The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-10-19
ASKS QUESTION
Richard L. Martin Wants Gem
OCrats to Make ExpIana
tiOns.


Editor Chieftain.
Sir-Is it not about time that the
Democrats should tell Of some OF the
wonderfully good things that they
have done for the people2
The people can be filled up on wind
for a while, as has been the case for
the last few months, but as the ex-
citement is dying out the people are
naturally becoming more thoughtful
and are summing up att That they
have heard and read on the Demo-
cratic side Of the question as a
matter Of fact they find nothing new,
nor anything that would or could be
OF any benefit to them as citizens Of
this great state to be.
The whole of the Democratic argu-
ment consists Of the vilest criticism
flung at the Republicans from the
Hon. Judge Gill on up to thesecretary
OF the interior, all for the purpose Of
misleading and poisoning the mines
OF our young men against the Repub-
lican party; the party that has always
acknowledged that every human be-
ing, let him be rich or poor, black, red
or white, is a part Of Gods creation
and is entitled to life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness. ! am sorry to
say that owing to the past record OF
the Democratic party as much cannot
be said In their behalf; yet they are
all honorable men.
Their opposition to the law requir-
ing guardians for minors fully demon
strates their ideas Of protectin persons;
who would not protect innocent and
helpless minors would not be expected
TO protect adults, and should this law
be disregarded to such an extent that
would result in the loss Of the minors
land, who would bear the blameY The
Republican party. The Republican
party is being uniustly blamed with
the condition Of affairs in thiscountry
today. But let me ask the question
in al honesty, would or could the al
lotment Of our lands have been made
any more satisfactorily under Dem
cratic administration The same in
tricate conditions, the same traces OF
fraud and graft on the part Of our own
people, would have been met with un-
der any other administration.
TO prove that tie United states
government under a Republican adj
thru the interior depart
ment has put forth every effort in pro-
tecting the Indians wherever il was
in their power to do so, can mention
the Usage tribe ia particular, and
Others whose affairs we're entirely ~
sne hands or the interior department.
In 1867 the Osages sold their entire
domain to the United States al 4
fixed price per acre, They were per-
fectly ignorant Is 70 the exact num-
Der OF acres they had sold and as 10
what the amount IN dollars would be.
IL wogld have been an easy matter
for the government 10 have cheated
them out Of large part Of it but they
have today every dollar Of that money
to their credit and are rich and
happy people. Aud suppose other
nations under strict control Of the in
terror department have Jared equally
as we'll
Our Cherokee people, who have been
looked upon as being the most adyanc.
ed In civilization, are in the wind-up
in the most pitiable condition OF any
Of the SO called cizillzed tribes. We
may we'll ask why IL is so. II all the
facts in the case were laid bare t. the
public it would make a wooden Indian
blush with shame. The very men
who are loudest in denouncing the
Republican party and are would-be
leaders in the Democratic party are
the ones to be asked that question.
Now the question OF who we shall
pattern after or who we shall follow
comes up for us to decide in the poll
tics Of this new state. viii it be the
party or the men who have led us to
ruin and bankruptcy, or will it be the
party that led our brothers, the os-
ages, to prosperity and happiness.
Itseems 10 me that it would be
well for several Of our ex.oficials and
Of the late Cherokee nation
who have sounded all OF the depths
and shoals Of honor to show US way
laltho they may have missed id that
will lead to a better citizenship in
this new state. The Hon. D. n. Coo
ley's speech to the southern Chero-
KEGS nor the Eaaking Of the &c treaty
will not bring back any OF the dollars
that were stolen from US since that
time. Giving the poor black man a
little patch Of ground for services
rendered two or three hundred years
by his ore-parentsl is not a patching
to what we lost in the strip deal
Now they pretend to say that the