The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-14
Klnln- Ind. -. ~. Z. IgOG.

kinta, Ind. Ter AUG. T. l'Vo'
To the Choctaw People:
Is the Choctaw Indian going TO be a
Democrat on Republican In the new
state politics? That is the question
that Is now engrossing the thoughts
Of both parties. not Only In the new
state. but attracting attention In po-
HticaI circles throughout the United
States. ! feel a great deal Of concern
In the matter and VIII undertake To
give a few reasons why the Indians
cannot AFFORD TO join tho republican
party In 1865 the Choctaws and the
Chickagaws made treaty with the
government at Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The Republican larty at this time had
charge of the government Our people
were told by Commissioner Cooley
that We had forfeited all our rights to
our property by Joining the South In
the fight against the Union, aud that
the government did not feel that II
owed any duty to the Choctaws or
60 the Chiclasaws under the circum-
stances. and that unless We adopted
the negro freedmen. that dire consc-
quences would be visited upon ms.
II was this threat that lead us 90
adopt the negro Il was a great out
rage to force this condition upon u.s.
Many Southern states had acccdcd
and taken up arms against the Unit
ed States. and no such condscation
had taken place In any Of them.
Then the question arises, Why
should the Indian love the party
that has. by this act, robbed him Of
property valued az several millions
of dollars? Can he vote for that
~ under these circumstances? The
Net Proceeds Claim was held up by
the Republican party for twenty
eight years II was "a just claim, yet
this party refused to adjust or pay
Il without giving n reason. Pre-
dent Cleveland. democrat. after a
brief Investigation ,nsitod that the
government should live mp To its oh.
legation and pay It's honest debts.
Can any Indian vote for republi.
can ON this score?
The Choctawl3 and Chickasaws
had to wait from 1866 TO 1898 TO Sc
cure the Leased Dis rict money due
them from the government. Presi.
dent Harrison, a republican, abso-
lutely refused 10 allow II to be paid
after Il had been appropriated. Pres.
ident Cleveland, democrat, order.
cd It paid because It was a just claim.
Is there any roaron here why the
Indian should vote Cor the Ropubll-
can party after due consideration ?
Tho government under tcnta.
tsve agreement with the Choctaws
and Chiciasaws, secured the right
10 settle other Indian tribes ON what
is known as the Wichita aud Apa
che Reservations, and as consid
Grafton therefor paid small sum
of money. Since then the matter
has been determined, aud the Chloe
taws and Chickasaws lost approx
mately seven million acres OF land
over fye hundred dollars 20 cacl
man. woman and child Ia the Choc
taw and Chickasaw nations. Il
there any reason here why the In
dian should vote for the republican
party? II SO, state IL?
The government was under obligo
tion to protect the Choctaws AN,
Chickasaws I'm the citizenship mat
ter. and yet q forced these nation
10 eXpcnd seven hundred ana hit
thousand dollars IN attorneys fee
not including other incidentals tina
will run mp the cost TO a round mi
lion dollars Does this show an
Kindness or consideration for the II
dian ON the part OF the republican
party. and can hc now lend his All
10 further the interests of an organ
zation that has absolutely refuse,
To protect him IN his righuL an
vote for the party?
Notwithstanding me protests of th
Indians through their chief eYecutiy
millions of feet OF pine timber hay
been stolen from the public domai
converted into lumber and after beiu
seized by the Indian agent, was T
leased upon straw bond by Repub
can court. aud the Choctaws and l..
Chickasaws are left without rene,
90 10 recover the value of this prope,'
Can you vote for tho Republican par
ON this ground?
AS an evidence Of the fact that Il
Republican party loves the negro hC