The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-07-25
THE DOWNING PLATFORM
When Did the Downing Party Be-
come HOnest2


In the first section, the Down
ling party is made to say, tive
cheerfully submit to a majority
rule in all elections, and an honest
count oflvotes.
sNoW that is all right--exactly
right. But how does it come
about at this late day, that the
Downing party inds IN necessary
to trumpet forth its own honesty :
The man who is always proclaim
ing his own integrity generally
proves to be, when put to the test,
the biggast rascal in the whole
community. This is never.fail
ing rule; and it holds just as good
with parties as with individuals.
II is only those who have for,
feiled their credit by wrong doing,
that need patent for their good
name. A maj ority obtained by
corruption has no right to rule.
Again the Downing party is
made to go on fddling about its
own honesty all through the sec
ond section. II ia there made to
say that il Ia 10 favor Of economy
in the management Of our public
affairs, 10 the end that our public
funds may not be Egnandsfed. 1t
is no special credit to any person
or party, to be economical, and
yet, at the same time a great dis
grace to be prodigal. What about
the "nigger steal'' and countless
other jobs Of that kind? What
about the thousands squandered
no feelisb, ridiculous, liligation2
rhis second section Of the Down
ing platform is incomplete; il
/. aught to have given the date
when that party ceased to be
Fprodigal, and became so merit
oriously economical. No man
deserves any pay for doing, or be-
ing night; even if il were really
true that the Downing party were
in favor Of economy, that would
not entitle them TO single extra
vote; they are expected to be
honest, even wilhou, pay Of any
kind.
We skip the third section as on
ly silly stuff. Who is not 10 favor
Of converting these etiste public
buildings into cash wheneyer they
. become useless 20 us2 Mark you,
however, they do not tell you
wha' they are going to do with
this ''casn" when they get il.
In the fourth section they 60 on
singing changes about their won
derful honesty. They are mot
willing 10 exclude any person
rightfully entitled TO share in tn 9
division OF cur lands and moneys, "
Certainly not; aud they ought 70
be shipped II they were. |. is no
credit to them however, to be
unwilling to rob anybody of
what be "rightfully" owns. But
how are we 20 know who are
"rightiully entitled? Who are
to tell us2 They decline to cay
SO, simply because they are en-
gsged in the wbeedling husiness
In the fifth section, the Down
ing party tells Us that, alter the
fnal settlsm at OF the Cherokee
affairs, they are in favor of
division Of the remainder (what is
left after the nav Of greed in all
ite forms has been. nileo) among
the rightful citizens Of the Chero-
kee nation. Oh wonderful won-
derfull The Downing party is
willing to let US have (if we do
not become too impatient in wait
ing) at least one lutte crumb OF
what we are entitled to. Oh
nierciful, most magnanimous
Downing party
In the sixth article the Down
ing party 'ells us that it is going
to "insist" that all that portion Of
our public domain which bas not
been captured for "other pur-