Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-06-30

slowed in translating for the adult, and
in forwarding by judicious means every
branch of civilization as essential to
guard against n relapse, the succeeding
generation viii, in my opinion, appear as
d new race Of beings"
From the Rer. Cyrus Kingsbmy 10 Tho
mas l.. .McKtnney. Mayhe'r, aM Feb
ruary, 1880,
THOMAS l.. McKENNy, Esq.
Office Of Indian affairs:
Sir: ] take the Liberty of transmitting
to the War Department a few remarks
and statcpents designed to show the pro-
gress which has been made by the Choc-
tnws towards state of civilization.
Such statement will, hope, be ac-
ccptable to the government, and it is
certainly due to the Choctaws, who have
made such commcndable exertions for
their own improvement In turning their
attention to the arts of civilized life, to-
the education of their children, and to-
the precepts of the Gospel, they feel the
satisfaction of having followed the ad-
vice of their great Father, the President,
and of the Secretary of War, often re-
peated both in written commune ations
and by those who have spoken in their
names.
| am aware that very different views
aro entertained Of the improvements re-
ported TO have been made by some of
the Indian tribes. Those who are not
intimately acquainted with the Indians,
and who form their estimate by compar-I
lg them with the citizens of our own
.ighly favored country, will regard them
us still in very degraded and wrctched
condition.
Those who arc the better acquainted
with them, and who are able to compare
their present state with what it tormerlyI
was, must admit that great advance has
been made. Comparing the present
condition of the Choctaws in those parts
of the nation which have enjoyed the
advantages Of instruction, with what it
was eight, or even five years ago, it may
be doubted whether any considerable
portions of the civilized world present
specimens of equal Improvement accom-
plishcd within the same space of time. -
In the statements which follow, shall
confne myself principally to facts, that
the Department may be able to Judge for
themselves as to the correctness of the
above remark. Eight years ago intem-
perance prevailed from one end of the
land to the other. In the space of two
months, ten Indians in this district alone
lost their lives by whisky. At this time
intemperance within the nation is hardly
known.
In July, 1898, attended the distribu-
ton of the annuity to two districts, on
which occasion there were present from
1000 to 5000 indians-nen, women
and children. They were together four
days, and not an intoxicated one was Seen
until after the business was closed
Some whisky had been sccretcd at dis
tance from the place, and, as the law
prohibiting the introduction of it into that
part of the nation was not to 60 into el-
feet until fifteen days from that time,
some, after leaving the place, obtained
it, and become intoxicated. Since that
time, l am not aware that whisky has
been used at any council or collection of
Indians, held by order of the chiefs for
the transaction of business.
The Choctaws, however, have not all
lost their appetite for whisky, nor is it
supposed that a majority Of them are re-
strained from intempcrancc by the force
of moral principle; but so sensible had
they become of the destructive effects of
this vice, that u law prohibiting entirely
the introduction ofwhisl<y into the nation,
as an article of traffic, was proposed by
the chiefs, and obtained an almost uni
versal support in general council Of the
warriors. There cannot be question,
that less ardent spirit is now used in the
Choctaw nation, whether we consider
the extent of territory, or the amount of
population, than in any other part of the
United States 1t Is only when we 90
to the borders of the surrounding settle
ments that we sec Indians intoxicated =
There, few unprinciplcd white men,
equally regardless of the laws of God
and of their country, continue, for filthy
lucre's sake, to sell the deadly poison to
those Indians who resort thithcr
Other evidences Of Improvement we
have in the increase of industry, and a
consequent advance in dress, furniture,
and all the comforts and convcnienccs of
civilized life. 1t has been remarked by
many, that the fields of the Indians have
never been kept in so good order, and
managed with so much industry, as for
the two past years AT councils and 9TH
or large meetings, the Indians, especial
" in the Northern and Western districts,
nnnnnr rnlnlntfnhlv and decenflx and