Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-08-03
PRINCIPLE, NOT POLICY.
"ToO-qua-stee" Would Prefer no
Bread to Half a Loaf.

"Too-qua-Stee" Would Prefer no
Bread to Half a Loaf.
EDITOR CHIEFTAIN:-"The Sem
tinel ADVOCATES principles, not
men" These are the words OF
the Sentinel. That is just what
all good editors should do-adyo-
cate principles, but the truth OF
the matter is, friend Parks does
not do any such thing: he never
has attempted it. The National
party have been long bantering
and badgerng the stalwart, highly
cultured, wide awake, progressive
Downing leaders to start out on a
line of principle; but on that kind
of argument they are all as whist
as a race of blind mice, as dumb
as a generation of dead men. The
fact is, they are mortally afraid OF
principle. They krow that prin-
ciple will condemn them every
time. Hence the only thing they
have ever done, has been simply
to appeal to prejudice by ringing
changes like these: "We are for
progress. D." 1--WE are for progress
ives" "We are no togies, like
the iullbloods." I'VE are in
favor of a treaty" "We must have
a treaty, because a treaty Is better
than the Curtis law" "By the
iingoes. something has got to be
done; if we don't do it, Congress
will do it for US; a half loaf Is bet
ter than no loaf" "Hurrah for
the progressives." "Go in boys,
catch while and what you can. tor
the time is near at hand when you
can't"
This is the style of the Sentinels
argument, indeed that of the whole
Downing party.
Compare this method OF reason
with that of the fullblood, and 1t
will be easily seen who are the
advocates of principles" and who
are not.
When an individual, or a nation
promises to do an act, or to abstain
from the doing of it, and has re-
ceived and enjoyed the considera-
ton of the contract, it is a prin-
ciple, yes, an eternal principle,
that such person, or nation, should
do. or abstain from doing, the act
in question. In the treaty OF 1888,
the United States agreed for valu-
able considerations, to let the
Cherokees enjoy the privilege OF
self-government. Wolf Coon main
tains that the United States should
live up TO that agreement. His
contention is based upon an eter-
nal principle. But what does the
Sentinel say about it; why, it de-
nounces the Coon as a fool, and
unfit to be a chief of the Cherokees,
because, forsooth, he is disposed
to stand by principle.
Again, the United States prom
ised. Cagain for valuable considera-
ton y in the so-called Strip agree
ment. to remove the intruders out
of the country and for the future
to protect the Cherokees in the
little patch of land that was left
to them after ceding the Outlet
Now principle says, (else the
WORD of God is false the United
States ought TO do just as 1t prom.
ised to do in the premises, ano
this is what Wolf Coon says in hi:
platform; Wolf Coon. eternal prin
ciple, and God Almighty, are il
accord here, against the Sentine
and that nonpareIl party of which
it is the plant tool,
1t is much to be doubted II thu
Sentinel knows the difference be
tween a principle and policy
, There is not a single principle
enunciated in the Downing plat
form. 1t is composed entirely o
few fluffy little propositions al
peryaded and animated by a de
graded spirit OF sordid selhshness
il is merely the formulation OF
policy, and a very mean policy a
that. Ii says the Downing part,
I is in favor of an equal divide c
. our national estate; and, IN th
next breath, it saysit heartily en-
dorses the Muskogee agreement
But it is well understood that tha
E monster birth of q narrow minded
+. self-seeking negotiation provide
in plain terms that all those teI
lows who have been speculaun
in the common property Of tn
g people for the last twenty years
e shall be allowed first to get ava
: with the vast pile of their ill-go
ten gains in the form OF town lots
before any division at all l. to b
u made; and this is what the Dowr
It ing platform calls "a fair an
1 equitable DIVISION" it is wb;
a the Sentinel calls principle.
- Yes, Mr.. Sentinel, if that is VIII;
!, \ you call principle, you are indee
u an advocate of principle and NJ
/ of men" Too-QuA sTEE.
Parsons has hired a profession
base ball team for the seasol
l. Parsons couldn't play Tuis
r None but native" allowed in