Chronicles of Oklahoma
Volume 17, No. 3
September, 1939
BOOK REVIEWS
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A Handbook of Oklahoma Writers. By Mary Hays Marable and Elaine Boylan. (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1939. 308 pp. $2.50.)
This is one of the most useful books ever published in Oklahoma. Since territorial days the state has been flooded with "vanity
projects" and other regional histories carrying biographical sketches, but this book represents the first serious attempt
to record the achievements of Oklahoma from the standpoint of objective scholarship. It contains a comprehensive bibliography
of books and pamphlets published by Oklahomans (about two thousand titles), biographical sketches of the more important state
writers (more than one hundred), a town list of authors (about one hundred and thirty towns), and an imposing list of literary
awards and distinctions won by Oklahomans.
It is in no sense a history of Oklahoma literature. There is little attempt at criticism, and where it is present it is not
always discriminating. Very little human interest material appears in the biographical sketches. But the research is a marvel
of thoroughness and accuracy. And the information is so complete and up-to-the-minute and so conveniently arranged that in
spite of its encyclopedic character the book is intensely interesting. It is a great satisfaction to learn the things one
has always wanted to know about the writers of the state, and it brings a pleasant glow of pride to view the total of their
accomplishments. The history section, in particular, reveals a literary self-consciousness on the part of Oklahomans that
promises well for the future of historical studies.
No high school should pretend to teach English or history without this book on its reference list, study clubs will find it
indispensable, and no literate Oklahoman will fail to keep it within convenient reach.
Angie Debo
Marshall, Oklahoma
Secession and Restoration of Louisiana, by Willie Malvin Caskey with Foreword by Frank Lawrence Owsley. (University, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press,
1938. XII+318 pp. $3.50.)
While the work and influence of Dunning and Fleming resulted in more or less satisfactory studies of reconstruction in most
other Southern states Louisiana, the horrible example of reconstruction, it is pointed out in the foreword remained—with the exception of Miss Lonn's work on
the later phases—fallow ground. Dr. Caskey has attempted to work the field for a part of the period and proposes to continue.
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In addition to the presidential election of 1860, the work includes studies of the succession of Louisiana, Butler's beginning
of restoration, Banks' preparation of Louisiana for restoration, restoration under Lincoln's ten per cent plan, the constitutional
convention of 1864, the problem of civil government during the civil war period, President Johnson's reconstruction policy
in Louisiana, the Legislature's completion of restoration, and, finally, the radical Congressional overthrow of restoration.
Apparent opposition to secession in and about New Orleans in 1860 soon gave way to an overwhelming city and state secession
sentiment. Failing in their demands for Confederate cooperation in defense of New Orleans, however, the people expressed bitterness
and resentment against those authorities.
General Butler is credited with effective charitable and sanitary measures but with failure in his relations with native and
foreign populations and failure to check fraud and corruption. His successor Banks soon altered his own policy of magnanimity
and while adopting a compulsory negro labor program was soon faced with negro demands for political equality.
Unionist disagreements and military campaigns delayed organization of a state government. At length the administration ticket
carried an election for several state officers ordered for February 22, 1864, and another for delegates to a constitutional
convention a month later. The work of the convention was hampered, however, by questions as to its constitutionality, by defeat
of the Federals at Mansfield, by the difficulty of securing a quorum, by failure of the character and ability of the delegates
as a whole to command public esteem, and by the withdrawal of the most able members. The constitution adopted included the
abolition of slavery, the possible extension of suffrage to negroes, and the establishment by public taxation of separate
schools for blacks and whites.
The legislature was elected in September, 1864; a much needed supreme court was established; and congressional and senatorial
elections were held. But by a congressional filabuster "the Louisiana senators were denied seats, and the Lincoln government
in Louisiana stood condemned and repudiated for strictly political purposes, by both conservative and radical unionist factions
in Louisiana, and by Congress."
Louisiana was willing to cooperate with President Johnson but an aggressive Louisiana minority condemned the new government,
claimed that secession caused Louisiana to revert to territorial status, and elected a "delegate" to Congress, who was never
seated. By the close of the election of May 7, 1866, there was effected a complete restoration of the state government apparently
under the undisputed control of returned Confederates. This control was
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overthrown, however, to all intents and purposes by the New Orleans Revolution or riot of July 30, 1866, engendered by a radical
Republican group.
