Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-06-07
Chickasaw Nation.

from my former neighbors, therefore
through your paper answer once for
all some questions. In spring this Ma
ton presents picture with streams of
water, valleys fringed by outrageous
timber and green seas of verdure, en>
Iivened by fattening stock for chief
characteristics of the beautiful scene.
Its physical geography indicates we'll
drained land, screened from sudden
changes of temperature, elevated above
the level of the sea into the region of
pure air, with latitude low enough to
escape the rigors ola Northern climate.
The people boast of good health,
good water and fertile soil.
But a, country thus blessed with ele,
ments to make it prosperous has not
kept step in the march of progress. 1t
has a sparse population of red, white
and black, and its herds of cattle and
horses, and nearly all its farms, belong
to the Indians, who own the entire Ma
ton in common.
The laws which govern this country
are mixed, like the people. The In
dians, in their dealings with each other,
are governed by their own laws; in
dealings with the whites and blacks,
they are governed by the United States
laws. The United States has jurisdic-
ton only in cases of felony among
whites and blacks, and of misdemean-
ors under the intercourse law, and the
court is impartial in sending white,
black and red to the penitentiary for
introducing and selling liquor. About
sixty are sent to the penitentiary every
year for these oAenses, yet prohibition
does not prohibit, for the result is that
thirsty, hard working souls fall under
the Establishments of vagabond outlaws
who receive large profits for the risk
they run, and stimulates horse and cat.
tie thieves to obtain money for their
use. Legislation should seek to regu.
late the traffic into responsible chan
nels, for it cannot, it does not prohibit.
Those who behave themselves can
live here in peace and harmony, as has
been exemplifed by graybeards who
have raised families here and love the
Nation for all it is worth. Those who
are law unto themselves and depend
upon their six shooters to carry them
through wind up in a bloody grave.
The per centage of population who
make their exit in that way may be es-
timated at about q per cent. Many
of these bloody exits may be charged
to our neighbors who wind up their
final settlements in the Nation, and of
ficials seem to think that the destruc-
ton of fugitive is tantamount to his
capture. This savage state of affairs
will have no reason for its existence
when all are harmogeneously subject
to law, and the passage by the Senate
Of such a bill seems to me to be the
dawn of better day, even though the
House reject it, for it shows that oul
rulers begin to know what is needfu'
for us.
All kinds of religion, except thai
which requires its votaries to disturb
and assail others in their worship, -four
ish here, and even that class can no
complain, because if carried away by
holy zeal to disturb others, they can b.
and would be promoted to martyr
crown of glory.
The negroes have schools, supported
by funds from the North and East anC
from themselves. The Indians hav,
schools supported by the National fanc
and the whites have some precariou
schools, short-lived, supported by them
selves, all of which is right, for the.
have no business in the Nation, excep
to work for their bosses. That KIM
of philanthropy which would exclud
them might create an cutlery among u
who are content with our surroundings
but it may be question if it woul
not pay to educate a class of childre
, who are neither SAVAGE nor civilized