Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-06-08

In uncertainty.
Now, as the Downing party hav,
usually endeavored to make poll
cal capital of this state of things
it is but proper that you shoulC
give close attention TO and under
stand distinctly, the attitude o
the two parties in reference to thii
question.
The view entertained by thG
National party is this: Being {
legal question, involving the rights
Of property, it cannot be proper
issue in a political campaign; it i:
incapable of being finally settled
at the polls. After the campaign
is ended, the issue has amounted
to nothing; for however great the
majority be on either side of the
question the minoritywill thenhave
the right and power to go into q
court of law and assert their rights,
the force of an adverse majority
Notwithstanding.
The Downing party take a differ
ent course; they say, Come and
vote with US, and, right or wrong,
we will give you the full benefits
of Cherokee citizenship, even to
sharing equally with the Indians
in their lands and moneys"
Now a proposition of this kind
is exceedingly Objectionable, not
to say odious and contemplate,
for several reasons. In the first
place, it carries with it an implied
admission on part of the Downing
men themselves, that your right to
the benefits of Cherokee citizen
ship are not legally absolute and
safe; that a struggle on your part
is necessary to win and secure
them. In fact, the only difference
between the two parties upon this
point is this: They invite you to
take your case into a political for
um where might prevails; we ask
you to submit your case to the ac-
tion of a judicial forum, where
right prevails. Again it proceeds
on the assumption that you are a
dishonest class OF men; an assump-
ton by no means warranted by the
Christian civilization which you
represent; an assumption that
learning, social culture, morality,
religion, nay the blessed gospel
itself which You have been preach
ing to US, will cut loose at once
from the mooriDgs righteousness,
and unite with them in a common
attempt to enrich themselves by
fleeing your Indian neighbors.
But this is not the worst of it; the
proposition plainly assumes, not
only that you are dishonest, but
that you are corruptible, as well.
They offer you the benefit of
Cherokee citizenship for your po-
litical afiiliation; that is to say,
they offer you an equal share in a
million, or two, of dollars, and one
hundred and sixty acres of land,
if you will give your vote to Hon.
I. NJ. Burlington next August. Can
you afford to strike hands upon
such a bargain. 1t is the conf
dent assumption of the National
party that you can not do it.
Finally, the offer is insincere and
deceptive. The political history
of the Downing party is certainly
enough to convince any intelligent
mind that the offer is only a fraud
ulent bait to catch your unwary
votes. 1t has been the habit of
that party, for many years past, to
put just such a plank in their
platform; but after the election was
over, and the members whom you
had elected were seated, not one
of them, we repeat, not one of
them, ever had consistency enough
about them to propose upon the
floors of council single measure
looking to the enlargement and
protection of your civil and politi-
cal franchises. In council, they
invariably forgot you as a class of
people seeking legislative redress,
and paid you of for your services
by simply appointing some one, or
two, of your race to minor offices.
1t is necessary that l should
here close this article; it is my
purpose, however, to continue this
line of thought in my next.
TOo.QUA-sTEE.
Young Man Shot.
A young man by the name of
Caps, who lived with his mother
nnnr IT Gibson unnt n,,t Lost