Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-08-06

for us by United States citizens,
both in national and missionary
schools. Noble men and women
have labored, whose good works
will never be forgotten. But ma
tional pride If nothing higher
should make us work and wish for
the day to come when our own ed
ucated boys and girls shall manage
our schools, and be able also to
say TO churches who have labored
so long and spent so much mis-
sionary money among us, 1--WE
no longer have need of your mis-
sionary labor" In other words
should we not work and wish for
the time to come when we can say
"We are independent so far as run
ming schools and churches arc
concerned2" This can never be till
our people are educated beyond
the present standard. AS it is at
present when some Of the knowing
ones of the United States come
among us they are greatly sur
prised at our advancement, as the
following will show:
Senator Ingalls,, who has returned
from the Indian Territory, whittier
he went with the subcommittee to
investigate certain matters by
order of the senate, speaks with
enthusiasm of the condition of the
civilized tribes. The senator is in
Washington, and in an audience
TO New York Sun reporter he
said that the journey had enlight-
ened him with regard to matters
of which he had no previous APP
probation, although he had once
before passed through the Terri
tory. The tribal government was
democratic in form with the cleo
tive chief magistrate and an upper
and lower house of Legislature
which assembled annually. There
were courts with an elective judi
ciary, and convicted criminals
were punished as in communities
of whites. There is no law for the
collection of debts, and, as the
standard of commercial honor was
high, none is needed. Fifty per
cent. of the entire revenue Of the
Cherokees was spent for educa-
tional purposes. Wherever thir-
teen children could be gathered to-
gether, a school house was built
and teacher with ample qualifica-
tions was employed. Two col
leges, one for each sex were
maintained, the buildings being Of
noble proportions and all the APP
pointments creditable. The tribal
government not only furnished
buildings and paid the teachers
but clothed and fed the pupils.
Now Senator Ingalls, did not
know how well we were doing in
point of education till he came
among US. He can now speak
with enthusiasm concerning our
condition. If our present condi-
ton is a matter of surprise to those
who come among US, what may it
be ten years hence if the young
men and women of the nation are
urged to, and will avail themselves
of the very highest educational ad-
vantages.
1t is for this purpose that l am
at present in this place; that l
may give my sons the best advan-
tages, two of whom had gone
through the course prescribed by
our national schools. Here 1 find
one of the best schools and health
lest locations to my mind, west of
the Mississippi. Board is very
low and everything is as cheap as
can be obtained at any first class
school. Ten from the Territory
have attended this school during
the past year. -Four of these were
CherOkees, one Choctaw and five
whites.
/ am anxious to induce many of
the young men and ladies to come
here 10 school. / can be of help to
them in many ways. l shall be
pleased to correspond with and
send catalogues to any who may
desire a higher education.
q. II. THOMPsoN-