The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-13

and well posted in the ways OF the
white man, many Of them being gradu-
ates Of leading educational institutions.
They are, as a rule, INSCRIPTIONS, and
have no use for the ways Of the white
man except In so far as they will aid
them in their schems to make money.
The politicians among them have. by
their ability and shrewdness, gained
control of the affairs Of the Nation,
and they make everything contribute
to their personal and pecuniary ad-
vancement. The head chief and the
Treasurer generally own and control
all the stores and trading posts In the
reservation, and 1t is an easy matter
for them TO bring about conditions
which place a majority of the tribe una
der their control
The Chickasaw tribe Is not different
from any of the others. 1t is probable
that the tribal affairs of the Cherokees
Creeks, and Seminoles will show more
aggravated instances Of this despotic
rule. But they are all in about the
same condition, and any statehood prop
ositlon or any modified treaty which
threatens in any way to interfere with
the interests or selfish purposes of
either the ruling class or those enjoy
ing special privileges as stock raisers
and agriculturists will be bitterly OPP
posed. Under the present system the
merchants have only to suggest to their
dependent customers how to vote, and
that settles the matter. And so long as
these conditions prevail and these in
fiuences continue, these nations will
fight statehood. no matter what may
be the provisions of the treaties.
The custom of adoption by marriage
has resulted to the Indian in unmixed
evil. In the Chickasaw Nation there
are many white men who, having taken
Indian wives, are regarded as belong
! ing to the tribe They are Americans,
Germans. Frenchmen, together with a
number Of Mexicans and some negroes.
The better classes of these "squaw
men" are thrifty and prosperous, be-
cause they generally marry the squaws
for the privilege of land holding. Some
of them are outcasts and refugees who
have been driven from the States for
the commission of grave crimes. Then
F, there are others who are advensurers
| without capital, who hope to make a
petty living by specializing on the i'm
providence Of the Indian. Others
| again, are the cattlemen, who. by tax
ing wives from the tribe, gain the right
to hold their cattle on the Indian
reservations Others, by the same
right, open up farms and stock ranches
This latter class constitutes the pro-
gressive element Of the people in this
| nation. "Squaw men" represent every
class and quality of men from the edu.
Gated gentleman, wearied of the hollow
conventionalities of civilized life, to the
blood thirsty ruffian, more debased art
degraded than the Indian himself. Con.
fident of certain power with and ovel
Indians, many of the "squaw men" be.
come tricky politicians. They invari
ably have some ak to grind, and theil
interpretations are always colored, OF
at least shaded to suit their own ends
i A few years ago the Chickasaw Ma
ton, then vast wilderness, lying IL
the natural pathway between The grea
Central Missouri Valley country and tn,
Gulf of Mexico, was invaded by thu
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fee Railroad
, The construction Of this great arter!
of commerce through the entire length
of the Chickasaw country was revela
, ton to the indolent Indians, who ha.
barely emerged from the era of breecl
clouts and blankets. And yet whel
the first locomotive steamed into Purcell
and Ardmore, the two principal towns II
the nation, the noble red man, with hi
squaw and pappooses, was unmoved a
the transformation that had take
place. They simply accepted the nev
conditions as matter of fact Man
people call this stoicism. They forge
that to the average Indians lgnoranc
the production Of the commonest glas
bottle is as inscrutable as the sound 9
thunder The whirl and clatter Of me
chinery Is as far beyond his power
comprehension as that the summer
: heat should be succeeded by the winter
SHOWS. He knows nothing Of the CON
parative difficulties of invention an
manufacture, and to him the mechar
ism of locomotive is not in any wa
more cause for surprise than that Of
wheelbarrow.
During the past ten days the peace;
bly, inclined Indians living along Il
eastern horizon of the Chickasaw M
ton have been terrorized by band
I. negro Indians led by Old King Blu
l This gang of blackskins are in ope
rebellion against the Government of Il
Chickasaw Nation. They go out on the
: marauding tours and make life burd'
!, to the Indians who live on farms. tt
! "squaw-men" Of that region are rough
treated by this band of outlaws. Georl
H. Truax. peaceable farmer ne
D Stonewall, was, with his squaw wit
led from his house few days az
a bound with a rope and held prisont
4 Old King Blue and his men then pr
r ceeded to destroy everything in 4
;. house. After the band had departe
: neighbors found Truax and his wife al