Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1896 — r The Cherokees’ Plaint. [ARTICLE]

r The Cherokees’ Plaint.

“If the United States Government would only carry out its solemn agreements with the five civilized tribes, our people would have nothing to complain of,” said Chief C. J. Harris of the Cherokee Nation at the National Hotel. Contracts and promises that we trusted to the honor of that great nation to execute have been violated, and there seems to be no intention on the part of the government to redeem them. When we sold the Cherokee Stip we were told as an Inducement to parting with the lands, that all previous pledges would be carried out. That promise was broken like the rest. “Now, I maintain that the United States ought to go forward and make good its past agreements before entering on further Indian legislation. When that is done it will be time enough for the Indians to say whether they are in accord with the desires of of the Government. Until that is done all bills changing the existing status are obnoxious to our people.