Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-05-04
IN nNk.ouS NAr1.,,.

of Kansas and the broad and only lss'
fertile acres of Texas lies a wild . s
beautiful region known as the ln1 Ivy
Territory. The imaginary lines WIZ; 'a
divide it from the neighboring Sta.
have been strengthened by natioa s
law into strong walls, which, il Wy
actually impossible, have yet pros W.
substantial barriers. Even the inb.'
itants of the contiguous States bos
little personal knowledge of the wv"
pie or the land beyond a strong bat hsy
OF the one, born of an undue lust ~.
the other. The eastern part Of th;
Territory is inhabited by what is callas
the give civilized tribes" the Chez
KEGS, Creeks, Seminoles, Chocktss.
and Chickasaws. Each of them livas
life absolutely separate from the 700.
with it's own peculiarities, its on,
institutions, and its own national chm,
acteristics, for each-let it not be "a,
gotten-each is nation. But cert,,
things are true of them all. Comma,
circumstances and common needs h.r.
wrought upon common traits of rss
and character to produce like result
The government of each race is repnh
lican, with frequently recurring e]eo,
tions, Legislatures, executives, and svs.
TENS of judiciary. Each nation SIM.
ports common schools and high-scbools }
provides charitable institutions, and
fosters churches. Whether Choctav
or Cherokee, these Indians carry on
large business interests, and live intel.
ligent and valuable lives
Tahlequah first discovers itself afa,
of, across one of the most beautiful Of
these prospects, in large and some.
what imposing brick building, stand.
ing out alone upon swelling height
Unneighbored, and yet requiring con.
siderable population to fill it, it seem,
something of mystery; and when the
winding road comes face to face with
its simplicity and its size, it proves no
less mysterious, although in different
way, since it is public college 70,
Indian boys and young men. Three
miles, further ride, still in the open
country, though no longer through an
altogether uncultivated region, brings
the traveller suddenly into the long F
main street of large town. Here sits
in serene and self-centred isolation The
capital of a nation, containing in itself
every element of such capital except
those metropolitan products which be.
long to crowded centers of the worlds
life.
In the very middle Of Tahlequah is
its Capitol, large brick structure
surrounded by an open square filled
with locust trees. The size and rels.
tive Importance of this building mark /
the feeling that this is nation. Here
meets Legislature composed of two
Houses, retaining traces of the com.
mon Indian and white influence over
their origin, in their titles of Council
and Senate. The Council is presided
over by Speaker, and the Senate
by the Assistant Chief. Bills must
pass both Houses, and require the sigma.
ture of the Executive. This officer pos.
sesses much power, and is a man oil
many titles, since he is actually Presi.
dent, and is better known as Principal
Chief, while in common conversation
he is usually addressed as Governor
Under him is an Assistant Chief answer.
ing to our Vice President, Secretary
OF State, Treasurer, a Superintendent
of Public Instruction, and several other
officers. All are elected directly bT|
the people, and for terms of four years
These holly contested elections occur
every two years, when half of theI
Council are chosen, and in August, al
month Of agricultural vacation, thus
marking the chief occupation of the
people. All the affairs Of the nation
very nearly literally all of them-are
debated and settled by this Legisia'
ture. Out of the windows of the Capt.
tol may be seen the less imposing but
spacious building where the Supreme
Court sits, with its three Judges, Of
learning and character. The particu
lars of judicial system are seldom
dramatic, but it is interesting to learn
that the courts are modelled on our
own, and are very successful The
laws of this nation fill a large book,
and the strictness of some of its pro
visions-notably those relating to into1'
ication-would make Puritan envious.
The code in general would do credit to
any community, and its laws are well
enforced by mounted police-a bod!
of men so much honored that positions
in its ranks are greatly coveted; and II
crime is somewhat too frequent in this
region, it must not be forgotten that
the nation is burdened with class OF
most disreputable white men, entirel!
exempt from its own law, and difficult
to reach by any other. A well-ap'
pointed asylum holds the INDECENT blind
and other 1,nrortuDotos nf vnrOu3