The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-05-11


His services IN this regard are better
kno VIZ to his colleagues with most Of
whom he cerd iallv concurred and cooper
ated, than they are to the public, for the
work was done in the committees instead
of upon the floor of the EI0 use. Perhaps
it may be truly said that the cpe ming of
the Tennessee river by obyiating the
obstruction at the Muscle Shoals to
navigation 10 more largely due to his as =
siduous efforts than to any other on e m EN-
Der of Congress, unless il is Gen. DibreI,
his colleaeu ne, and Gen. Form y, OF the
adjoining district in AIabaml. When
the Democracy assembled in June, 1884.
at Nashville to nominate delegates to the
national convention and to choose can
dilates for presidential electors, Mr..
Atkins was c5osen to preside in the place
of the Hon. John F. House, who had been
regularly selected and nominated, as was
the custom of the State Executive Commit
tee, but which that gentleman refused to
| accept.
The convention was one of the stormi
est that ever assembled in the State, dis
playing ability and high order of foren-
sic and parliamentary tact, but it was con-
| coded by all sides that Mr.. Atkins rul-
ings were sound and fair, and his power
of selt-comFOsure was equal to the task Of
maintaining genera decorum and order
although oIdition OF extraordinary
ex element prevailed III the convention
between the two wings Of the party, very
| nearly equally divided Such was the
esteem that Mr.. Atkins was held that
over his earnest protest he was by the
unanimous voice Of the delegates assem-
| bled placed upon the electoral ticket for
| the State at large, and Of course his monte :
nation with that OF ais colleagues on tn e
ticket was ratified at the polls by the peo-
| pie in Move nber 1854. Mr. Atkins thus
had the hoaor OF assisting by his electoral
vote 10 elect the last Democratic Presi-
dent before the war and the first one since
tie war.
The electoral ollege in 1881, at ses-
sion, while Mr.. Atkins was TEN poraril
absent and without his knowledge and
consent, unanimously passed a resolution
recomme nding him to the new President
for a seat in his Cabinet Mr.. Atkins did
not hear of tins action OF the electoral
college until after its labors had been
closed sine die, AMI, while he felt deeply
grateful fer that mark of confidence and
esteem OF his colleagues on the electoral
ticket, he promptly teIeEraphed to Wash
Eington Withdrawing his name from all
Iconsideration in Mr. Clevsland's ca binet.
When, however, the new admlnistra-
ton. was organ lied, and Senator Lamar,
now associate justice OF the United States
supreme court, was invited int the Cabi-
net as Secretary of the I2terior, that gem
tleman having krewn Mr.. Atkins intimate
ly fvr thirty years all of which time hey
had been close friends, at once decided to
appoint him Commissioner Of n li2n af-
fairs, an office Of a vast syste IN Of details
post of great labor and immense respon-
sibility, involving not only the welfare of
100000 Indians. but involving the safety
and security Of hundreds Of thousands OF
tie pioneer settlers on the frsntiers. n
that position, as in ali 9th srs to which
Mr.. Atkins has been called, he proved
equal to the emergency. Although the
business of the Indian bureau has been
very largely increased since this adRlinis-
tration began, yet the work has been done
sn less money than it was before. Perhaps
lie best con nent that could be made upon
Alr. Atkins administration of the Indian
Office, aud one that is least calculated 10
invite criticism, Is the view which the
New York Times, the able and indepsn-
dent Republican journal which bes'Ows
praise or administers censure where it be-
lieves it 10 be due the one way or the 9TH
er: Here il its view of Mr.. Atkins ser :
vices as contained IN its issue of April y +,
1888, tribute which is as merited as it is
Just and one wholly unsolicited and one
Hnanlieipated or exPe cted by Mr. Akin
or his friends.
The prospective resignation Of Csmmir-
siener Atkins OF the Indian Office is on
some accounts to be regretted. That bick-
ering with military officers, whieh used to
form leading function of an indian com
missioner, has been unknown during ths
career of Mr.. Atkins 1t is true that the
| old project Of putting the Indian Office un-
der the charge Of the war department was
dropped years ago, and hence the suspI-
/ ciou and anita gouisu connected theravith
have dropped with il, bat the cOmnission-
er has instructively accepted the military
forces as executive allies in the fsrtunate-
ly few needed cases Of keeping unruly
tribes under control and has worked with
them. Under him also, the methods Of
dealing with the rel men have made
great advances The passage Of tbs law
for the allotment Of Indian lands in ssver-
atty and the selling OF surplus lands for
the benefit Of the red Atea il = more i'm
portsnt piece Of legislation toward Indian
civilization and citizenship than the adj
ministration Of any OF kis predecessor
can show. lie has also warmly advoC a.
led giving to the Indians the advantages
in transportation and ether matters which
the mean presence OF railroads affords, In
stead Of keeping them cooped up apart
froHa all progressive influences. Ills
efforts to extend the system Of Indian
schools have been especially rewarded
with good fruits.
Thus it will be seen that Dir. Atkins