The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-16
STILL IN ARKANSAS.
Luther Benson's Discoveriss-He Discours-
es Upon Oklahoma, Feasts His Eyes
Upon the Noble Red Man, and Makes a
Dash at the Southern Question.

Dash at the Southern Question.
FoRr SMITH, Ark, Feb. IL am at this
writing upon the border Over there is the
Indian Territory. A smart town is Fort
Smith, the terminus of the Fort Smith and
Little Rock Railroad. But there is no fore
cast or speculation here that does not con-
template Oklahoma. Where knots of people
are gathered upon the streets there the
country is being discussed. 1t is the Edo
RADIO of every hope-a positive emotion. So
much has been published by the press of
the country that the general public must be
pretty well informed. A few lines, how
ever, may not be out of place.
THE LANDS IN QUESTION,
or rather in dispute, embrace / 400, 900 acres,
located in the Western part of the Ind ian
Territory. The title of the Aborigines was
extinguished and the lands coded to the
United States Government in 1866 1t is
claimed by one party that the lands are a
part of the public domain, and open to set
tlement by homestead or pre-emption. By
another party it is claimed that the pur-
chase was for specified purpose-a public
park for tribes of wild Indians. But the
people of adjoining States object to such
neighbors. For this reason the plan of saw
age colonization has not proven successful.
Consequently the whole country is as God
left it. At this distance it is fully as favored
as the land viewed by Moses from the sum-
NIT of Pisgah. The man who knew q man
who was personally acquainted with another
man who had talked with still another man
who had been all through the country, fully
believes that it flows with milk and honey.
II is difficult for those who have witnessed
no gold excitement to understand the situ-
alton. Even in this relentlessly inclement
season numerically large and correspond
ingly interesting army is marshaled upon
the bleak prairie, awaiting permission to
move onward. These peoplea experiencing
all of what was felt by the Children of Israel
in the wilderness. 1t will be impossible to
restrain them much longer without better
reasons than have yet been adduced. The
unive rsal Yankee must move West. Early
perhaps, Oklahoma will appear as one of the
bright stars in the galaxy of States. 1t seems
to be written that the Cherokee must go.
10, THE POOR INDIAN.
have improved the present opportunity
to see much of the noble Red Man Owing
to the peculiar cut of his clothing a great
deal of him is revealed. But he is not a
beautiful object to behold. nor doth mine
eye delight to linger upon his other half
A curious amalgamation of treachery and
cruelty upon every feature makes him a
complete picture of unadulterated ugliness
He sets preaching and even prayer at def
ance. Spiritual investigation has thus far
failed to find any tender chord in his ma
ture THE good Indian Is dead Indian"
said Kit Carson. He will continue TO be the
same Red Devil until his heart is stilled for
ever. But this fact is no excuse for the
avericious Post Trader.
NORTHERN HEARTS THAT BLEED FOR THE
AFRICAN.
Just before leaving indianapolis FORTH tour
through the South | am now making by
invitation l called at the rooms of two dis
tinguished temperance ladies, who were
temporarily stopping at the Grand Hotel.
They were fresh from triumphs upon the
rostrum in the State of Kansas One of
them was fairly consumed with sympathy
for the poor negro She told fearful story
of inhuman treatment. A black man had
come from the South to Topeka, built
nice cottage and returned for his wife and
children. Once again in the South, he
was seized by the natives, who chopped off
his feet, and threw them warm and bloody
in his wifes lap. Not yet satiated, the wo-
man was seized, hanged by the feet and dis
embowled. | must confess that the story of
this fiendishness somewhat shocked my
credulity, but nevertheless / resolved to in
vestigate; if true il was a crime against
humanity and damned spot upon our pres
ent civilization. / inquired of the locality
where it transpired, and of the names of the
parties My fair informant replied that she
knew not, but that her aunt did. / besought
her to write to this aunt Immediately; to
stand not upon the order of writing but
write at once. With the information !
hoped to trace the report to its source. She
religiously promised to aid me. Two months !
dragged their weary length away and no
letter reached me. Tortured with sleepless
Impotence upon the subject, l wrote the
lady who was with me at the time OF my
visit and a witness, to urge her by the first
mail TO furnish me with the desired intelli-
gence and particulars.
From this lady have just received let |
ter She says that the other lady pleads
that she has not had time to write the aunt.
Thus the murderers are yet unwhipped of
justice and at large. Just think of it: A
woman agonized with sorrow for an OPP
pressed race; and yet, in two long months,
finds no moment that she could appro-
pirate to writing to anlaunt for the locality,
details and particulars that would fix the
guilt OF most hellish crime where it be
longs. Just think of il: A tender hearted
young man, for two long months kept upon
the ragged edge of distraction with desire
to serve humanity by Kidding the world of
fiends who have perpetrated a crime of
which hell might be ashamed, and utterly
impotent because a woman who has
awakened this enthusiasm, can not find
time to write to her aunt.
VILE ISLANDERS.
In sober seriousness, these ISLANDERS are
reasonable atrocious lies that even to
believe is not only unpatriotic but impious.
II true, they would be discreditable to
America, and foul stain upon the age, but
but untrue wicked fictious. Nothing short of
the strongest backwoods profanity can
properly characterize the spirit in which
they are conceived and circulated.
CONDITION OF THE BLACKS.
I have made extensive inquiry of both
whites and blacks, as to the treatment of
the negro. If he experiences any wrong
here, of which the Anglo SAXON is a
stranger, there is absolutely nothing in hui
man testimony. The negro has but to prac-
tice industry and frugality to thrive in this
worlds goods, exactly as mis- white neighbor
thrives. To him the law is as impartial as
the soil and climate. For five
dollars he can enter leo acres of good land
forest will yield to the toll of a colored as
we'll as white man. A white man can
have no advantageover colored man in the
cotton or produce market i hazard moth
ing in avowing that he will find finer oppor-
tunities here and more sympathy than in
Indiana.
NEGRO KILLING AND OTHER CRIMES.
The reports of crime in this locality are
also maliciously exaggerated. The metro
politain press shows a greater proportion at
the North than at the South. The people