Dr. Caskey's study is intended to be almost purely political. It is to be hoped, however, that study may be made of economic
and social interests and activities as a further aid to an understanding of the ardent support of political views and changing
factions. Real estate ownership and transfer as evidenced by census reports, deeds, wills, mortgages, tax reports, tax sales,
advertisements, and the like should shed light on the situation as should the records of New Orleans business men if and when
they appear.
The author has made wide use of the most often used type of source and apparently has arrived at sound conclusions albeit
without either achieving a convincing objectivity or making an outstanding contribution. The analysis is not keen and the
style upon occasion becomes careless, involved and difficult. Clarity or accuracy is too often wanting as in references to
the ultras (p. 1), Hahn's majority (p. 65), the Wells appointee (p. 201), Baird's refusal (p. 225), and in the last sentence
on p. 142. Proofreading failed to catch a number of slips (as on pages 38, 117, 142 and 179).
Some 68 pages of notes are relegated to the back of the book, numbered consecutively only within each of the twelve chapters,
and arranged in two narrow columns. The index is adequate and the bibliography is conveniently arranged.
V. Alton Moody
Iowa State College
Indian Cavalcade or Life on the Old-Time Indian Reservations. By Clark Wissler. (New York: Sheridan House, 1938. 353 pp. Illustrated. $3.00.)
At the turn of the century a young anthropologist entered upon a study of the American Indian which, over a period of several
years, took him to some ten reservations scattered throughout the West. That man was Clark Wissler, now a chief curator at
the American Museum of Natural History, and pre-eminent for his contributions in the field of anthropology.
This book of reminiscences of those years and those experiences has all the wealth of the succeeding quarter of a century
which Dr. Wissler has devoted to Indian research and investigation. The author modestly sets forth in his foreword that this
is a book without a purpose, that it is neither history nor sociology, but merely personal recollections of old-time Indian
reservations. So, in the opening chapter the author takes the reader over the prairies to a typical agency where he meets
the principal official and unofficial personages usually to be found there. The most talked of individuals are the Agent,
usually known as "The Major," and the government
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spy sent to report on conditions on the reservation, known appropriately as "The Big Cat." The presence of this latter person
was always anticipated and never appreciated, for his report to Washington might mean one's official life or death. There
are chapters on the trader who made artful use of his monopoly; the agency "Dock," whose redskin patients could suffer from
symptoms as distressingly and dramatically as any pale face. The Indian medicine men are traced sympathetically against the
relief of the "black robes"; and there is much of keen observation in the sections dealing with the government schools and
missionary establishments; the Indian police, their court and judgments. The "half-breeds" and the "squaw man" stand out vividly
as the problems of the Indian frontier. The last few chapter are intimate portraits and experiences with the Indians the writer
knew best; and the final pages are among his best writing.
Dr. Wissler shows in an informal but effective fashion that many of the wrongs for which the Indian suffered were due to the
white man's ignorance of their tastes and ways. This ignorance more often characterized the officials at Washington than the
local administrators, so often hampered and harassed by conflicting and unintelligent orders. The writer, discovered that
the Indian is most tolerant; he understood why an Indian could be both a pagan and a Christian at the same time, and also
belong to several different Christian sects. He points out how differently whites and Indians think about the same things,
and with illuminating anecdotes to prove it. There is the story of an old chief, himself a Christian, who accepted the Ten
Commandments with the remark that, since they were primarily addressed to the white man, he thought there should have been
more than ten!
The book is attractively illustrated with reproductions of several Dakota Indian drawings made about 1890; and with photographs
that reflect the atmosphere of the time. The printing and binding are in harmony with the informal and readable style of the
author. There is no index; but there is no need of one, for this is not a reference work. This is a book to be read and reflected
upon, and is a substantial and contributory critique of the American Indian policy at the turn of the century.
Gaston L. Litton
The National Archives
Tecumseh And His Times, by John M. Oskison. (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1938. 244 pp. ($2.75.)
