Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-07-07

tive work seemed to be left entire
ly in the hands of the chairman of
the Indian committee and the
president of the senate. The
former stood for nearly an hour
simply announcing amendments
and notifications of the bill, while
the latter took them up in order as
they came and, in an absent mind
ed way, put them to a vote and,
without lifting his eyes from his
rea ing, pronounced them "car-
rled' without single vote being
heard anywhere. 1t was am easy
going and doubtless am ENJOYABLE
affair for the fellows who were
after the Indians scalp; but it was
death to the Indian. 1t is strange
that nectar and wormwood should
be found growing so near together
in this lower-world wildwood of
mortals.
But the value of a jewel lies
largely in the rareness OF The min
eral in which it consists. tits on
this principle that candor and
conscience, when discovered, look
so charming upon the floors of
congress. Every member of con
gre-s usually has his own pocket
full of little jobs in which his soul
is 50 deeply absorbed that he can
thimk ofnothing else He has 40
legislative energy to squan,ler on
any other cause, no matter how
msrii0rious it may be Hence he
regards hinselfgenerally furlough-
ed from care until the moment
comes round in the schedule of
time when the Legislative mill
begins 80 grind on his own little
gris.; hs j. then usually present in
the full vigor ni life, foaming in
roaring speech, looking after his
toll.
But 20 this unhappy congress
sional aspect there was at least
one grand exception. There was
one senator whose moral greatness
unquestionably trans cended the
limits of all these mean measures
of right prescribed by power and
policy; whose conception of justice
and honor rose to the altitude of
divinity itself. He was an old
man; his head was as white as an
eagles, and sat upon his broad
stoop shoulders like a veritable
crown of glory. He had listened
with patience to the miserable
shuilling arguments in justilica-
tion of the governments bad faith
in violating her treaties with tie
Cherokees. when he rose at his
place in the senate and, in tone
of voice and dignity of manner
that welded tornado of uncon-
scious e!oquence, said:
"Mr. President, | think this
bill is wrong. | think it is in vio-
lation of all the treaties that have
ever been made with these Indians
by this government. 1t overrides
moral and legal obligations. The
whole thing is wrong | have the
treaties here by me which | could
read if necessary; but they have
already been read, and the case is
well understood to be as | state
it. protest against the passage
of this bill"
The Cherokees are but a little |
folk, not much in n bear fight; but |
when il comes to an exercise in |
the sentiment of gratitude they |
are nowhere to be outdone upon |
the face of the earth. When the |
"Indian problem" is solved"
that is TO say, when the Cherokees
as distinctive community have |
been long forgotten, and the poor |
people who once wore the name |
have long been on the duty assign
ed them in the walks of poverty
and contempt by the merciless de-
crees of civilization, they will
in their wretchedness.
visit the tomb of Senator Bate. of
Tennessee and. dropping tear of
say "he was a friend
to US in our adversely, when all
the world was against us; but he
died" Too Qua -STEE