Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-02
WAR In THE INDIAN NATION.

Our telegraphic column has given in
telligence of the progress of small civil
war that has broken out in the Indian Ter
ritory; the New York Times supplies some
particulars upon the subject, from which we
gather that the whole quarrel is 4 strife for
power between two parties, one known as the
constitutional party, the other as the loyal
party. The principal tribes holding lands
In the Territory in their tribal relation, not
individually, are the Cherokees, who are the
most numerous, having apopulation of about
1900; next are the Choctaws with 10000;
Other bodies of Indians and scattered indi-
viduals number altogether about 1000; the
total number of persons residing in the Ter
tory amounts to about 10000. The Territory
is made up of seventeen reservations, andthe
main body of the people who are original
holders and form the most important commu-
mites, are the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choc-
taws, Creeks and Seminoles. These have
formed q civilized government, and under
the laws of the United States are entitled 10
chose they are at liberty, instead of holding
their lands in common as they do now, 10
divide them into ailotments, so that the
property may be held individually as with
rs. They have ample room, as the 10000
Indians own among them $1,000 square
miles of land, which is Of rich soil and in a
salubrious climate. The $4,000 Greeks own
track 5000 square miles in extent. Like
the other important tribes, they have ample
revenues from trust funds, and have been
well endowed by the government. In the
hands of good farmers their lands would be
extremely productive, and few have better
prospects and more certain means Of becom-
ing wealthy than these Creeks, if
they could be induced to act prudently
and with some foresight. But unfortunately
their prevalent ignorance does not qualify
them to act with the necessary discretion.
The treaties by which they were to settle in
the Territory require that public schools
shall be maintained, and also other instilu-
tions calculated to spread knowledge and in.
telligence among the people. These obliga-
tions, unhappily, are generally evaded, and
the revenues of the tribes are not expended
with prudence. The official reports, made
at intervals, make a chow of what is doing at
the public schools and other educational in
situations; but white travellers, who have
passed over the country and made their own
observations, give anything but Aalteripg
accounts of what this show of instruction
amounts to. The civilized tribes present
lew average of intelligence. They labor
emily spasmodicslly and without method or
enterprise. Their leaders shov only too ready
aptitude for the chicanery Of political action.
They contrive to live at ease in Incidence,
and so manage the income of the tribes as to
secure riches for themselves with an ability
approaching that of the white man. The
holder and shrewder spirits strive, as is done
elsewhere, for the power that shall number
them among the victors entitled to share the
spoils. The Sins" try to keep III, and the
"outs" try to GUST them from their positions.
OF the 1900 Creeks the voting power is
understood TO be confined to HOO; 700 of
thaaa Esiss belong TO the constitutional and