New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-26
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
AFFAIRS IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
A TALK WITH THE CREEK DELEGATE AT TIE
NATIONAL CAPITAL

NATIONAL CAPITAL
wAsuSoroy Dec. % tspeeub.-" What Is the con-
dillon OF affairs In the Indian Territory asked TEB
uSE Of General Pleasant Porter the creek
delegate who has recently arrived In Washington.
"The crop season." he replied :" has been Indifferent;
in some parts OF the Territory disastrous The scmnoes
have been obliged TO pledge part OF their annual income
for the next three years in order to procure the bare
ncccssaries OF life during the present winter This
may cripple their educational resources to some
extent The Creeks did suffer 10 the same extent rs
the Eastern part OF country had some rain Still
there is some scarcity in the West and the Greeks may be
compelled part OF their school money for mme-
iae relief addition TO this they lost ore OF their mis-
sion schools by fire, entaing losso $4,000 TO $loooo
With the other demands upon them IL will require the
closest possible management to maintain the schools In
operatIon The Cherokees suffered less. and In ad-
dition were fortunate in having $350,0OO OF
"ersss money" TO distribute q per capita fund,
amounting 10 something s16 for every man, woman
and child OF Cherokee blood this in localities where
the drouh happened strike the humber settlements
as on Saline and Spring Creeks-goes fur to relieve ADJ
oute want Outside Of this they have all Of their cduca
tonal funds intact and exists to apprchend
danger their educational interests The Choctaws
suffered stil less they raise considerable coton
and the cotton crop was not affected. Besdes' tney
derive n fine income from their coal mines
source that been sufficient TO maintain their school
system for years. The appropriation from this resource
during their last council amounted to $1,000.
that IA $4,000 each for their three academies ana
$4,000 for the maintenance OF their neighborhood
schools What true of the Choctaws also true OF the
Chckasaws although the drouh was moro severe In
the Chickasaw country the fertility OF their land It's
adaptabiiity TO the production OF cotton and the
creator extent Of agricultural development all
have a tendency to mitigate hardship OF
partial failure OF crops. In addition 10
this they share with the Choctaws in the income
from their mines they draw fourth part OF the roy
alty that their educational interests Will not s1er
awhile say. therefore, that the Indian Ierri
tory prosperous, neither do think that any interest Is
which contributes TO Its substantial develop
ment is that some fear s entertained by some
OF our people that there Is tendency In the pocy
of the present Administration TO class the people
of the FIVE civilized Nations OF the Territory
with the blanket Indians OF the plains IN tneir
relations and intercourse with the people or te OmHu
states II this should prove true 1t would be great
drawback to us, might say q calamity but DO nor
share this fear. know that every step that mas Deen
gained by people In their endeavOr To assinliate
Themselves with the people Of the United STATES has been
based upon selfhelp and so we'll am l satisfied that
nothing be achieved in this direction without SELF
help that entertain apprehension but what we VIII
be Entrusted hereafter with the management OF our own
affairs the extent that we have been before
and to greater extent from time to Tune
as our ability the full responsibility OF CITIZEN
shin OF the Republic shall become manifest prefer
therefore details upon this subject until
have had an opportunity to verify my convictions"