Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-03-08

AH Wv fNAthi AtiiiWfAt lNH fHt
aginary hnos which divide IL from
the neighboring states have beer
strengthened by national law int
strong walls, which, ifnol actually
impossible, have yet proved sub.
slanlial barriers, Even the inhab.
ilants Of tho contiguous states have
little personal knowledge Of the
people or the land beyond a strong
hatred Of The one, born ofan undue
lust for the other. The eastern
part OF this territory Is inhabited
by what are called tho "fvo civil
ICED tribes"- the ChoroLees,
Creeks, Semlnoles Chooiaws IN d
Chiekasaws. Each Of them lives
a lifl absolutely separate from the
rest, with its own peouliarities, It's
own institutions, and its own ma.
tional characteristics, for each
let il not be forgolten-each is a
nation. But certain things are
true ofthem all, Common circum-
stances and common needs have
wrought upon common traits Of
race and character to produce like
results. The government Of each
nation is republican, with fre-
quenuy recurring elections, legis-
latures, executives, and systems
Of judiciary. Each nation sup.
ports common schools and high
schools, provides charitable in
stitutions, and fosters churches.
Whether Choctaw or Cherokee,
these Indians carry on large bust
ness interests, and live intelligent
and valuable lives.
The traveller who leaves St,
Louis at night wakes to find him
self in the prairie country, strewn
thick with villages of the peculiar,
unthrifty, huddled appearance of
southwestern hamlets. He has
scarcely breakiasted before, on
sudden, he discovers the prairie
roll away before him unyexed with
hut or herd, and mile after mile
the railway strides on through the
luxuriant acres, past the fertile
bottoms The mysterious silence
and space explain themselves,
This is Indian land, and the Cher
okeo people have as yet found no
better use for this northern coun-
Try than to keep an noccupied
strip between themselves and
their white neighbors When at
last town appears, it is still a
a southern town, but it is a brick
and mortar city, with shops and
newspapers and busy life Of its
own. 1t is considerable tax Oh
eredulity to discover that this town
of Yinta is also Indian, and alto |
gether Indian; that its business
life is full and active and reaches |
out widely that its citizens have
private interests in many other
regions, and affect the public af-
fairs 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 mu
sic; brave men marry fair women,
and children play about the streets,
whose future holds happiness and
prosperity
This is the most commercial
own Of this nation, but not its
most representative settlement
Have you seen Tahlequah?" is
he instant question asked of him
Who processes a knowledge of the
indian Territory, and not without
eason. Located in the interior Of
he country, among themountains,
he approach By the all-day ride
mong the wooded hills, over the
rassy uplands, and through the
crest glades threaded everywhere
With rushing creeks, serves to
Ieighten the effect XXX Iahlequah
rst discovers itself aiar of, across
ne Of the most beautiful Of these
in a large and some
that imposing brick building,
tanding out alone upon a swell
ng height. Unneighbored, and
ct requiring a considerable popu- s
alton to Gil it, it seems something v
{ mystery; aud when the wind !
lg road comes face to f ce with
IS simplicity and its size, proves
0 less mysterious, although in a
iiierent way, since it is a public
ollege for Indian boys and young
zen. Three miles further ride,
I'LL in the open country, though c
o longer through an altogether \
region, brings the !
'ayeller suddenly into the long
lain street o. a large town. Here v
It's in serene and aeli-centored iso- &
ition the capital OF nation, coa- ?
lining in itself every element Of "
ich a capital except those metro y
olitan products which belong to