The Washington herald., 1907-11-06

Naught, Tennessee mOuntaineer, and l.
y. Holcomb. a Kentucky mountaineer,
organized this public school system.
In the Indian Territory the peculiar
tribal governments have prevented the
advancement of the school system TO the
point attained in the Territory Of Okla
homa. Until two years ago there were
no free schools for white children except
In the incorporated towns Then Con-
gress gave money 20 increase the tribal
school capacity. and TO provide for the
attendance Of children Of non-citizens of
the Five Nations The tribes have main
tanned good district schools and semi
naries for the Indians, as well as for the
negroes Each of the Five Nations
Cherokee. Greek. Choctaw. Chickasaw,
and Seminole-has had system of dis
trict day schools and OF central boarding
schools which will be adapted under
Statehood 10 the system of district
schools and county high schools. The
Indian mission schools have been a po-
tent factor for good for more than sixty
years, and they will continue under the
new regime without interruption
In the Incorporated towns Of the In
dian country the schools have been or
ganized along progressive lines. and are
as good as those Of Oklahoma. Under
statehood, the university. normal. and
technical colleges and preparatory schools
VIII be open. of course. 10 the whole
state, 10 Indians as well as whites. The
territorial legislature of Oklahoma and
the councils Of the Five Nations long ago
decreed separate schools for negroes. and
this separation is continued into the new
regime by express language in the con
StitutiOn.
IN this connection the much discussed
oklahoma constitution by solemn ordj-
nance DEGREES that the North American
Indian is OF equal rank among the races
with the white race. The fundamental
law Of the new State declares that the
words "colored," 'colored race" negro"
ana negro race shall apply to all per
sons OF African descent Ii then adds.
ne term white race shall include all
other persons Thus Indians are taken
INTO the fold OF the 'dominant" race.
Many negroes who are members of an
Indian tribe have no Indian blood what
ever. There have been some Indian and
negro marriages. Indo-Africans may
share In the wealth of the Indians. but
7
cially without the pale and separate
schools have been maintained for them
The tuli-bloOd negroes who are members
OF The tribe are products Of the clvU
war. Many Of the Indians were slave
owners The Creeks had more negro
slaves than there We're Indians i'm the
tribe. Wien the slaves We're freed and
made citizens. these negroes became ciri-
Zens of the Creek Nation. When the
Indian lands were allotted they We're per
mltted to share the lands The Federal
government, however gives them more
latitude than il does the Indians for
they may sell their land at will. while
the Indian is surrounded by restrictions
Negro education is provided for IN the
constitution, which directs that the
schools must be separate. but must be
impartially maintained. The negro schools
IN Oklahoma are said 20 be excellent
They devote much attention to instruc- |
ton in practical things. The common I
schoois or Oklahoma are no better. of 1
course. than the schools Of other States /
But the wonder Is that they axe as far
advanced as they are for this is the
frontier When Abraham Lincoln was n /
boy Kentucky was a much older State
than Oklahoma is a habitation. His
struggles Tor the rudimentS Of an edu- /
cation are familiar 20 every American 1
boy and girl. After nearly a hundred /
years the same race Of people plants /
another colony to the westward. In the
twinkiing OF an eye the pioneer IS as 4
well established in his civilization As
are the people whom he left in the Eas, 4
That is the marvel of il all.
TO-mOrrOw-Empire of the South