University of Virginia Library

4. Inola, Indian Territory - February 16, 1900

February 16, 1900

Mr. Emmett Starr

My Dear Sir and Friend:

After the proper efforts due to my people has failed on all sides to be understood as I had wished, I do not give any to despair. I am ready always to meet Emergencies. Just as I find them.

I have for years foreseen the present conditions of our common interests, but I had totally failed to appreciate the mesmeric toils that have developed against our common Brotherhood. The true facts of cause and affect of these conditions have been clearly explained time and again. So that even the lisping babes of all these nations know them as the first words they ever learned. Yet, here comes over three hundred full blood Creeks in Convention assembled last summer and nominates that foul monster, L. C. Perryman, for Chief. Endorsed by Chief Isparhechar and the well wishes of some of the Cherokee Ke-toa-wah (Ca-toh-wau-Ko-ne). Extended to this foul monster whose former Chieftaincy laid the disrupting Schemes that has finally destroyed the Creek Nation.

I have Wyandotte , Cherokee, Choctaw Indian blood in my veins, as well as Creek. It would be beneath my duty to wish Evil against the Creek people. I have been with them all my life. There is not a song, word, or tradition of the Mus-ko-kee that I do not Know. It is also true, the only Enemies I have on all God's Green Earth are some of these Creek Indians. I am not the man to punish my best friends. Along with person that choose to Challenge my eminence. I will save an enemy before I will destroy a friend, why may be embrace or implicating the two.

When L. C. Perryman succeeded to the Chieftaincy, efforts were made towards my injury. I compelled them to resist their attempts. I compelled them to acknowledge my right and Supreme Manhood Among Men. I compelled Chief L. C. Perryman to acknowledge to the Secretary of the Interior my right here and his acknowledgment of my vindication. And I have drank deep the Cup of Vengence and breathed deep the Joy of Victory. I am vastly Superior to them and time will prove it too.

Isparhechar tried to reform the government, which was commendable as far as his time permitted. At the end of his administration, the Ensuing Campaign, the people were torn into fractions. They really did not know what to do. They are not going to accomplish even what Isparhechar had prepared for their possibilities to do. His treaty with the Dawes Commission was a good treaty. It will be amended by Congress into a death warrant because they know how the political trend is with us today. Unless we will have relief gained by our own efforts.

I do not expect anything better of the Cherokee treaty short of another Death Warrant. The Great Masses of non-land holders (white and negro State Comers) are organized into Secret Societies for the purpose of taxing, by governmental authority, The Indian land holders out of their lands. To Tax Excessive taxes, and compel Sheriff Sales of real estate for taxes until their desighns are accomplished and then relieve themselves of that tax. The Negro Citizens are organixes into Similar Secret Societies with the non-citiizen organizations of Negroes. Who intend to cash all their interests and emigrate to Africa . The Indians are the blindfolded tools to their own disfranchisement and disinheritance. Now is the time to Secure Proper legislation towards protecting them. The United States government is willing to do right but we have failed to present, a proper defense, while our worst enemies, "Boomer," have had everything their own way and gained lots. Against us.

Among us are fractions who expect to obviate these Evils by emigrating to Mexico . This scheme has failed to defend our Interests here to complete efforts when the people are so divided on questions of proper methods. (I am) Not begging for office, but striving to have that done for the public good. Time will show what I mean. I have tried for Years to keep a clear record for the Indian before the U. S. Government, in order to give us the advantage of un-convicted right to plead our own cause and then dictate the conditions of allotments and percentage of State Taxation and other necessary laws for the assured Existence of the future. Voiceless Existence of a minority of landholders governed by the majority.

The books I referred to in my former letter are Egglestons, "Life of Red Eagle," G. B. Grinell's "Story of the Indian," F.A. Ober, "In the Everglades." "Quotations of an Old Sailor Named Romans," written over one hundred years ago of the Creeks, Seminoles, Choctaws, and Cherokees. Come down any time and read them. I told Mr. Yancy about my letting you have the book, "Creek War." He said he was glad I had done so. The book is yours now. You are to keep it.

I saw a funny letter of old Ko-wes-Kowi John Ross to Seminoles 1837 about elder brothers, etc. The Creeks call the white men their Youngest brother because he came here last. They call the Cherokees Elder brothers because the Cherokees lived on the lower Chattahoochee River before the Creeks did.

Ko-naw-la

J. R. Gregory

(Document found in the personal file of J. R. Gregory, Creek Indian Archives, Oklahoma Historical Society Library, Oklahoma City. Transcribed by Barbara Cox.)