The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-07-23

Cherokcea; that, and that only, ii the
size and meaning Of Mr.. Faikner's speech.
Now III this land Of universal equality
and free speech, the man who Is to
much OF moral coward 10 speak out
boldly in defense Of his peoples rights.
at ell times and under all circumstances,
Is Is not the Que 70 be intrusted with the
management Of their public affairs What
the chcrokees want is chief that has
the disposition, II not the ability, 10 do
something more than merely to drink in
Establishments from high sources, sign
agreements, and sell out his nation. II
has been under the iubeciie leadership
Of this kind of chief executives for the
last twenty y~nrs that the Cherokee peo-
pie have been dragged into their present
state Of indescribable thraldom.
How different from this was the posi-
ton assumed by the man cooksonl He
throws him self into the breach just as
every true Cherokee should do, and
stands like a fearless patriot for the
rights Of his people. He says: "The
committee that presented this bill are
too much afraid; they dare not acknowi-
edge the fact that We are the owners OF
this property. As far as am concerned
I acknowledge that am owner Of 20
much OF Il as Is my share in comm on
with the people Of the Cherokee nation;
and II the people will stand out as do,
against parting with the title to the COM
mon domain OF the Cherokee nation,
and be as stubbofn about the matter as I
am, the nation is good for twenty years
more. +"
This is noble language; il Is the Ian.
guage Of genuine manly patriotism. OF
such exalted utterances, poor tineserv-
ing pusillanimity Is utterly incapable.
In grandeur OF motive and sentiment,
as well as expression, II is nowhere sur
passed In the annals Of legislative bodies.
There Is no man whose mental capacity
is Of a hands breadth, but what viii
frankly concede thst Cookson, however
much they may differ with him in their
intentions. was right, and for taking
such position he deserves the coutid-
ence and merits the admiration Of his
people.
Yet the Downing press throws out
these ringing words Of this noble man iu
bold faced ype, and cries. ''Lo Cook.
son pullbackf" WHAT Has 1t come
to this9 Has d come 10 be an offence
meri,ing unpopnlarity and political o..
srscism for a Cherokee Indian TO claim
and audibly insist upon the rights which
have been solemnly guaranteed 10 him
by the government Of the United slatesp
Wh1 Is il that brings this charge against
Mr.. cooksonl Is II his countrynien1
Not at all Il is only combination Of
shrewd souls calling themselves PRO
gressionisis. And in what does their
progress" consist Simply In enrich
ing and enlarging themselves, directly
or indirectly, out Of the Cherokee pstri-
mony without labor or expense.
But cookson was stubborn" o with
what JUNCTION this is said Was this
merely the Indian that was in himi
Leonidas was stubborn" at the gap Of
Thefmopylae. Ridley aud cranuisr were
very stubborn" men; they even died Al
the stake before they would yield. Stone
wall Jackson was a remarkably stub.
born" fellow, and General Grant was
more 50. II Cookson was stubborn IN
standing for the rights Of his people. he
was only following the example OF al
the good aud brave men thatth world
has ever produced. II is no credit to
the Cherokee nation that she has not
bred up ten thousand men Of such char
actefs. Too-QuA-sTEE
A P Murphy. wh0 cAm- 70 THE
country some months agp from
Missouri as attorney tor the Creek
nation is making for himself
s.faa.. H.. lka h.nrta 80 81. .4tfas.<s