The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-09

like to think about are Tishomingo, the
Chickasaw statesman. and Sequoyah. the
Cherokee mathematician and creator
Of an alphabet Of eighty-slx letters. rep
resenting all the sounds In his language.
The statue Of sequoyah is to be placed
in the Hall Of Fame at the National
Capitol
They CouId Govern Themselves.
1T is we'll for the white man to re-
member that Sir Walter Raleigh found
the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees,
Creeks. and seminoles. the FIVE civilized
tribes, as they are called. growing beans.
com. tobacco. and potatoes. He also
learned that the Indians had the germ
idea OF a government in three divisions
legislative, executive, and judicial,
though all the functions might be COM
blned in a single Individual. The Chero-
KEGS had laws furnishing theft and pro-
hIbiting the members OF the same clan
from marrying among themselves.
Government with the Indians began in
the family Thus families were organ
lied. the men for the most part being
monogamlsts and not polygamists. From
clan, then to the tribe. then to the nation
and finally to the confederation. These
extensions of government were particu-
Iarly noticeable among the Algonquins'
Iroquois, and Muskogees. In course OF
time, as we know. the Five Civilized
Tribes became nations within the great
er nation OF the United States with gov
errors, legislatures. courts, and public
schools maintained with their own
money.
Il restate these things so as to show that
the Indian is a man and, except for his
lack Of education, is like the German,
the EngIishman. the Frenchman or the
Spaniard And he respected and protect
ed and provided for his wife. Indian
women helped TO elect the chiefs OF tribes
and Joined in the discussions and actions
concerning the descent and distribution
of property.
There Is a man in Washington who has
fought the Indian in battle. who knows
the Indians domestic life and who was
for many years superintendent OF the
Indian School at Carlisle, Pa refer to
Gen. Richard II. Pratt. l once asked him
to tell me the difference between a white
man and an Indian. The only differ
ence.' he answered, is color.
While the lawmakers and the govern
men, OF the United States have tried to
be lust toward the Indians notion has
nreyailed that the red man is unlike all
other human beings. Ny tribe and other
tribes were pushed across the Mississippi
River, shall not condemn that pro-
ceedinE. II was inevitable But the gov
eminent said TO the Indian. Here is
YOUR reservation. Don't leave it. II you
do leave It you will be killed by soldiers
or settlers When white man tres
passes on your property YOU have right
to shoot him
Free Beef Changed Him.
so the Indian was penned up on his
though missionaries were
permitted to work with him. in the be-
lief, | suppose that in some way he
would share in the white mans civiliza-
ton. that he would progress in a barren
region without game but with free ra-
tions of government beef Don't yoG see
that the whole policy was wrong?
There were go full-bIood Indians in
the territory now comprising the United
States at the time Of Columbus discov-
cry. Anyway. these are the best figures
we have That number has dw.ndled 10