The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-04-27
A PATHETIC PICTURE.

4 Il looks like case OF Lazarus own
ing the table OF Dives and unable to
reach II. and lies starving In the
street
The Chlckasaw people, as a nation,
ars probably the richest people in
the world today. and yet. in a sense.
they may be looked upon as the poor
e8t. In speaking OF the Chickasaw
people in this connection the Herald
does not mean those OF the Chicka-
saws who are educated and who have
gone through the schools. colleges and
universities and fully equipped them
selves for the battle OF life. and are
now competing with the white men
In all lines OF business and proving
themselves competitors worthy Of the
white mans wit and the white mans
steel. When speaking OF the people
OF the Chickasaw nation, as a people.
and drawing a picture OF their con
diuon. the people referred to are that
class OF full-bloOds, half-breeds and
quarter-bred Indians who have been
raised In the old Indian custom. and
have been content all their lives TO
"let well enough alone" and have
spent all their days Just as their an.
cestOrs. the American aborigines,
spent their days. In taking life easy.
taking what nature supplied in the
way Of fish. game and natural sup
plies. and looking TO the future or to
the change Of conditions in their az
fairs "a individuals or as a part OF a
tribe OF nation Of people.
There are hundreds Of these at
Tishomlngo. where the Chickasaw
land Office Is located and there are
great number OF them that. ac-
cording 10 all reports. are In actual
want so extreme is their case, and
so much are they In need OF food and
the comforts OF life that the Indian
agent at Muskogee has been appealed
10 TO make the per capita payment,
which has been 50 long promised. and
so much delayed, IN order that tenn
porarily these Indians may have suf
hcient money 10 purchase the sup
plies necessary to maintaining life
and health
The Indian has been told that he
Is rich. He knows in a general way
that he will receive 32O acres Of aver
age land. in itself a small fortune.
He has been made to understand with
a reasonable degree OF accuracy, that
when the coal lands are sold. the
money paid in for town lots and sur
plus lands are disposed OF that every
man, woman and child will have p
few thousand dollars Of their own.
But the present is what is distress.
ing the Indian. The laws and the
treaties have all looked to the future
for the Indian and have sought to
protect him from himself, his friends
and from the avarice OF the white man
and many restrictions have been
thrown around him, so that he can
not hypothecate any part Of his birth
right TO secure funds for present and
pressing needs. lie can not sell, mort.
gage nor in any way pledge any OF
his holdings 10 secure money now.
He went TO Tishomingo expecting TO
get his allotment and at the same
/ 60 hn 10
has been promised as per capita pay.
ment. He had a bare supply of food
and provisions for the present That
supply has been exhausted, and as
there is no way he can prove his re-
sponsibility or secure any merchant
other person who would supply him
with money or food for present needs,
he is on the verge of starvation and
In the slough OF desperation. He is
like one chained to a post with iron
bonds he can not break, dying with
thirst, while a bright, beautiful brook
OF clear water babbles by at his feet.
The Indian is not beggar He
never pleads. He may be slow. with
out activity. even slothful He may
be pressed TO the verge of starving for
food, yet he never solicits aims. He
may e@k some one in authority when
his money will be paid him, and he
will receive the inevitable answer
bye and bye" He will simply grunt
and laconically remark:
Heap long time go hungry-bimeby
be dead"
The Indian wants a portion OF his
money now. He does not wish 10
start on his trip TO the happy hunting
ground with nothing in his stomach