The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-07-20
3 Our Refrigerators---The Terror of the Ice rHan

Cherokees: that, and that only, is the
size and meaning Of Mr.. Falkner's speech.
Now in this land OF universal equality
and free speech, the man who is too
much of a moral coward to speak out
boldly in defense of his peoples rights,
at all times and under all circumstances,
is is not the'oue to be intrusted with the
management of their public affairs What
the Cherokees want is chief that has
the disposition, if not the ability, to do
something more than merely to drink in
Establishments from high sources, sign
agreements, and sell out his nation. 1t
has been under the imbecile leadership
of this kind Of chief executives for the
last twenty years 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 Cookson! He
throws himself into the breach just as
every true Cherokee should do, and
stands like fearless patriot for the
rights Of his people. He says: "Tne
committee that presented this bill are
too much afraid; they dare not acknowl-
edge the fact that we are the owners of
this property. AS far as am concerned
l acknowledge that I am owner Of so
much Of it as is my share in comm on
with the people of the Cherokee nation;
and if the people will stand out as do,
against parting with the title to the com
mon domain of the Cherokee nation,
and be as stubborn about the matter as
am, the nation is good for twenty years
more. =
This is noble language; it is the Ian
guage Of genuine manly patriotism. Of
such exalted utterances, poor timeserv-
ing pusiIlanimity is utterly incapable.
In grandeur OF motive and sentiment,
as well as expression, il is nowhere sur
passed in the annals of Legislative hodies
There is no man whose mental capacity
is OF hands breadth, but what will
frankly concede that cookson, however
much they may differ with him in their
was right, and for taking
such a position he deserves the contid-
ence and merits the admiration of his
people
Yet the Downing press throws ont
these ringing words Of this noble man in
bold faced type, and cries. "Lo! Cook
son y pullbacki" WHAT Has it come
10 ,his' Has il come to be an offence
unpopularity and political os-
tracism for Cherokee Indian 10 claim
and audibly insist upon the rights which
have been solemnly guaranteed to him
by the government Of the United States'
Win is it that brings this charge against
Mr. cookson9 Is it his countrymen'
Not at all 1t is only a combination OF
ihrewd souls calling themselves PRO
yressionists. And in what does their
progress" consist Simply in enrich
ng and eularging themselves, directly
'r indirectly, ont Of the Cherokee pstri-
nony without labor or expense.
But cookson was stubborn" o with
what JUNCTION this is said Was this
merely the Indian that was in him1
-eonidas was stubborn at the gap of
Ridley and cranmer were
cry stubborn" men; they even died at
he stake before they would yield Stone
vail Jackson was remarkably Stub
'orn" fellow. and General Grant was
nore 50. If cookson was stubborn in
tanding for the rights of his people, he
Eas only following the example Of all
be good aud brave men that the world
as ever produced 1t is no credit to
be Cherokee nation that she has not
red up ten thousand men Of such char
cters Too-oUA-srEE.
No False Claim.
Aras =