Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-19
INDIANS IN OFFICE.
Red Men lave Filled Many Positions
with Ability.

An examination Of the records of the In
dian ONCE, says the Washington Times,
shows that red men have filled official po-
sitions of importance with signal ability.
Indeed, the man who FIRST performed du-
ties corresponding to those Of the Indian
commissioner Of today was a full-blooded
Michigan named Sampson Ocean.
He was born in 1923 and died in 1892, and
was ordained a minister Of the gospel in
1853. While he never held an of1cial po-
sition In the strict sense Of the term. he
had exclusive charge Of Indian missions
in colonial times, thus occupying a posi-
ton measurabiy corresponding to that OF
commissioner Of Indian affairs. He was
we'll educated, author of various writings,
and was we'll received on the occasion Of
a visit he paid to England.
Perhaps the most conspicuous figure
among the North American Indians who
have held Official positions was Tecumseh,
or Tecumtha. He was born In 1853 and
killed at the battle Of the Thames in 1918.
He held positions under the British crown
as brigadier general In command Of q Brit
ish Indian force OF 1000 and was a full
blooded Shawnee
The Cherokee chief, Stand Waite, born
1915. died 1877, had a slight strain Of white
blood. He was a colonel. and afterward
brigadier general In the confederate army,
commanding an Indian brigade Of two Tegi-
ments and three batteries. The Cherokees
are said to rank the highest today OF the
Indian tribes In the United States. They
were ordinarily one Of the Five Nations Of
the Atlantic coast, and had made consid-
cradle Advancement In civilization. Their
native language is similar to the Iroquois.
Though retarded in progress by their trans
o.. uuNNA ANka. T.ANaAa - Ah- HN-. "
tlons. to a desolate country, new n
strange to them. beyond the Mississippi.
they have advanced more rapidly than any
other tribe In this country. Sequel, also
called George Guess. a full -blooded Chero-
kee. invented for his people an alphabet.
simple but complete. In 1924. With a
printed language this tribe has developed
a literature peculiarly its own. Most Of
the Cherokees have received an Indian ed
cation. the wealthier members OF the tribe
sending their children TO the best eastern
schools. Their graceful native orators have
been heard on the floors OF congress, and
newspapers edited by full blooded Indians
are printed in English and Cherokee.
General Grants secretary and ofieer Of
stan during the civil war, General Ely S.
Parker. was a Seneca Indian Though not
OF pure blood. born in 1928 and educated
as a civil engineer. After the war he
was made assistant a~djutant general, and
was promoted. through various grades, 10
brigadier general OF the United States
army. He was q commissioner Of Indian
affairs IS69-7l.
A present employe OF the United States
Indian once is Francis La Flesche, a
~three-quarter blood Omaha. Representa-
tive Curtis OF Kansas is said to be a one
quarter blood Kaw. J. N. B. Hewitt Of
the bureau OF ethnoIogy Is about one
eighth Tusearora, while DIR. Eastman, the
agency physician at Pine Ridge. s. D., Il a
three-quarter blood Sioux or Dakota. Il Is
the policy Of the Indian once to employ
Indians on the ageAcies and reservations
as far as possible. Many are employed as
teamsters.
President Diaz. the present president OF
Mexico and one OF the leading figures in
the history Of the republic. is COMMONLY
supposed TO be nearly . full blooded In
dian.