home and the ordi-
nary chances for a livelihood, by /
the illiberal institutions of the I
states, might flee, if he choose,
and take refuge in the free land of
the Indians. Hence the result
of the presence of the Dawes COM
mission in our country has been
very greatly to increase, rather
than TO check, the influx of intru-
ders. 1t has done more than that; it
has conferred upon trespassers on
the Indians a semb!ance of legiti-
macy; it has had tendency to
quiet the apprehensions of coming
Justice in the minds of those who
have long been in the country, and
given a feeling of tranquil asEur-
ance to all who might feel disposed
to participate in this great permis-