Tecumseh and His Times presents a very readable and interesting account of the rise and fall of the "Meteor," as the hero has been called. While
the material may not lay claim to original treatment, the subject having been often presented in the history, of
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the American frontier, nevertheless the sympathetic approach and point of view deserve consideration and commendation. .
The book is "dedicated to all dreamers and strivers for the integrity of the Indian race, some of whose blood flows in my
veins (Oskison is one-eighth Cherokee, his mother being a Crittenden, a quarter blood); and especially to the Oklahoma Shawnee
friends of my boyhood." That Tecumseh was a dreamer of dreams is evidenced in the almost fanatical reliance he reposed in
the confederation of Indian tribes of old Northwest Territory which he and his brother, known as "The Prophet," sponsored.
He hoped that this alliance would become powerful enough "to dam back the flow of the whites into Indian lands." But when
it is recalled that by 1754 the Iroquois were facing political disintegration, their League steadily weakening in influence
and prestige, it was just a little too much to expect that Tecumseh's dream would be realized.
The author does not seem to be conscious of the general disintegration of tribalism which had already set in, and, according
to some authorities, was coincident with the Columbian era. The divisive influences of tribalism had militated against forming
a defensive alliance against the white invader at an earlier date; hence Tecumseh, representing a tribe, which according to
the author was never numerically strong (commanding about 500 warriors) and "in a special sense nomadic and jealous of their
freedom" (p. 8), was faced with well-nigh insurmountable obstacles at the very outset of his enterprise.
Following the defeat of the French interests in America, the troubled period following the Revolution, and the trek of the
settlers down the Wilderness Road, the stirring events depicted in "Tecumseh and His Times" takes place. The close of the
War of 1812 also marks the culmination of Tecumseh's career. The author points out what difficulties the newly constituted
Republic encountered in dealing with the rough newcomers into the Ohio Valley who showed slight consideration for the rights
of a primitive people. The treaties, made with the tribes as though they were sovereign states, were drawn up in high flown
language which the average Indian did not understand and which the settlers evidently did not care to understand. At any rate
the treaties were not enforced.
A study of the times in which Tecumseh lived furnishes the author with an opportunity for taking William Henry Harrison, the
hero of Tippecanoe, to task as a politician and exploiter, of no mean proportions, as well as a maker of "iniquitous treaties."
That Harrison and Tecumseh were bitter antagonists, making use of all known methods of the border warfare of that day, history
has long since established. The Indians had to bear the brunt of a cruel and reckless frontier; Tecumseh went down in the
struggle but his
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name lives on as an Indian leader of mettle and resourcefulness albeit championing a "lost cause."
Mr. Oskison pays this tribute to his hero: "Tecumseh takes his place among the dreamers and leaders of the red race who for
nearly four hundred years have considered martyrdom not too high a price to pay for holding the dream. He stands out from
the rest mainly because his effort was so clearly etched against the background of history in a troubled time, and because
of his surpassing honesty and courage." (p. 237).
To the present reviewer, the author's reference to Tecumseh's "dream," as persisting in the Peyote cult, as practiced "among
many of the western tribes," seems farfetched and bordering on the fantastic. He holds that "it is clear that the devotees
(Peyote users) are uplifted by something more potent than a drug. In these long sessions, the modern reservation Indians recapture
a dream; they reach for—at the least—a spiritual union of the race, seek to preserve that which is distinctively Indian."
How the author can see anything uplifting or tending to the "spiritual union of the race" in the peyote orgies as ordinarily
practiced among the followers of this cult, is indeed difficult of comprehension. Those who have lived for years in the Indian
country and have seen the deleterious effects, physically, mentally and morally, of this insidious drug, are unanimous in
their condemnation of its use. Like most drugs it is habit forming and furnishes an "escape mechanism," being at times substituted
for liquor; it is also used as a medicine (between meetings), generally indiscriminately, with injurious results. Dr. Moorman
Prosser of the Central Oklahoma Hospital, Norman, recently (at the Bacone Regional Conference of the National Fellowship of
Indian Workers, June 7, 1939) presented some important findings on the pathological aspects of the use of peyote on Indians.
These would indicate that peyote is far from being the "uplifting" influence which the author attributes to it.
G. E. E. Lindquist
Lawrence, Kansas
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