Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-11-17
THE cHIcKAsAW NATION.
Subdued Savages Who Are Now a
Quiet Pastoral People.

Just closed a very exciting session and
one which has been fraught with many
incidents which viii have great deal
to do toward shaping the future OF the
Indian in the United States. The spirit
of progression and tolerance has proven
itself to be dominant among majority
of the Chickasaws. and Gov. OvertOn
has been forced 10 resign his Office on
account of differences arising between
his legislature and himself. The diff
ferences grew out of his bitter hatred
to the white race in general and a few
Indians, who favor white immigration,
in particular. For the past ten years
the ChicEasaw nation has been divided
politically into two elements, or parties,
the great issue arising between these
parties being the question of white set
Element in the nation. Strange as it
may seem, nearly every full-blooded
Chickasaw of any weight or influence
is in favor of opening their lands to
white settlers: while, on the other
hand, the half-breeds and mixed In
dians are almost unanimously opposed
to this policy. 1t is an open secret that
the Chickasaws are very anxious to be-
come citizens of the United States.
The western Indian has so often been
pictured to be savage at best, that it
may be surprising to many to learn
that the civilization Of the Chickasaw
nation compares very favorably with
most of the far western states. The
land, which was once held in common,
has been allotted to heads of families,
and one can see some of the most scien-
tifcally and beautifully cultivated
farms in the west within the confines
of the nation. Especially conspicuous
among the well-kept farms are those
of Gov. Overton and Judge l.. L. Woods,
which number several thousand acres
each. Several small towns here and
there dot the Chickasaw country; but
the Indians are not a village-building
people, and their towns resemble little
else than trading posts. One or two
stores, church or school, and two or
three dwellings generally constitute the
Chickasaw village. Tishemingo, the
capital of the nation, is town of sew
eral hundred inhabitants. The leeis.
lature meets in the large academy dur
ing the first week in September. The
sessions, which were formerly brief,
have come to be quite protracted by
reason OF tho many reform measures
which are annually introduced and
which are strenuously opposed by the
i-progressionists or Overton party.
The Chickasaw government is very
simple in its nature, and consists of a
chief executive, or governor, q senate,
and a lower branch of legislature, cor
responding to the assembly in New
York State. The nation is divided in
to counties, and each county is allowed
a representation of two senator's, and
five members of the lower house. To
this legislature the governor presents
his annual message. 1t is written in
English and read in that language by
the secretary of the senate. 1t may
be interesting to note that while a de.
cided majority Of the legislators are
"full blO0ds, nearly all of them under
stand and speak English well, and
quite a number of them do not under
stand their native language at all. In
terpreters are employed who translate
all speeches, motions, etc, to the few
who do not understand English, and
who, of course, speak for those be-
nighted individuals. 1t is comical to
hear the interpreter wind up every
clause with "he said," pronounced with
emphasis. The Indian legislator COM
ports himself with dignity at all times
during the session, and il is very sell
dom that vehement and denur ciatory
speeches are INDUCED in during de-
bate.
In everyday life the Chickasaw of
to-day compares more than favorably
with his white neighbors over the
Texas line. AS very strict prohibitory
laws concerning liquor are enforced,
very little intoxication is to be seen in
the nation. The good effects of these
laws are readily discernible in the
infrequency of brawls and affrays
which are so common in those western
states where whisky is considered a
staple commodity. The influences of
civilization and education are more
easily discovered in the Chickasaw fe-
male than in the male; or, in other
words, the women seem to have be-
come possessed with a higher civiliza-
ton than the men have yet aspired to.
While education has nodded the Indian
into an intelligent man, he has re-
manned nevertheless obtuse to the
more elegant refinements of civiliza-
ton. Not so the ladies. Your cor
respondent has met several Chickasaw
ladies who were possessed with all the
grace and accomplishments of a New
York belle-iadies who by reason of
culture and refinement could OCCUPY
the highest plane of society in a metro
politan city. OF course very few
Chickasaw women have attained the
standard occupied by these ladies: vet
they one and all show strong inclina-
tio>s toward a higher civilization.
The Chickasaws are nearly all be-
levers in Christianity, the Methodists
and Baptists being the strongest de-
nominations numerically. A number
OF fine churches have been erected dur
ing the past year. Nearly all of the
church work is done by missionaries.
Ex-Gov. Burney, one of the most INTEL
ligent men in the nation, has recently
Joined the Baptist church, and it is
rumored that he will become a preacher.
Temperance societies are springing up
all along the Texas border of the
Chickasaw country, and the utmost in
terest is being manifested all along the
line, Nor is the Chickasaw's passion
Tor societies at all satisfied with these.
A large number Of prominent men have
become members of the Odd Fellows
order. and such insurance societies as
the Knights of Honor have admitted
number of Indians. AS the Chicka-
saws are long-lived race. and free
from hereditary diseases, they make
valuable members.
Unlike the Cherokees or Chocktaws,
the Chickasaw Indian does not possess
. rror.I -, o.-... oNll~As.