Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-29
AN UNKNOWN NATION.

- between the broad and fertile acres of
Kansas and the broad and only less fer
tlle acres of Texas lies wild and beauti-
dul region known as the Indian Territory.
Inc imaginary lines which divide it from
inc nelghbrlng states have been siren 9Th
ened bY national law into strong walls,
which, II not actually impossible, have
yet proved substantial barriers. Even
the Inhabitants of the contiguous States
haye little personal knowledge of the
people or the land beyond strong hat
req OF the one, born of an undue lust for
the other. The eastern part of this ter
rltory is Inhabited by what are called the
.hve civilized tribes"-the Cherokees,
creeks, Seminolcs, Ch0ctaws, and Chick
asaws Each of them lives life abso-
lutely separate from the::-rest, with it's
own pecullarities, its own institutions,
ana It's own national characteristics. for
each-let it not be forgotten-each is a
nation. But certain things are true of
them oil. Common circumstances and
common needs have wrought upon COM
mon traits of race and character to pro
duce like result The government of
each nation is republican, with frequent
~ recurring elections, legislatures exccu-
tlves, and systems of Judiciary. Each
nation supports common schools and
high schools, provides charitable institu
tons, and fosters churches. Whether
ChoctaW or Cherokee, these Indians car,
ry on large business interests, and live
intelligent and valuable lives.
The traveller who leaves St. Louis at
night wakes to find himself in the prairie
country, strewn thick with villages of the
peculiar, unthrifty, huddled appearance
of Southwestern hamlets. He has scarce
~ ibreakfasted before, on sudden, he
discovers the prairie roll away before
him unyeXed with hut or herd, and mile
afte: mile the railway strides on through
the luxuriAnt acres. past the fertile bot
toms. The mysterious silence and space
explain themselves. This is Indian land
and the Cherokee people have as vet
found no better use for this northern
country than to keep an occupied strip
between themselves and their white neigh
bors. When at last town appears, 1t is
still Southwestern town, but it is a brick
and mortar city, with shops and news
papers and busy life of its own. It is
a considerable tax on credulity to discover
that this town of Vinita is also Indian
and altogether Indian; that it's business
life is full and active and reaching out
widely; that its citizens have private in
terests in many other regions. and affect
the public affairs of two nations. moving
some times the destinies Of an alien and
mightier race than their own. Its men
and women have their life in books and
thought and music, brave men marry fair
women, and children play about the
streets. whose future holds happiness and
prosperity.
THIS is the most commercial town of
this nation. but not it's most representa-
tive settlement. ''Haye you seen Table
quah?' is the instant question asked of
him who processes a knowledge of the
Indian Territory, and not without reason
Located in the interior of the country,
among the mountains, the approach by
the all day ride among the wooded hills.
over the grassy uplands, and through the
forest glades threaded everywhere with
rushing creeks, serves TO heightcn the
effect. Tahlequah first discovers itself
affair off, across one Of the most beautiful
of these prospects. in a large and some
what imposing brick building, standing
out alone upon a swelling height. I'm
nelghOored, and yet requiring a consider
able population to fill it, it seems some-
thing of mystery; and when the wind
ing road comes face TO face with its SIM
pliclty and it's size. it proves no less mys-
terious, although in different way, since
it is a public college for Indian boys and
young men. Three miles further ride,
still in the open country, though no longer
through an altogether uncult;vated region
brings the traveller suddenly into the long
main street of large town. Here sits in
serene and self centred isolation the CAPT
tai of nation, containing in itself every
element of such a capital except those
metropolitan products which belong to
crowded ccnters of the worlds life.
In the very middle of Tahlequah IS it's
Capitol large brick structure surround
ed by an open square filled with locust
trees. The size and relative Importance
Of this building mark the feeling that thi IS
is a nation. Here meets legislature
composed of two Houses, retaining traces
of the common Indian, and white influ
ence over their origin. in their titles of
Council and Senate. The Council is pre-
sided over by a Speaker, and the Senate
by the Assistant Chief. Bills must pass
both houses and require the signature of
the Executive. This officer possesses
much power. and is a man of many titles.
since he is actually President, and is bet
ter known as Principal Chief, while IN
common conversation he is usually ad
Assistant Chief answering to our Vice
President, Secretary of State, a Treas
urer, a superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton, and several other officers. All are
elected directly by the people, and for
terms of four years. These hotly con
tested elections occur every two years,
when half of the Council are chosen, and
in August. a month of agricultural vaca-
tiOn Tins mNrkinU the chief Ocr,,,,ot i'm
OF the people. All the affairs Of the ma
tion-very nearly literally all of them
are debated and settled by this Legisla-
ture. The establishment and support of
schools, questions of finance, permissions
or licenses to railways or telegraphs, the
admission of religious teachers to the
privileges of the natlon-all these mat
ters are decided as of old IN council; but
neither the hereditary right of Indian
custom on the one hand, nor the Anglo
Saxon condition of age on the other, adj
mits to this body. Every lad among the
CSerokees may vote and be voted for. In